I once had a M-70 SS Classic with holes so far off, the smith had to offset the factory holes, drill bases to fit the new screw holes. Most aren't that bad.
You can't drill a new hole if the footprint of the larger screw doesn't cover the old hole. In this case it wouldn't; it would have left a half hole exposed and that won't work. Offsetting was easier than welding the old holes and starting over.
DF
