Per Rule, Winchester introduced the M54 Carbine (stock with the finger grooves in the forend and no checkering) in mid-1927 and the NRA Short Rifle (checkered stock similar to the one found on the M70) in 1934. Not as many NRA Short Rifles out there.
Per Bichrest: “The survey shows that Short Rifles were assembled early in production well before their catalog introduction in 1934. Early variations may be stocked with the Standard Rifle stock or later with the NRA type stock with a Nickel Steel barrel.” My rifle is serial numbered around 1932 with a Nickel Steel barrel date code of 28, in the early Standard type stock with a Lyman 48 WJS Aperture sight and period correct Noske 2-1/2x Hunter Fieldscope.
