Winchester 70 FWT Stock mod

[smith17]

I own a transition 70 in .30-06 and recently had an opportunity to buy a fairly nice Featherweight in .270 from the mid-50s. I got into it right so was willing to overlook a stock modification but wanted other's opinion about what it is.


The barrel channel appears to be a bit larger than needed for a FWT barrel. So I figured it might be for a varmint model as it also doesn't have the hole/bolt that goes up into the rear sight lug/knot. However, it does have the cutout on top for this lug, just like a standard model has.


Maybe a varmint stock that someone fitted for a standard rifle barreled action and wanted it free floated without the bolt attached to the barrel? I can slip at least 7 dollar bills between the bottom of the barrel and the stock. That's all I had in my wallet after this purchase.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[DWalt]

I have a M70 Featherweight in .308 from 1960, and it does not have a stock-barrel gap like that. I'd accept the premise that your stock and action did not leave the factory at the same time.

 

[Texas Star]

Show the whole rifle. I need to see it, inc. the checkering pattern. Is the checkering impressed?

I think you may have one of the rifles made from 1964-1968. These were detested by most M-70 fans, being a cheapened version of the basic design.

Winchester, in answer to many complaints, made changes in 1968, and better, in 1972. Eventually, they cleaned up the mess and began making the present styles, some incorporating the Mauser '98 style wide extractor and controlled round feed.

My Fwt. Classic dates to 1992 and has those features.

When the 1964 rifles appeared, there were a lot of jokes about that wide inletting along the barrel channel. Winchester tried to cope by using ads that read, The barrel floats. The bullet doesn't!

They hired Kenya professional hunter David Ommaney to publicize the new rifle. Some think that Ommaney's later mauling by a leopard was Divine retribution for his supporting those cheapend M-70's!

Okay, that's mean. But such jokes made the rounds back then...

 

[Homie]

Looks like a Standard Model stock on the Fwt. bbld. action. Varmint stocks were not cut for the barrel lug. Maybe renegotiate the purchase price!

Good shooting.

 

[smith17]

I think you may have one of the rifles made from 1964-1968.

It's stamped 56 under the barrel and the checkering is cut. Plus the serialed receiver and bolt match up to '56.


Homie:
I thought it was a standard model stock also initially but there is no hole through the bottom of the stock for the bolt to attach to the rear sight threaded lug. I think the cut out is bubba'd.

 

[Homie]

How 'bout two holes under the buttplate,7/8" dia., 7" deep?

 

[smith17]

Yes, two holes. One 7.5" and the other 6". Indicative of a FWT?

 

[Homie]

Yes- someone butchered it for some unknown reason- probably seemed like a good idea at the time!