There are three basic stock configurations for the standard rifles (G6701R and G6801R);  Finger groove stock, semi-beavertail with blunt forend and semi-beavertail with tapered forend.

The finger grooves were eliminated on the standard models in 1938 when they went to a semi-beavertail blunt forend style stock but the finger grooved stocks were continued to be used on the dual sight models through 1941.  In 1946 the stock was changed to a semi-beavertail with a tapered forend style.

Of course there were also the boy’s rifles which had a shorter stock but still followed the grooved, blunt forend and tapered forend style of the adult rifles.  Also, the inletting was changed from the 67 to the 67A but that was not visible from the exterior.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

Yes, some of those published dates and info are a bit misleading.  They are not necessarily “wrong” but must be taken in the context of the reference basis which was used.  In the case of the finger groove stocks Madis and others based their statements on internal Winchester references which discussed the elimination of the finger grooves in 1935 and where the decision was made to move forward with the change.  In actual practice though the finger groove elimination was postponed since there had also been another decision made in a separate document to update the entire economy .22 bolt action line with a standard platform to ease manufacturing, reduce cost and modernize the appearance.  The Model 72 was developed as the underlying basis for many of the upgrades, including the stock enhancements for the Model 67, 68 and 69 and it also became the basis for the stocks on the 74 and 75 Sporter.  By waiting on eliminating the finger groove on the 67 and 68 they were ultimately able to use the newly designed Model 72 stock blank as the basis for all the aforementioned rifles.  One single stock blank with an identical exterior profile for all 6 models was much more efficient. 

So, by looking at other Winchester documentation we see that the finger grooves were not actually eliminated from the 67 and 68 design until January 25, 1938 even though the initial decision to do so was made in 1935, a little over 2 years prior.  And, since there were already a significant number of the thinner 67 and 68 blanks for the finger groove stocks on hand they continued to be supplied on the dual sight models until the supply was finally exhausted sometime in 1941 even though the standard Model 67 and 68 had already been upgraded to the new semi-beavertail (with no finger groove) blunt forend style stock.

Hope that helps explain some of the anomalies in the previously published information.

Best Regards,