Howdy irs,
No doubt that the workmanship shown in your photos looks to be excellent, for sure! The inletting looks equally as good as that of my 'Hutton' stock. The forearm tip is not attached in the same manner as the one on my 'Hutton' marked stock. The tip on my stock is either just glued-on flat (doubtful though), or held on supported by a short wooden dowel, or dowels, or steel pin(s). Of course, this doesn't mean that Hutton couldn't have changed methods of attachment at some point, based on his employer's desires at the time. I have seen this method of attaching a forend tip somewhere before, its not in either one of M. Petrov's two books, but can't remember where or when right now.
The main feature this stock seems to be missing is the 'Hutton' stamp on the action flat behind the recoil lug. When he started using that stamp is unclear. I believe that my Hutton rifle stock may have been made during his time at National Target Supply, or after. My rifle is a shortened action Model 70 made in 1938 with a 1942 barrel. This most readily suggests the stock was made after 1942.
All I can add is 'could be"! Thanks for posting the intrigue, irs.
If only they could talk!
