Hello Gentlemen
I have a collection of pre-WW1 hunting rifles with original flat-top checkering. Since these are all rifles that have seen use, there are areas where the checkering has been compressed. I have done conservation on the wood to make them look like a well-cared for 111 year-old Haenel Mannlicher and a 130 year-old George Gibbs 1893 Steyr.
These are rifles that I will be taking into the PA woods this year for deer hunting.
I am no expert when it comes to checkering and I understand that flat checkering is a whole other rabbit hole to go down.
My question to the experts is should I try to clean up the checkering or simply leave these rifles alone?
Many thanks in advance.

I'm certainly no expert but my suggestion is to try and talk to someone fluent in flat top checkering, perhaps Duane Wiebe, James Tucker or maybe Matthew Roberts. The reasons for suggesting this is for one thing, flat top checkering tools are typically hand made, nobody mass produces flat top checkering tools, at least that I could find in my research. Secondly flat top checkering is very specialized and so cleaning the checkering on your rifles may be more complicated than cleaning up regular diamonds. So talk to as many people as time affords. The alternative to doing it yourself is to let a master do the work. Either way good luck in your endeavor.

...just my 2 cents but if those were mine I would just leave the checkering as it is. If you try to just touch up spots the dark color patination of the grooves would most likely be cut away causing it to need the whole area re-cut with questionable improvement of appearance. I used to checker professionally and once I re-cut an old shotgun of mine with flat-top, wish I had left it alone after completion....

Sometimes old checkering is filled with oily grime [technical term, "munge"] and can be scrubbed with mineral spirits and a stiff toothbrush to clean this out, best to do this if you are refinishing anyway in case your finish job is injured by the treatment.

I prefer well used and loved rifles over pristine safe queens. That wear is the best part of the rifle when passed down to subsequent generations.

Pretty easy to screw up flat top checkering... on new work. All it takes is one slip and you'll reach for a razor (to slash your wrists).

I venture that trying to "refresh" the checkering alone is a bad idea.

My opinion..., flat top is beautiful ONLY if well done....Point checkering is pretty forgiving in comparison.

Thnks for the input guys. A voice in the back of my brain told me to leave well enough alone. I've learned to try and listen to that voice as I get older. Just wanted some opinions from others.

If you want to brighten up the whole stock, you might try linseed oil, thinned about 1/3 with turps. With a sof tooth brush. "sweep" the checkering...then using a paper towel, lightly scrub the whole stock (Getting some on the metal will do no harm.)
With comprsed air,blow out the nooks an crannies and chckeing, then wipe with clean paper towel.

Next day, blow out again and again wipe and polish with clean paper towel.

On that old a gun, I'd feel safe with linseed, but you could use Seafin or equal. Remember, these modified oils will dry a lot quicker so asjust your routine with that in mind.

If there's an old reoil pad installed and it'snot in bad shape, try Armor all or tire shine (or equal)

Heck..in the old days, pads were varnished!

Thanks for the info Duane. No recoil pad on these old girls.....just a good old steel butt plate.