Hello, everyone. I have a customized Ruger No.1 in .38-55. 26" Douglas premium 1/2 oct. custom stocked in nice figured English walnut, ebony forend tip & pistol grip cap. custom quarter rib with Talley mounts, case colored lever, mounts & rib. action & brl. rust blued.
The smith I purchased it from intended it for a bench gun..which I will most likely ever use it for..it's pretty heavy to lug around in woods. Although, he did say if it didn't sell, he was going to re-chamber for a 9.5 Nitro?? and checker stk. for a hunting rifle. He said he really didn't want to checker grip area because of hiding nice grain figure.

It looks good as is, and since I will use it off bench, forend should probably remain checker-free..but what about the pistol grip? Would having this checkered only look strange? What are your opininos on this? Thanks!

Many if not most custom rifles look kinda incomplete to me without checkering.

WELL-DONE checkering won't hide the figure, at least not if the smith goes back and smooths the cuts with a bent triangular needle file. The filing/smoothing brings out the grain figure albeit not quite as clearly as the uncheckered area since the now-filed diamonds still aren't quite as smooth as the carefully-sanded remainder.

I also suggest checkering the forearm on its sides, to allow a free recoil on the bench bags while at the same time enhancing your fine rifle.
Regards, Joe

I pretty much agree with JD, but have found on some small rifles with straight grip stocks (no pistol grip) that the checkering looks overly busy or dominating on a stock with a lot of grain. (I for some reason have built quite a few of these.) Even then, some of them look better checkered. As a general rule, I think checkering really enhances the rifle. For the No 1, always. I have two restocks right now that I am finishing. One in 9.3x74 and one in 450-400. They have similar stocks, both swirly Circassian of similar color and grain. One has been checkered and one is waiting to be sent to the checkerer. There is no doubt the checkered one looks better. I had the finished one checkered with a style similar to the stock pattern.

I am partial to good checkering (Dale Goens was my all time favorite) but I gnenrally like the ornate wrap around styles on a gun intended to be used. JD is right in that the side panel forearm is the most practical for a gun you will be shooting. No danger of damage shooting off the bench.

quote:

Originally posted by Art S.:
I am partial to good checkering (Dale Goens was my all time favorite)

Me too, IN SPADES!

I only wish that in Kennedy's book he had shown more patterns with mullered borders, but that wasn't 'in style' back then.
Regards, Joe

Thank you for your very helpful suggestions!

Over the years, I have received many custom rifles for checkering, and one of the big questions was "can I still see the grain of the wood through the checkering?"

If done correctly, Yes! For years, After I cut each line - by hand - with a medium pointer (made by GunLine Tools) I go back over EACH line with a FINE pointer. This "sands" the side of the checkering diamopnd and allows the grain to come through the sealer. I do not apply finish over the checkering. I use several different "sealers" for this task, usually a thinned down version of the finish used on the stock/forearm, and applied to the checkering with a fine toothbrush. To best check my statement, buy a copy of my book Checkering for the Beginner! It shows many completed works, and a lot of the different patterns I have cut. And for the mullered borders, Yes, there are a few of them in there too.

Yes, get it checkered. A rifle that is uncheckered, to me, screams "Garage Gunsmith", and I expect the rest to be bolt-together parts rather than a fine custom.

Really do it right, get flat top checkering. Man after the last set of pics of some flat top checkering here I'm obsessed, I must have it on a rifle! I agree an uncheckered stock looks unfinished, trust me, I have a few.

Red

YES! For all the reasons posted above.

Zeke

Hello,again everyone. Good posts! I have to agree.. done right, the grain is visible and I think enhanced thru the checkering. Dago Red..that flat top checkering is what the British used & does look good! I talked it over with custom stockmaking friend..maybe later this year? Thanks again!

Dont forget the cup holders and curb feelers.
Thats the only way to go.
If you can afford it a few diamonds wont hurt either.
Larry

Only the best checkering looks good to me. I actually like no checkering to distract from a pretty piece of wood but if just an ordinary looking stock some elegant checkering is nice. A good pattern should not distract from the lines of the gun.

IMHO, a master at checkering will definitely enhance the beauty of the stock, including the grain, with checkering. The only rifles of mine without checkering (excluding composite stocks) are my thumb hole rifles. With the thumb hole pattern there is no need for checkering, as part of the reason for a checkering pattern is to enhance your hold or grip on the rifle, and that is taken care of with the grip through the thumb hole.

Hello, everyone. Well. the Ruger is with the stockmaker..have to wait in line though! I am having a NECG ramp front installed also. Checkering patterns not finalized yet..However he did mention checkering the side panels in buttstock..I have seen this done on custom Rugers..and older shotguns..However..I am really not too crazy about the look..there is some really tight curly contrasting colored grain thru there and I think I like it the way it is..What are your thoughts on checkering in this area? Also, since the forend bottom is slightly flat..not beavertailed though..he suggested a couple of diamond patterns..while leaving plenty of uncheckered area for wear. Any comments welcome! Thanks.

A stock without checkering is a picture without a frame IMO...

However, I could live without checkering on a bench rest rifle, a thumbhole, or blackgun. then again I don't any of those kind of guns.