Bubba, If you know a stockmaker that does not do checkering then he is NOT a stockmaker and I'd run for my life...
I will checker a stock by hand for $300. up, depending on the pattern, but I know some ladies who use the machine tool and do as good a job as anyone for about $150 up...and they can do in 4 hours what it takes me 30 to 40 hours to complete.
Posts: 42176 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
Atkinson, the fellow I mentioned is a stockmaker, in my poor uneducated opinion. I have several of his stock jobs, and am more than satisified.His gunsmithing skills are excellent also.In my poor uneducated opinion.I have three rifles he has done for me over the past twenty years , one with a Bishop stock, and two with Richards, two with Shaw barrels and one with a A&B, and with all can cover a three shot group with a quarter at a hundred. Well, maybe a fifty cent piece.And I have double barrel shotgun with sidelocks that he restocked from scratch from a blank.Your answer to my inquiry about the checkering is appreciated. Your comments about MY stockmaker is not. I checked out Sherry's website, and her work looks very good, as does the above posted picture.And her prices are more than reasonable.Thanks for the postings.
[ 12-01-2003, 18:33: Message edited by: Bubba John ]
Posts: 200 | Location: Tin Top .Texas | Registered: 21 August 2001
Most top stockmakers only build complete stocks and don't checker on a piecemeal basis. Some of them did when they were getting established, but once they had a reputation and a full workload, they no longer did so.
As a sidenote, some of the checkering that was done by now-retired stockmakers was unreal. I always loved Al Biesen's recessed fluer-de-lis pattern and Earl Milliron's semi-recessed point pattern checkering better than those of any other craftsmen.
Jeffe, she needs to learn to do it by hand first. At least that is what I was told by some people who had been doing it forever and it is the way I approached it when I got a MMC tool. One in particular was Bill Brownell who helped develop and was a partner in Dembart. You have to understand the ins and outs of hand checkering as you can not do all of it with a machine. The final clean up and some of the details often have to be done by hand. Dave Nolan at Trinidad State JC does a checkering class for the NRA summer gunsmithing program but it is for hand tools. I know of no one who teaches it using machine tools.
Posts: 4917 | Location: Wenatchee, WA, USA | Registered: 17 December 2001
Terry, that is truly beautiful work that is true to Al's standard of style, execution, and excellence. Tasteful, simple, dramatic, deep, elegant, and yet very business-like. No fluffy, vulnerable, over-done detail work, and no delicate, fair-weather stock finish! My kind of rifle - work that you love to admire for hours on end at home, yet feel completely comfortable in hunting with.
I wish more of today's riflemakers followed the Biesen/Milliron philosophy of building fine rifles to HUNT with......
quote:Originally posted by Customstox: Jeffe, she needs to learn to do it by hand first. At least that is what I was told by some people who had been doing it forever and it is the way I approached it when I got a MMC tool. One in particular was Bill Brownell who helped develop and was a partner in Dembart. You have to understand the ins and outs of hand checkering as you can not do all of it with a machine. The final clean up and some of the details often have to be done by hand. Dave Nolan at Trinidad State JC does a checkering class for the NRA summer gunsmithing program but it is for hand tools. I know of no one who teaches it using machine tools.
Chic, thanks... I don't think she can hand checker, as she ahs mirrormovement in her hands... might have to give it a try... none the less, would be fun to take the class together this summer
Are you a custom stockmaker and checkerer. If so I would be interested in looking at some of your work. Please send me a PM with links to some pictures. I have a stock that I need checkered. How much for one of your custom Fleur De Lis patterns. And let me know where I can send the stock too.
-R
[ 12-01-2003, 23:22: Message edited by: Ralph Smegma ]
quote:Originally posted by Ralph Smegma: Ray Atkinson,
Are you a custom stockmaker and checkerer. If so I would be interested in looking at some of your work. Please send me a PM with links to some pictures. I have a stock that I need checkered. How much for one of your custom Fleur De Lis patterns. And let me know where I can send the stock too.
Jeffe, good to hear. I took two metalsmithing classes from Mark Stratton last year and really ejoyed it. I lived in the dorms and couples were there also. Room was cheap, $65 a week and food at the Student union was very reasonable. Hope it works out for you. BTW, Raton, the NRA center is just 30 miles away and well worth the visit.
Posts: 4917 | Location: Wenatchee, WA, USA | Registered: 17 December 2001
Jeffe, a warning, it gets very addictive there and they have great equipment. Unfortunately Mark is not going back. After 10 years of teaching there, they decided to get cheap on him and make him pay for a motel room and he told them to forget it. Same with Cliff LaBounty. They don't understand that the real magic of these classes is the quality of the instruction and the people doing the teaching. The head of the NRA school understands that but the college president does not. I do hope it continues with the same quality. Dave does a good job with the checkering class. I visited with him quite often when I was there. Also got to know a few Texas boys (retired) who were taking the class. Another nice feature of these weeks.
Posts: 4917 | Location: Wenatchee, WA, USA | Registered: 17 December 2001
