Just read the Shooting Times article about checkering. How hard is it to do a nice job? Can an average guy learn how to do it? Any resources of suggestions? Thanks

Pharmpoke,
I have been promising a checkering seminar on here for a few years now and will get it done sometime soon.

I was revising the first draft in July and will finish it as time permits.

It is one of the most difficult tasks to master in stockmaking. Your first attempts will be incredibly ................. terrible. Almost guaranteed. You can learn to do passable work with some careful attention. You do need some help and guidance and hopefully I can provide some of that.

I consider myself a fair to passable wood worker, I've built several decent pieces of furniture in my time. I got a complete set of checkering tools a few years ago for free, read a book, laid out a very simple pattern, and proceeded to completely butcher many pieces of plain walnut I got to practice on. This has got to be the toughest craft I have tried, one slip and the job is ruined.

I'd highly recommend finding someone to do it professionally, I don't know Chic or what he charges but I've been told he does good work by others. I've seen work done by a smith over in Georgia that cost around $100. It was very simple and plain but clean, looked worlds better than anything I could ever accomplish. If you start looking at something like the work on my Gr. IV BAR stock you're probably getting close to $500-$1000, 22-24 LPI checkering with very fine oak leaves carved around the panels.
Good luck

Pharmpoke,

I would suggest looking into the NRA summer gunsmithing program. Dave Nolan(staff instructer and all around cool guy) teaches a week long course on checkering at Trinidad State Junior College as well as a two week long stockmaking class. I did the stockmaking class this past summer and my skills took a big leap for the better. Next summer you bet I will be taking the checkering class as my checkering attempts so far have been okay but nothing I'm willing to show off.

Your profile doesn't say were in Wyoming you are but Trinidad is only a two and a half hour drive south of Denver.

Good luck!

The book to read is Gunstock Checkering and Carving by Monte Kennedy. I believe Brownnells sells it--worth every penny. Pete

PS, Had a chance to inspect and buy an L46 Sako stocked by a well known stockmaker form the 50s& 60s. He is dead now I believe and I won't memtion his name, but the checkering left alot to be desired. It was a diamond point pattern and in the grip panels the lines had big bellys. Also, the diamonds weren't the normal 75* but were little squares. I thought about buying the gun for the barreled action, but the stock went with it and they wanted too much. Needless to say I was very dissapointed in the checkering. Jack, Chic, I'am sure you know of this guy or maybe even knew him in person.

Wearing this and going very S.L.O.W.L.Y will help to eliminate alot of errors. Trust me a rookie like me would know.



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