Who knows rifle checkering?

[jimjim]

I was in my local gun shop yesterday and talking to the owner about carving. (It just came up in the conversation) Anyway he showed me some very interesting pieces done on rifle stocks that just blew me away. I don't have any pics but bottom line, he gave me the stock off of an old Enfield to practice on. When I got home I realized I knew absolutly nothing about checkering (or most things really ) and was wondering if anyone on the forum could point me in the right direction. Thanks, Jim

[Irish]

Jim,

I would start buy doing a search at google for rifle checkering tools. They are a bend shaft v-gouge with a guide arm attached. You cut the first line free hand. You adjust the guide arm to the width you want between lines. Drop the guide arm down into the trough of the first line to make your second cut.

The antique checkering tools I have from when my Dad did gun stocks are in several v-angel widths and I believe there is at least one u-gouge.

You probably could cut a checking without that guide arm that comes attached. But personally I would never try it when the guide makes each cut perfect.

Susan

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Brownell's stocks them. Hand checkering isn't as easy as it looks. Good luck.

Categories

[jimjim]

Thanks to the both of you. Also that Brownlees site is great...Jim

[Ashbys]

Jim ,
before you start , take a few scraps and give them a bit of a radius , most of the checkering tools cut three lines at a time , and the problems come from poor starts, and rolling with the stock. once you have the first set in place cut two lines at a time using the third to follow in the groove alread cut . It will help.

Ash

[Jim-Iowa]

I live about 50 miles from Brownells, I have a Dembart 20 line per inch set of checkering tools. They are like V shaped rasps on a handle. That's not to say I'm good with them yet.
But I would reccomend a starter set and lots of practice.
Probably the most important thing is to have a good way of holding the stock while working. Look at the checkering vises. Do a Google search for Checkering Vises and either buy or make(there are good plans on the net) yourself one.
Brownells is tops in customer service! Since that's my profession I try to deal with those that excel in the field.

One thing I forgot to add, Checkering is usually done after the stain and finish is applied. Otherwise it would be nearly impossible to clean the oil,varnish or poly out of the grooves and you would have a gummy mess.

[AlArchie]

Wood Carvers Supply has a 6 piece checkering st for around 55 bucks, a book and guage for another 12 or so.

Wood Carvers Supply, Inc. search for checkering tools

Wood Carvers Supply, Inc.

Al

[Peter Wright]

You want to get Monte Kennedys book on "Checkering and Gunstock carving", it is the definitive text on the checkering subject.

Check with your local library and see if they can get it on inter-library loan for you, If not Order it through Brownells.

Be patient when checkering and be sure to use your toothbrush ( to clean out diamond rows)Talking