Show me your uncheckered rifle stocks?

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

Gents,

I'm looking at options for a new stock. All of my current rifles are checkered except for one Husky 1640 (and it's very slim, schnabel tip, etc.). This isn't about price -- I've got options to checker or not -- but I found myself sort of wondering if the rifle would look better, or potentially more "classic," without the checkering. It's another Winchester 670 that I'm "bringing back to life."

Got any examples of nice walnut sans checkering? Would sure appreciate seeing them!

Thanks y'all.

 

[baxterb]

Look up old pics of Harry Selbys 416. Like the one in the Ruark biography. It spend a great deal of its working life with no checkering after Harry took to the stock with a file and rasp to make it like he wanted.

 

[robtattoo]

1940's Argentine Mauser in .257 Roberts. Checkered, but so badly work, it's barely visible.

1898-1901 dated Obendorf Mauser in 9x57 (I know, the wrist is checkered.....)

 

[Rare Breed]

Personally I think a gun is much better looking without it

 

[Doug3006]

Timely post! I’m finishing a stock for my Ruger #1 300 H&H. The wood is so nice, I hate to checker it.

I suppose that there’s a functional advantage in checkering. In all my years hunting, though, I haven’t ever felt that it did much in helping me grip the firearm.

Interested in other’s thoughts.

 

[Rare Breed]

+1 on your comment. In my 50+ years of hunting I don’t remember checkering having an impact on my grip and I live in hot Georgia with high humidity. It just seems a shame to mar a beautiful piece of wood with checkering but I always have so don’t want to imply I haven’t

 

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

Yea, that's part of what I'm thinking. I've never been in a situation where I would have lost control of a rifle if not for checkering. Especially if the forearm is a little slimmer and fits well into your palm.

All the photos I see of Selby's rifles have checkering in both spots?

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’m kinda partial to this one

 

[C.W. Richter]

Some Art Alphin thing. lol 'Was once given a 1920's s/s Win .22 LR 26" bbl target rifle w/ adj peep sight. It was SUPER accurate. 'Had to sell it as part of a package (involving other heirlooms I didn't use much or at all) to pay off my divorce decades ago. I really miss that gun now!!! No checkering, but the stock was recessed in places for you to hold on to it (much more functional than checkering, but I like FINE checkering very much. I do NOT like typ cheapie machine checkering (i.e. mossberg, rem, savage, etc.) Why bother? Do it right or not at all.

 

[cash_tx]

FN Mauser in .275 Rigby with no checkering on the wood. I inherited this rifle, so don't know if it is the original stock; but my guess is it more likely is than not.

 

[robtattoo]

I’m kinda partial to this one

Is that an early 700 or a 721? Is a beauty, whichever it is!

 

[Flipper Dude]

Is that an early 700 or a 721? Is a beauty, whichever it is!

721. 1952 Model IIRC. It’s mint, actually. Not that I’m an appraiser, but I can’t find a mark on it.

 

[robtattoo]

Beautiful!
I have a 1949 I'm in the middle of remodelling into a short 9.3x62

 

[nztimb]

This is some I have built and not checkered and like was noted above I have NEVER had an occasion where grip was a problem. Most of you will know these examples as I have showed them before although most have been sold on now.
404 Jeffery 1950's FN Colombian

7x57 1908 Brazilian

400 Lee Speed styled 1901 MLE

6.5x57 1916 Erfurt SR

308 Howa

There are more but this suffices to show that an uncheckered stock does not have to look "unfinished".

 

[Ryan]

Thompson/Center Encore with a Great Plains keyhole stock. The previous stock, which cracked, was also uncheckered. I can't see a reason to blur this beautiful walnut with checkering.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Good checkering is as nice as bad checkering is awful and pressed checkering is a sin. I particularly like fine checkering in hard walnut, below is a great example of Purdey's work.

 

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

Thanks for the examples, gents. I think I'm coming to terms with liking a non-checkered stock.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If checkering was important for a secure grip, military rifles would have had something. (Surely not hand cut checkering)
For me, it’s all about looks.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Gents,

I'm looking at options for a new stock. All of my current rifles are checkered except for one Husky 1640 (and it's very slim, schnabel tip, etc.). This isn't about price -- I've got options to checker or not -- but I found myself sort of wondering if the rifle would look better, or potentially more "classic," without the checkering. It's another Winchester 670 that I'm "bringing back to life."

Got any examples of nice walnut sans checkering? Would sure appreciate seeing them!

Thanks y'all.

@clockwork_7mm_gator
This is the uncheckered stock on my 1885 lowall. My gunsmith calls it his unfinished job but I think checkering would spoil the look of a nice piece of wood

 

[Woodcarver]

As others have pointed out, bad or pressed checkering is abominable. But fine checkering can enhance the looks of a rifle, even on exhibition grade walnut; it doesn't hide the figure where coarse will. Keep in mind, I also like carving on gunstocks, although I won't touch high grade wood with anything but checkering, with possibly a carved border.
Checkering can also take a nondescript stock, like laminate, and make it look good..

There's undoubtedly an uncheckered stock in the safe. Just means I haven't gotten around to improving that stock.....