Stock Making - Checkering

[Burr]

Has anyone out there ever taken up stock-making, and/or checkering as a hobby craft?

Just wondering how much artistic ability is needed, if there are any stock makers or checkering hobbiest's out there.

Might be kind of an interesting pursuit. Looks like things have progressed to where fully inletted stocks are both common, and reasonably priced. All kinds of wood quality choices. But checkering and finishing are something that is usually not included.

With the prices on the lowest level of wood, it might be reasonable to hone some skills with checkering and final fitting (if needed) for about the price of going out to dinner with the family. Once quality work is obtained, a nicer piece of wood is not nearly as much as it has been to put a custom stock on a gun.

Brings up the question how much would be invested in tools too...

Anyone else do this?

[orchard frank]

I fooled around with some many years ago. Most of the stuff on new firearms is machine made, and maybe finished by hand. The tools are pretty straight forward, sketch out your pattern, trace it with a single tooth, move to a double to start row 2. Patterns need to come out even. There are 3 row tools that just scribe row 3, after 1&2 are established. Go REAL slow, cutting a little at a time, over and over until the pattern is done, then go back and deepen the cuts until they are almost pointed, then a finishing tool to point them up. You will gain a great deal of respect for the people who create really nice stuff. Used to be a real artist out to Williams GunSight company. Did stuff for a lot of real collectors. The good ones are not only way, way better, WAY faster too. Going all the way around grips still seems impossible to me, but they do it. I'd suggest practicing on a ball bat or something before you start on a gun. A fun thing is almost being done and breaking off a point. Interested to hear your results. Good Luck

[Burr]

I finally found a good book on it. Checkering by SL Mays.

It will be a while before I put the tools on a gunstock. I think I'll start just making a design on flat wood, I've got a good hardwoods supplier close to home, so I'll probably get a couple small blocks of Walnut to get the feel of the wood.

Here's an odd question, I've read the tools cut going in one direction - I had pictured in my mind that it would cut when your pulling the tool, but the book (although unclear) referenced "pushing" the tool on the cutting stroke? Is that right?

Is there a brand of tools that are better than another? I see both Gunline and Dem-Bart so far.

Good idea on checking a bat - that would be good practice for the grip. I can turn down some wood on a lathe to practice. I might take a pressed checker stock and cut the same pattern on it for one of the first gun projects.

I've toyed with the idea of taking on stockmaking as a whole, but instead of going nowhere with that grand plan, I'm changing focus to checkering, finish, and glass bedding, and I may swap a barrel on Savages. I see there are pretty reasonably prices on fully inletted unfinished stocks, but I suspect "fully inletted" doesn't mean a perfect fit, but a loose fit. A drop in stock will probably need to be glass bedded.

My reloading bench is full, and then some, so it looks like it's time for me to build another bench to mount a vise. That might give me a place to setup my shotshell presses so I can just leave them bolted onto a bench too.

[orchard frank]

The pattern layout is most critical. I'm sure the book shows that the rows are not at 90 degrees to each other. Cutting on the push still allows you to draw back for smoothing the cut. Just can't push or pull too hard, have to let the file do the work or you'll run off your pattern. If a thread gets started that asks "Do you drink while checkering?" A good answer would be "no, but it often gives me a great excuse to start right afterwards" I would probably be better at it now, way older, maybe more patient, just can't see as good. I think there is some artistic talent to be good, like painting or sculpting, but I'm sure you'll have fun with it. I used to tie flies too, kind of the same.

[Uncle Paul]

Burr I’ve done a bunch of shotgun stocks and depending on the gun most of the time a machine inletted stock is the only way to go and yes it will take some work to fit it properly to the action. Look up a company called Wenig they have thousands of different inletted blanks ask them what they have for you to practice on. Also look up Brownells it’s a gunsmith supply store they have all the tools you will ever need. (I use Dem-Bart) Take your time.Paul