Hand Checkering Rifles

[ken69]

I have raised dents and oiled the occasional rifle stock for many years now. I’ve learned loads about it and have for sure improved to a decent standard to the point that I’ve done the occasional stock for pals. It’s such a relatively easy and rewarding task to do, I recommend that people should have a go themselves. Which got me thinking about checkering stocks. I have a few gorgeous Custom Stocks that have been stippled and I’m thinking of getting one changed to checkering. I’ve asked around friends and gunsmiths and the typical cost is around £40 per panel so a 4 panel rifle stock would cost circa £160. Now that sounds quite a lot of money for a cheaper air rifle, but certainly not for higher end rifles and shotguns for sure! Also I very much respect time served gunsmiths, that cover all areas of work. You then have to think about their fixed costs for having the work shop etc and a declared business so costs all add up probably pushing the costs up higher if the pattern was more complicated.

Additionally I would like to get some rifles serviced or, barrel threaded for example. So question is, which gunsmiths in the country offer a one stop shop, for checkering, servicing and rifle modifications. As you can imagine sending a rifle for one job then sending it to another for extra work adds to the time and cost considerably.

Not sure how much preparation work would be involved in removing the original stippling before work on the chequering could be started but I would suggest the cost would need to be taken in to account as well as the £40 per panel. I have a CS stock on my Rapid and the stippling is quite deep and covers a lot of surface area