Vintage stock - is this a rescue or possibly making it worse?

[Craig-P]

Please, send it to someone who has experience of chequering.
There's about an hours' work there for an experienced chequerer, so it won't cost the earth - but to correct a job where someone has, 'had a go', could cost more than double.
Following a line is easy - maintaining depth and cut direction isn't - neither is selecting the correct cutter angle to suit the LPI, which nobody has mentioned.
Borders are not put on to hide overruns, it's a myth. They obviously can be used in this way but a neat, double or mullered/English border is more difficult to cut than the chequer itself and is a sign of ability, not to hide an overrun ( which can be corrected in a number of other ways ).
If you were closer, I'd do it for you but you're not exactly local sadly.
Cleaning up a infilled chequering pattern with a dulled, single line Dembart cutter is fine - but that needs a correct recut and should be left to someone with experience. Trust me, I have several stocks in for attention right now, all from someone, 'having a go'.
Best, Craig

[45flint]

Please, send it to someone who has experience of chequering.
There's about an hours' work there for an experienced chequerer, so it won't cost the earth - but to correct a job where someone has, 'had a go', could cost more than double.
Following a line is easy - maintaining depth and cut direction isn't - neither is selecting the correct cutter angle to suit the LPI, which nobody has mentioned.
Borders are not put on to hide overruns, it's a myth. They obviously can be used in this way but a neat, double or mullered/English border is more difficult to cut than the chequer itself and is a sign of ability, not to hide an overrun ( which can be corrected in a number of other ways ).
If you were closer, I'd do it for you but you're not exactly local sadly.
Cleaning up a infilled chequering pattern with a dulled, single line Dembart cutter is fine - but that needs a correct recut and should be left to someone with experience. Trust me, I have several stocks in for attention right now, all from someone, 'having a go'.
Best, Craig

I hear you that me taking a go will not live up to what a real pro could accomplish. But not sure a professional checking job would look right on a rifle in this time frame. I have hear it said that in the 1920-30’s checking was given to apprentices who weren’t exactly artists of the day? If you look at the current checkering you find a job that looks a bit amateurish? I may spend more time doing this job than the original checkerer and may actually be more in the ballpark of the original? There is the other side of me that says leave it be.

[keith66]

Craig-P is right, too easy to balls it up & make it worse. You only need to get one line go wonky & it can be a nightmare to put right. But an hours work? explains why i will never be a professional checkerer, to put that right would take me a day at least just to do one panel and that spread over three days so my eyes could cope with the strain! A better man than me gunga din.

[Craig-P]

I hear you that me taking a go will not live up to what a real pro could accomplish. But not sure a professional checking job would look right on a rifle in this time frame. I have hear it said that in the 1920-30’s checking was given to apprentices who weren’t exactly artists of the day? If you look at the current checkering you find a job that looks a bit amateurish? I may spend more time doing this job than the original checkerer and may actually be more in the ballpark of the original? There is the other side of me that says leave it be.

I've no idea of the history in all fairness mate. I just personally feel the lovey shape of that Prince of Wales grip warrants a correct job. And going over the four way curve will test the operation of the cutter in each of the four ways. Shame to leave it as it's clearly a sanding issue - it could look really nice.

[Epicyclic]

I'm going to throw the cat into the pigeons now and propose the use of a file.
A cutter may dig or wander whereas the file is easier to control. It will easily follow the line and the cut can be made more progressively than with a blade through pressure control. Results may be
constantly checked with subtle compensations made as you either push or pull.
I'd clean a metal thread this way and see this as being no different. I frequently file wood in joinery work to achieve final accuracy.

[Craig-P]

...And a butter knife can also be used as a screwdriver...

[Forrest Stocks]

I hear you that me taking a go will not live up to what a real pro could accomplish. But not sure a professional checking job would look right on a rifle in this time frame. I have hear it said that in the 1920-30’s checking was given to apprentices who weren’t exactly artists of the day? If you look at the current checkering you find a job that looks a bit amateurish? I may spend more time doing this job than the original checkerer and may actually be more in the ballpark of the original? There is the other side of me that says leave it be.

Craig Petty is superb at the job and he will listen to what you would like from it. He's a great bloke to deal with and very helpful. His work is fantastic. Even with the lines present and correct tools, it's easy to go off course and double line/over cut etc in places. I don't know if that helps? Either way, it'd be nice to see it when done. Hope you get on ok with it and enjoy it if you decide to do it yourself likewise. Best wishes. T

[45flint]

Craig Petty is superb at the job and he will listen to what you would like from it. He's a great bloke to deal with and very helpful. His work is fantastic. Even with the lines present and correct tools, it's easy to go off course and double line/over cut etc in places. I don't know if that helps? Either way, it'd be nice to see it when done. Hope you get on ok with it and enjoy it if you decide to do it yourself likewise. Best wishes. T

Decided to put it on my sale table at the next two airguns shows as is. If it doesn’t sell I may go at it?