That's a nice, professional stamping job on the top of the barrel, TbG. Lots of folks don't get it that nice, even with a stamping guide.
As for checkering-- the stockmaking instructor in the gunsmithing school I attended said that you have to practice, practice, practice, and when you've done an area about equivalent to a football field you'll be proficient at it. I've never been good at it, and avoided it for all but touchup jobs. But, truthfully, I don't much like it anyway as the checkering interrupts the natural beauty of the wood grain. Your stock looks very nice as-is.