Stippling vs Checkering

[JHeath]

Stippling is for amateurs who can't checker. Like the toothless hillbilly who bubba'ed this Mauser.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Guys,,, just wait til they perfect the "Replicator" Then Craftsmanship will only matter as a point of having something to replicate.

The machine will duplicate whatever you tell it to.

Think I'm crazy? I'm talking about a 3D printer in 20 years.

The Bubba that Bubba'd that Mauser was no slouch, he just came from Germany where things like that are the Ne Plus Ultra of fine gun making. That was not a cheap gun either, just look at the engraving on the receiver, and the Oak leaf Pattern is well done.

I never cared for such things but that doesn't mean it is Odd or sub standard,,, it is just from another time. As long as the workmanship is there it deserves a place in the market. In fact that Oak Leaf Pattern is pretty common on higher end German guns. Not so much anymore but in the 50's and 60's they were very desirable. I bet that gun was a $15,000 rifle. German Claw Scope Mounts, Tang Safety, Set Triggers Engraved Metal, Carved and Inlaid Stock. It's got all the right stuff to be classed as a high end Custom Sporter.

Or were you just kidding?

Randy.

[Tnfalconer]

There is actually a machine out there that will checker a rifle stock, I have only ready about it but I am imagining with the complexity of it (CNC I am sure) It would not be cost effective for a small gunsmith to even think of. What is funny to me is what most consider decent checkering is actually just a stamp and press, there is no hand work in it at all.

[Tnfalconer]

Tnfalconer You've got me to wondering now about the high end stipping, have any pic's of good examples?
Or sites to explore? I would love to see pic's of your progress as you move forward on your build.
Aaron

I have some pics I can share of great stippling jobs. As far as my project, this Is the point where everything slows down. I just got the stocks in a wee or so back and I have not fitted them yet. It won't be long before I get started on them however. I am still contemplating the design and what it needs to look like finished. Right now I am leaning heavily towards a heavily stippled wrap around wrist with a full contact area on the fore arm. Following the lines of the stock is where I am having issue with what the finished product will look like. This is the worst part of a build for me, especially without a finished picture in my head as of yet. First and foremost, this is and will be a target rifle. It surely has a lot of nice things to look at on it but function in this case is just as or more important than form. Like the old Biker slogan. "Chrome won't get you home".

[Tnfalconer]

Here are a few that I dug up online. First is straight stippling on a Master class stock. They are one of the most noteworthy truly custom stock makers in the country. I have used several of their stocks for rifle builds in the past. All of them were either bench rest or Across the course match rifles. All were smooth with the exception of the last Match Rifle I built where they recommended the stippled stock. What a difference it made.

The second is a custom checkering job with stippling added in as fill. Just to illustrate that even "THE BEST" wood stock finishers stipple stocks.

Last in a hand carved stock with stippling. I think when most associate with stippling they have this visual image of plastic guns and smeared nonsense. That really isn't the case for a quality stock. No one is going to ruin a stock like these with crappy workmanship. I think these examples prove this well.

[M-Tecs]

I like strippling, however, I prefer checkering for most applications. The center stock is very nice.

[cainttype]

Really good stippling is attractive and effective, as has been stated several times. I like it on metal (mostly handguns) and wood.
I much prefer really good checkering in a classic style hunting rifle... mostly for the artisry, since both can provide an excellent grip purchase.

As a filler, stippling has been an obvious choice for generations... Not because it serves any useful handling purpose but because it's an effective background cover that's easy to apply.

To each his own, but in a head-to-head comparison on a classic styled rifle I'll take high quality checkering over high quality stippling every time.
On a tactical/competition rifle I'd have no problems with a quality stippled stock.

[JHeath]

The Bubba that Bubba'd that Mauser was no slouch, he just came from Germany where things like that are the Ne Plus Ultra of fine gun making. That was not a cheap gun either, just look at the engraving on the receiver, and the Oak leaf Pattern is well done.

I never cared for such things but that doesn't mean it is Odd or sub standard,,, it is just from another time. As long as the workmanship is there it deserves a place in the market. In fact that Oak Leaf Pattern is pretty common on higher end German guns. Not so much anymore but in the 50's and 60's they were very desirable. I bet that gun was a $15,000 rifle. German Claw Scope Mounts, Tang Safety, Set Triggers Engraved Metal, Carved and Inlaid Stock. . . .

Or were you just kidding?

Randy.

Point taken, Randy. Just because a fellow is from the hollers of Lower Bavaria is no reason to look down on him.

[joatmon]

Those example's are great! Thanks for posting them.
Aaron

[Katya Mullethov]

I'm not seeing the attraction

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I believe there is very rarely any reason except cost, or allowing a less capable person to do it, to choose stippling. There is very little reason except looks to choose checkering. There is no doubt that stippling is now often done on guns which are of very high quality in all other respects. Sometimes a gunsmith is reluctant to send a gun out when he has done everything else himself.

The only thing I can think of as a functional reason to stipple, is to cover a very irregular and hard to reach compound curve, such as the inside of a thumbhole stock. But that is the very sort of stock which needs any kind of roughening least. Indeed all of them can do without it pretty well.

Speaking as a jackleg amateur, I can well imagine that someone with a high reputation for gunsmithing and stocking (I will spare anyone's modesty) can get a far better price from a checkering specialist who wants regular work, and to get his name known in the business.

Any kind of applied flat material is particularly at a disadvantage on compound curves. I have seen some good amateur work done by cutting a very shallow recess, coating it with glue or varnish, and applying a layer of sand which is afterwards covered with one or more coats. My guess is that epoxy or waterproof wood glue was used to stick the stuff, and after that either superglue or varnish. You could use anything from sharp river sand to cagebird grit, which is particularly rounded so as not to upset the little dears' internal arrangements. The advantage over stippling is that white sand goes transparent, and gives a much clearer, undarkened view of the figure.

[nekshot]

IF I could stipple or do anything close to that mauser I would be happy!!!!!

[Blackwater]

Stippling, checkering and carving are all art forms, and as such, vary the full gamut of human experience and tastes. I love classic stuff like a good Rembrandt, the Mona Lisa, statue of David, etc., but had an art appreciation class in college, and once I learned the reasons for choosing certain ways and mediums in the realm of art, my eyes were opened to a much greater appreciation of the impressionistic style, and others. I still like classic oils and statues best, but now at least, I understand there really is some rhyme and reason to the other stuff. Saw a Rembrandt once, and was just floored by it! It won't make sense, but the guy's skin in the painting looked more like skin than real skin usually does! A sort of idealized portrait. Just plain amazing work!

I've seen stippling combined with checkering to create some really beautiful stocks, that were both functional and beautiful. But to each his own, of course. That's why we have horse races, right?

[W.R.Buchanan]

I'm not seeing the attraction

I think somebodies puppy got ahold of that Glock, and it chewed on the trigger too. I'm sure that mess wasn't deliberate or an accident. That is definitely "Dog Damage!" Always remember,,, "Tired dogs are good dogs!"

Randy

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I think somebodies puppy got ahold of that Glock, and it chewed on the trigger too. I'm sure that mess wasn't deliberate or an accident. That is definitely "Dog Damage!" Always remember,,, "Tired dogs are good dogs!"

Randy

Now there is a case for double action only.