Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks

Rating:
Summary: More funny than useful
Review: .

I found the writing style, with its poor grammar, distracting. On the other hand I liked Monty Kennedy's sense of humor.

My advice for those who are interested in learning how to checker is this:

First, choose hard, fine grain wood to practice on.

Second, ensure the wood is as smooth as possible and all grain is filled with varnish--this makes the checkering process less error prone. Uneven material surface and grain is likely to cause your tools to deviate from the your chosen path.

Third, don't use too fine a checker or the diamonds will break off.

Fourth, purchasing a decent set of tools.

Fifth, scribe your reference lines and trace your outline pattern and go at it.

Sixth, your best bet is to skip the book and practice on smoothly prepared sample material.

Seventh, don't get discouraged if your intitial results are not perfect, keep practicing, making smaller items like pistol or knife grips before tackling bigger projects. Be sure the grips are entirely shaped, smoothed, and finished, with holes drilled before you start checkering.

The book is good for some sample pictures, but these can easily be duplicated by a visit to your local gun shops to study finely checkered stocks. In fact you will get a better idea of what you like by studying many gun stocks.

The book is good for it's dry humor, which is sure to give you a few chuckles. I liked the book but did not feel it was worth the price. Invest your money in a set of tools.

Conrad B. Senior

Rating:
Summary: More funny than useful
Review: .

I found the writing style, with its poor grammar, distracting. On the other hand I liked Monty Kennedy's sense of humor.

My advice for those who are interested in learning how to checker is this:

First, choose hard, fine grain wood to practice on.

Second, ensure the wood is as smooth as possible and all grain is filled with varnish--this makes the checkering process less error prone. Uneven material surface and grain is likely to cause your tools to deviate from the your chosen path.

Third, don't use too fine a checker or the diamonds will break off.

Fourth, purchasing a decent set of tools.

Fifth, scribe your reference lines and trace your outline pattern and go at it.

Sixth, your best bet is to skip the book and practice on smoothly prepared sample material.

Seventh, don't get discouraged if your intitial results are not perfect, keep practicing, making smaller items like pistol or knife grips before tackling bigger projects. Be sure the grips are entirely shaped, smoothed, and finished, with holes drilled before you start checkering.

The book is good for some sample pictures, but these can easily be duplicated by a visit to your local gun shops to study finely checkered stocks. In fact you will get a better idea of what you like by studying many gun stocks.

The book is good for it's dry humor, which is sure to give you a few chuckles. I liked the book but did not feel it was worth the price. Invest your money in a set of tools.

Conrad B. Senior

Rating:
Summary: Checkering Review
Review: I like this book, but it does not do exactly what I had hoped for. The initial part of the book is written by Monty Kennedy in a down home style which is interesting and easy to read. Monty gives great and detailed descriptions on how to make checkering tools, which frankly can now be purchased quite inexpensiverly. Unfortunately he gives very sparse instruction on how to actually use the tools. His checkering instruction is very generalized. I had hoped for more detailed "how to" information for the novice. The rest of the book contains checkering/carving patterns by other artists, along with some tips and a few techniques. I would recommend this book as a general reference and resource for the serious checker or hobbyist, but I would not recommend this book if you are looking for information on the technique itself.