doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com English flattop checkering

Are there any guidelines as to when a English double shotgun or rifle will have flattop checkering instead of pointed checkering? I have seen plenty of English doubles with pointed checkering and I recently had a vintage Rigby, with what appeared to be pointed checkering, recutt and a fellow collector pulled up his nose, stating that no Prewar Rigby ever had anything but flattop checkering. By the way, he also stated that prewar Rigby rifles were never made with cheekpieces? Most of the English doubles that I own, have pointed checkering but I am now worried that this might not be original.
Regards,
Charl

On English guns, most of the original, flat-top checkering that I've seen has been on 19th century guns. Most of them have been hammer guns.

A friend of mine ordered a Best grade O/U and he had to fight to have them put flat-top checkering on it.

Here's an all original Rigby rifle from 1911 with a cheekpiece:

http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx...&GunID=1745

I can't tell which style of checkering it has.

Here's another rifle from 1902:

http://www.jamesdjulia.com/auctions/catalog_detail_shots.asp?Details=37407&sale=264

That doesn't look like flat-top checkering to me. I may be wrong, though.


The checkering on this shotgun looks pointed:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/968526274/Guns/Shotguns/Rigby-Shotguns/John_Rigby_Sidelock_12ga.htm#

I don't know if it is original.

OWD

My take is that checkering quality - pointed diamonds, straight patterns (on point patterns) that match the shape of the diamonds, no overruns - is not valued in England nor in Italy or most of Europe. The work I've seen over the last 100 years or so that is flat topped is not uniformly that way and is sloppy execution. The best checkering in the world is and has been done in the U.S., IMO.

GF1 you may be right on where the best checkering comes from today. But those sharp pointed diamonds don't belong on most vintage guns, American or European. Some of the finest execution will be found on some British flat top examples, but not all. Higher end French guns often have wonderful workmanship in their checkering.

To my eye, and the opinion of several gunmakers I've known, flat top checkering is the most difficult to properly execute. All flat top diamonds need to be the same size to not be distracting. Sharp diamonds can be overcut and never be detected. Also, from a practical standpoint, sharp checkering can be a real hinderance to a proper mount. When mounting and shooting a double gun both hands are moving a lot. The last thing I want is for sharp checkering to grab the hand, interrupting the mount and swing or moving the hand for a second shot.

Here's a great example of perfect flat top checkering. On my Greener from 1872. Only about 10 lines to the inch but very attractive and practical.

Joe, your John Harper is a good example of good flat top checkering. Do you have any pics ?

First I've ever heard that....OK if I use it?

"I'd have gotten that bird but my checkering is too danged sharp."

Here's a hammergun with properly executed flat top checkering, after I get the gun back from some guy up in Wisconsin, I'll take more detailed pics of the checkering....

Mike, that is a darned good excuse....I've had great luck with it for years. In my book it's excuse #63b.12

Daryl, here's a pic of the John Harper's grip. Gun is probably from after WW2. Harper worked in Birmingham and at one time was a Guardian of the proof house. The checkering provides a good grip but does not grab as sharp diamonds would.