I believe I may have stumbled upon a gem. This has to be the rarest of the rare, a fore-end checkered by none other than Ray Charles. I was de-oiling it, in prep for a refinish, and found this evidence.

Cock-eyed checkering pattern:

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Initials of what may be the checkerer, RC.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

What'cha think? Ray Charles?