I sent the link to this thread to one of the American gunsmith's you so easily dismiss.

I'm paraphrasing but here are his thoughts.
Quote:

"Americans made checkering an art form. Not the British, nor Italians, nor Austrians, nobody but the lowly Americans.

Now the world aspires.

About the only reason that W&S did flat top checkering was that it cost them less to meet their price point."


FWIW: He is known well for his stock design and I trust his opinion without question. He has forgotten more about the making of classic rifles and shotguns than most will ever know.


Mike