A further note about re-checkering: If the original pattern is distinct, like say the 700 stock with pressed checkering, then cutting it in can be good initial practice. If it's badly worn, re-cutting is much trickier than new work. In my experience, fixing worn checkering is best done by power tools. Just establish the master lines, set the tool to the proper spacing and proceed as if the stock never had checkering to start with. In the worst cases, I scrub the old lines with acetone and a stiff brush to clean away dirt and oil,then trowel on a layer of epoxy to rebuild the worn stock contours. Once the epoxy hardens and is smoothed up, it can be checkered pretty much like wood, and it isn't hard to stain it to the right shade.
