Quote:
To my untrained eye that checkering looks impressed to me.
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Whereas I certainly agree that the checkering "job" done on NavyChief's Model 70 stock leaves a lot to be desired, it is
cut (likely by machine) but not "impressed". Impressed "checkering" was introduced sometime in the early sixties as a cost-cutting measure as compared to the labor intensive hand-cut checkering and this process was popular for a period of ten years or so before the advent of machine-cut checkering on factory rifles. Impressed checkering is really not "checkering" at all; it is a
reverse checkering process and is achieved by "stamping" a checkering design into the wood. The "diamonds" aren't raised but rather are recessed, offering no purchase to the grip. Impressed checkering is mostly a decorative effort and offers little in terms of functionality.
I haven't seen impressed checkering done on a factory firearm since the 1970s.