The Dem-Bart checkering tools often mentioned here seem to be discontinued or out of stock, so I am wondering if there is a simple alternative, without doing a lot more research.

They still show up on Ebay, but who knows in what condition the cutters are likely to be on a used tool.

I am just planning on cleaning up a few rows on some old stocks, not a wholesale re-cutting of entire panels. I assume one or two tools would be all I need. The tool that was mentioned here in other threads was Dem-Bart S1.

Thanks in advance!

Ullman Precision Hand Checkering tools are available at Midway.

Ullman Precision Products Hand Checkering Tool 3/16 Length 75-Degree

I used a 90 Degree, 3/8 inch length, Pull Cut tool to re-cut the laser checkering on this Beretta O/U shotgun stock. Note also installed the adjustable comb and re-finished the stock for my 20 Gauge 686.



Then I did the same for both stocks and forearms on my Beretta 686 SP III 410/28 gauge Combo Gun. This one has extra fine checkering so all this was done one line at a time using a machinist's magnifying head set. Took about 2 weeks of evenings to get it done but nothing has that "toothy" feel of hand cut checkering.

The S1 Dembart is a very short length single line cutter. It's best use is for pointing up the diamonds on the very short lines (crowded spaces) like when you get into the corners on point patterns.
It will be useful on pistol grip patterns like the S&W where lines are short.

Most common work around is done with a 90* tool.
Most European and a lot of earlier US work was cut with a 60* diamond point.

Most work is 'pointed up' (sharp) until you get into the coarser LPI checkering. Some 18lpi,, mostly 16lpi below. Then most US work was left flat topped so as not to leave the work cut so deeply to achieve the sharp diamond tops.
Looks better and took less time as well.


If you get into other checkering work, larger patterns,,a long edge single edge/point tool is needed to keep lines straight and sometimes to straighten out a line.
A single line cutter can be very useful for recutting checkering and sometimes is the only tool you can use as old patterns cut with old tools don't always follow perfectly with modern 20, 22, 24, ect LPI cutters.

You can check the LPI (Lines per Inch) of the existing checkering and decide it to be say 20 LPI.
Then start in recutting it with your brand new 20LPI double line/spacer cutter.
After a couple passes you may find that you are starting to cut the old diamond instead of the old valley.
That's becasue the orig pattern isn't exactly 20LPI,,,might be off by a few .000 per line.
It only takes maybe .002 per line and by the time you have cut/spaced over 5 lines you are .010" off,,,,10 lines in you are .020" off and shreading the pattern to pieces.

A single line tool will avoid that, but you will not have the absolute symetry of the diamond pattern overall when done as if you used a spacer tool.
You are following old work,,and as much as we would like to bow at the alter of the old masters,,they made mistakes too and with a single line tool you will follow those old mistakes as well unless you take real pains to correct them.

Old checkering is filled very often with dirt, oil, grease, ect. It's very hard on the checkering tools,,they wear out quickly doing Re-Cut work.
One recut job on old wood can eat up a new cutter head very easily,,usualy two.

The Dembart 'file teeth' type cutters are the choice of a lot of checkerers as they cut smoothly. But the fine teeth dull very quickly and no way to sharpen them.
The larger saw teeth style cutters like GunLine last longer and can be sharpened a couple times, but beyond that you start to change the LPI of the cutter if you get too agressive with sharpening.
They too are just carbon steel and case hardened as the Dembart tool heads are so you can't do a lot with them.

Used checkering tools ,,the actual cutters,,I'd just figure that they were dull.
Unless they were NIB,,never used,,I may buy one for the handle that's attached to it, but that's all unless I could actually examine it.

Carbide checkering tools are available,,not cheap though.

Mostly single line tools. They last a long time.
I have single line carbide in a couple different lengths that I have had and used for 35 yrs or more. The one shorter single line is just starting to be noticably duller than the one that I haven't hardly used. But still more than workable. I use them all the time.

No spacer Carbide at least when I got these, but I think there is an adj single edge spacer carbide tool now. So you adj the spacer to the LPI you want to cut and use the same tool for every LPI by just adj the spacer on it.

Checkering handle(s) will last you forever if not abused. I have Gunline and Dembart. I use the GunLine the most (if that's the one w/the set screw adj up front to adj the angle of the head)
and use both the different cutters on the same handle.
I just use the small finish nail included with the Dembarts for attachment,,clip it off short. Then tighten the opposing set screws on the end of the handle to hold the cutter head secure. Change out is quick and easy.

If you don't use Carbide, you'll need cutter heads. They do wear out even when doing new work.
Checkering tools/cutter heads are getting very tough to find lately and very expensive as well.

Then there's the electric checkering machines.
MMC was one of the originals. There's others now.
Great time savers,, there is a learning curve! and they are not cheap either.
I use an MMC I've ad since the 70's to rough out the pattern then finish it up with the hand tools.
Probably cuts the over all checkering time by at least 1/2,,sometimes 2/3 depending on the job of course.

It's tedious work that I never wanted to really get in to. Kind of fell into it to fill a void at one time for a couple local gunshops 50yrs ago,,and just kept on with it.
Retired now but work on my own projects.

I think Gunline is still in business.
I stocked up on Dem-Bart and Gunline back in the late'70s to learn and only did it for the family.
Was looking for skip line cutters last year and the prices have risen.
Luckily, I was prudent, and found them hidden amongst the others.

Great fun and patience is a virtue.

Trying to repair some non-skid decking on a new yacht, I showed the workers how to make some tools to checker that area, after the new gelcoat was hard.

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The Beretta looks awesome!

I am only planning to work on a few old S&W stocks. Small projects I set aside some time ago when I thought replacement would be easier than refinishing. I found out that the time spent looking for period correct stocks makes it even more time consuming than giving some old stocks a second life. By coincidence i will have the time over the winter.

I think the right pull cutter from any decent supplier would do it, but I also need something to clean up the borders of the checkering panel.

Wood carvers supply carries a line of cutters and handles made by Steve Earle. They are patterned after the gunline cutters but they are SHARP, and can be resharpened a number of times. He also marks multi-line cutters with the lines per inch so you don't have to try to measure to figure it out. They are more expensive than gunline , but they are that much better if you are going to do more than re-cut lines or do 1 stock.

I'm still on the look out for some old W. E. Brownell (not Brownells) handles. Riffler files can also be handy for some quick clean up.
GROBET FILE CO. OF AMERICA INC NO. 131 CHECKERING RIFFLER | Brownells

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Pics of:
Dem-Bart straight line cutter.
90 degree riffler German/Brownells.
60 degree riffler German/Brownells
Gunline tool with a cutter.... think the Camp Perry 18 lpi starter kit was about $20 or thereabouts.

Opening the box from Brownells made me laugh once again.
Addressed to: Sargeant Ciolin.
Sergeant Violin is the name.

Going thru the wood closet, a few days ago, I found some Rosewood I bought in the 70s and forgot about.
Life's tough choices.... guitar/mandolin backs/sides bridges etc or grips for Smiths..... at least they don't have to play in tune.

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Well...in a pinch I've used a dog coat under brush to start my lines and them finished with a 3 sided file. Haha

I just got a Dem-Bart S1 direct from Dem-Bart. Spoke to an older gentleman and I got the feeling it was a small, maybe one man operation? Under $17 with shipping!

Added:
Now I can't get the website to come up and the email I had used is not being delivered. I don't have any idea what I am doing but the tool seems to cut too wide for S&W grips.