Lines per inch

[King Brown]

Lines per inch checkering on VH, please. Thanks. Regards, King

[Dave Suponski]

King, I believe they were checkered to 16 lines per inch.

[Fred Preston]

Depends on when made. I have a pristine VHE from the 223xxx era that looks like Trojan checking and no tit on the butt plate. A beatuful gun with nice dimensions; but, what was Parker doing in the mid '20s?

[King Brown]

Thank you. My friend will go 16 lines per inch.

[Jerry Harlow]

IMHO I believe VH checkering is usually finer than any Trojan ever was on all I have seen. Your friend would be off to get a VH of the era in hand and duplicate before making the final decision.

[lee r moege]

The ones I have had any dealing with were 18or 20 lpi. on a V grade,but if you are going to recut checkering on any brand of the old doubles,I suggest you invest in a Dembart checkering gage. Also, the checkering tools were hand made when these guns were built so the space can vary a little when the tools were resharpened or new ones made. They weren't as precise as the new machine made cutters. Sometimes I have had to use the closest spacing I could find, cut it lightly with a single line spacer and then wallow it in to the old line with a "V" tool or checkering file. You also have the issue of 60 or 90 degree cutter angles. A lot of the lower grade guns with flat or non pointed up diamonds were cut with a 60degree too. Happy scratching. Lee!:bigbye:

[Fred Preston]

Here are some pics of 1&1/2 frame VHE # 222382 and 2 frame Trojan #179723. Both have 30" bbls. and the VHE is 1oz heavier. The Trojan with the pad has a little longer pull, but both fit nicely. I haven't laid a ruler in the checking, but they look very close in spacing.

[Robert Rambler]

FWIW, My 1903 16ga VH, 1204XX, Measures 18 lpi with a Dem-Bart gauge.

[Dave Suponski]

I just measured two Vulcan 16 gauge guns. 183xxx and 237xxx and both were 16 LPI. Maybe I am measuring wrong. How do you guy's do it?

[Jerry Harlow]

It is very difficult to measure with a ruler as there is little difference between 16 LPI and 18 LPI for the naked eye. I'm using a Gunline Tools Checkering gage which is just a clear piece of plastic with the lines marked over it. But without a doubt an unaltered VH has more LPI than an unaltered Trojan. I would agree with the 16 LPI for the Trojan which I believe is what TPS states. I could not find it tonight, but I believe it also stated VHs used 16 LPI. I would say it was 18 LPI at the least, and forends look even finer. Side by side, one can see the finer checkering.

Most recheckered guns no longer have the flat cut checkering that the lower grade guns had that should be done with the 60 degree cutter to leave flat top checkering instead of the 90 degree tool which points them up. However, the pointed top diamonds (90 degree tool) on recut guns surely give a better grip, and will eventually wear flat, so I do not worry about that on recut guns that will get lots of field use.

[Robert Rambler]

Dem-Bart gauge in action.

[Dave Suponski]

Robert, Where can I get one of those? Thanks!

[John Dallas]

Try: http://www.dembartco.com/products1.htm

[Dean Romig]

Robert, what grade and what year is the gun in your picture?

[Dave Suponski]

Thank You John...I ordered one.

[Robert Rambler]

Dean, it's a 1903 VH.

Dave, Brownell's has them also.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=26280/Product/CHECKERING_GAUGE

[Dave Suponski]

Robert and John, I got the Dem-Bart gauge today from Brownells. Pretty cool little tool! Thanks for the tip fellas....:)

[Brian Dudley]

Autumn Daze, Caught this thread a bit too late. I have a couple of those Dem Bart guages. I would have sent you one.

[Brian Dudley]

While We are talking about lpi on different grades, I have a GH grade that I need to eventually restock and there is none of the original checkering left on the stock. Someone sanded it down way too far.
What is the correct line spacing on a GH?
If I remember correctly, mine is 1902 or so. Damasucus Gun.

Also, at what grade level did they start using a 90 degree cutter with fully pointed up diamonds originally?

[Brad Bachelder]

Just measured 8 V's various vintages,
Buttstock 18 lpi 3 1/2 X 90 degrees

Forearm 19-20 lpi 2X 90 degrees

That is consistant with my patterns and notes.

Brad

[lee r moege]

For what it's worth for those who don't checker I think the 3 1/2 and 2 Brad is referring to is the length of the diamonds to the width, as in a ratio of 3 1/2"X1", and 2"X1" and the 90 degrees is the included angle of the "V" groove of the checkering as opposed to the 60 degree angle used in many early doubles having "flat" or unpointed checkering that didn't come tp a peaked diamond. Am I asumming right Brad? I certainly didn't mean to snatch a thread from the Master!!!! Lee.:bigbye:

[Dave Suponski]

Brian, Thank You very much. That is very generous of you!

[Gene Langston]

It is very difficult to measure with a ruler as there is little difference between 16 LPI and 18 LPI for the naked eye. I'm using a Gunline Tools Checkering gage which is just a clear piece of plastic with the lines marked over it. But without a doubt an unaltered VH has more LPI than an unaltered Trojan. I would agree with the 16 LPI for the Trojan which I believe is what TPS states. I could not find it tonight, but I believe it also stated VHs used 16 LPI. I would say it was 18 LPI at the least, and forends look even finer. Side by side, one can see the finer checkering.

Most recheckered guns no longer have the flat cut checkering that the lower grade guns had that should be done with the 60 degree cutter to leave flat top checkering instead of the 90 degree tool which points them up. However, the pointed top diamonds (90 degree tool) on recut guns surely give a better grip, and will eventually wear flat, so I do not worry about that on recut guns that will get lots of field use.

Something that works perfectly is a screw gauge you can get at any hardware or auto parts store for a couple of bucks. Just get the "inch" gauge and not the metric.

[Robin Lewis]

wrong thread sorry
(http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4379&highlight=checkering+gauge&page=2)