Does checkering differ with parker grades or do they seem to be mostly similar?
 

I ask because I saw a pic with going through the older posts somewhere of a gun with a ball grip and really ornate checkering. I can't find it now, but was wondering if that would have been custom or if it was a question of grade of the gun?

King; checkering density (as in lines per inch, or LPI) and patterns with increasing degrees of coverage and complexity are seen as the grades ascend through the ranks. The ornate 'ball grip" checkering patterns you refer to are probably pre-1900 through the late 1890's, particularly on hammer guns. They are lovely and some feature a "pigtail" effect along the sides of the comb, the carved line ending in a tightly-wound scroll. These guns were stylized through a certain era and the grade of the gun drove the degree of carving and checkering detail as it did throughout the entire Parker line over the years.

Bill,
I suggest you go to the main web page www.parkerguns.org and on the left side of the page "mouse click" on the words Parker Grades. That is a web link to pages filled with pictures of all the grades and you can inspect the checkering of each.

Patterns vary by grade. Lpi count gets finer as the grade goes up as well. But it is not always the same within grades from gun to gun.
There will be some variation in early guns on ball grips.

To generalize, checkering does follow guidelines that are dictated by the grade of the gun.

Thx I have read all the FAQ and the pics in the grade section, it doesn't really say much about the checkering so I thought I would ask.

The Parker Story.

Yeah I am waiting for my copy from DGJ to arrive. BTW Bruce it is funny you commented as I am pretty certain it was a picture of one of your fine guns that I noticed this on.

Checkering style variation within a grade is largely due to the fact that there were several people at Parker Bros. doing the checkering. The same can be said of engraving.