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.
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