[skeet]

Best thing to do in the checkering area is to use some finish remover on a tooth brush. And old toof brush. Not the one we ol timers use on our tooth. When ya get all the finish etc out..clean up finally with a little paint thinner and cover the checkering with masking tape while ya sand. when stock is refinished..use another toof brush to stain and then apply finish to the checkered area..till it comes close to matching the new finish. Ta da..you be done! Oh..if ya mess up the checkering a bit..get a veiner tool from Brownells to clean up the checkering.