Is the cheek checkering on my Fox factory?

[Dan_Tom_Greg]

I have a 16 gauge AE grade gun that I have recently posted about. The gun features 26 inch barrels, a single trigger, and custom ordered wood. It was purchased through a hardware store by my great grandfather in 1924. While all of the aforementioned features are included on the factory card, it does not mention the cheek checkering present on the gun. My question is, was this a factory pattern or was it something added on by a family member later? Any info would be appreciated.
Dan

[fox-admin]

The checkering on the wrist is not correct for a late style B. The shape of the checkering on the head is known but I have never seen it on a B. The LPI of the checkering looks courser than what I would expect to see on a B. The only way to tell if the stock is original to the gun is take it off and look at what's stamped on the stock head.

[Silvers]

The cheek checkering doesn't look quite right to me; as Craig stated it looks to be too coarse (lines per inch) and the arcs of the forward part of the panel are a little too far back from the frame. Maybe it was done at the factory but without documentation it will always end with a question mark. If you pull the stock, look for cracks or reinforcement in the web between the cheeks. Often a cross-dowel repair was cleverly hidden with cheek checkering. frank

[Researcher]

That gun looks like an AE-Grade to me. Shouldn't have cheek checkering.

https://forum.foxcollectors.com/viewtopic.php?t=13072

[fox-admin]

Opps my mistake, it is a A.

[Foxnut]

I align with, Craig, Frank and Dave. The panel checkering is not original and probably added at a later date. The LPI is courser than would be expected. A Grades were not checkered on the panels as a rule. Given all that you have a great family heirloom and the cheek checkering doesn’t detract from that one bit and you can have a blast (pun intended) with that gun!! Brett

[Researcher]

By the 1920s the factory original checkering on A-/AE-Grades wasn't fully pointed up --

but generally, cut a bit deeper than on a Sterlingworth --

Catalog A-/AE-Grade picture and text --

With the owner supplied wood on your gun it is impossible to say here 102 years later exactly what the factory may or may not have done.