Pressed checkering dilemma - need advice from stock guys.

From what I can see in your picture you have the wood to take that pressed checkering out of there and still have it look good. It will take some reshaping and contouring back a ways here and there. Since the gun is for your niece she probably has a smaller hand and would appreciate a little finer pistol grip anyways especially if wearing gloves.
Personally that's is what I would do. I have done a lot of checkering over the years and recut a lot of panels as well. Do not try and covert pressed checkering to cut checkering as it never works out well and you will most likely make a royal mess out of it and end up rasping out the messed up pressed checkering anyways. So just take a fine round wood rasp and take it out from the get go.
I have reshaped several Ruger 44mag carbines through the grip area during which you take off a lot of wood. No resulting structural issues and they look proportionally very good. From your picture reshaping that pistol grip area would be about on the same scale as doing one of the Rugers. The big advantage is that stock has no stock bolt hole running up through the grip area to worry about breaking into. I also notice in the picture the stock has no butt pad, screw it back on or you will round the edge of the stock butt a bit during the refinishing process and when you put the butt pad back on it will not look good or fit well.

Keep us all posted on what you decide to do and how it works out.
 
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I would scrape it down smooth and enjoy a nice small grip , before I would buba it with messy checkering or stippling. Boyds might also be an option.
 
Well I decided to stipple, with the thought that if it didn't turn out I would fill and paint. While I'm not a fan of stippling, it turned out better than I expected. I stained and finished the stock, but still need a decent recoil pad before I give it to my niece.
 
Double Gun
If not to late just found a book in my collection
Do-It-Yourself Gunsmithing
by Jim Carmichel
Chapter 24 Converting Impressed Checkering to Hand Cut Checkering
Great write up with pictures and the results look great
Hope that helps you out
 
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