I used to do checkering on 1911's under my business trade name, Jawbones LTD in the '70's and '80's. I looked the frame over on my R9S and I believe that it wouldn't be that big a deal. Maybe on the wish list somebody should put that because it would be a very simple matter to have the frames made that way from the mold and then cleaned up. I suspect for size probably 40LPI or finer would work.
The problem I ran into is that actually while one would think that coarser checking would catch on clothing rather than finer, I found that the reverse is true. Drag fine cloth like a piece of silk across 20LPI and it won't tend to catch but try it with 30 to 50 LPI and it catches every time. At least that was my experience. My checkering was "back relieved" which at the time only Jim Hoag was doing as well as myself. Now more people do it. I taught my main student Captain Eagle to do it and then he back relieved everything. I attach this link only for the checkering pictures not for the puff of the obvious fan who has that pistol now.
http://davesplace.yuku.com/topic/766/t/Bidwell-Pistol--quot-Jawbones-quot--quot--Major-quot.htmlI no longer do the work and wouldn't do it now for anything. I save the soft skin of my hands and fingers to flat pick bluegrass on my pet Collings guitar. If it were me, I'd probably opt for skateboard tape and save the money. But if someone wants to see if they can get someone to do it, I'm happy to recommend a couple of people I know who might try it. But the guys I know are anything but fast.
