Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 [2] 3  Send TopicPrint
Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Oak rifle case (Read 15673 times)
Kevin
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #15 - May 5th, 2015 at 9:35am
Print Post  
questionablemaynard8130,
Weight is about 18 lbs.  The penalty for using white oak!  I chose quarter sawn white oak for several reasons.  I found good examples of cases made from this in the 1800's. It is the most beautiful wood I have ever seen.  And it is extremely durable.  I have considered Spanish Cedar which would weigh about half.  Definitely not as hard as oak, but the finish would offer protection.  Heck,  I think they look great with some dings and scratches.(Gonna get 'em anyway)  I did seal the inside, but I would never keep a valuable rifle in a wooden box for an extended period of time.  Great for trips to and from the great outdoors.  I use Rusteprufe on all metal surfaces, best stuff I have ever seen.  It leaves a nice film on the metal.
Kevin
Kevin
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Seanmp
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 294
Location: Land O Lakes
Joined: May 19th, 2014
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #16 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:22am
Print Post  
Kevin

Absolutely beautiful. I like the half dovetails...nice touch!

Hey if you could incorporate some Spanish Cedar in there. Such as a small box to fit inside the inset or a shell holder or even a bolster you'd get all the natural rust/insect protection without detracting anything from that beautiful quartered oak
  

Sean
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bpsmoke
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 39
Joined: May 5th, 2010
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #17 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:26am
Print Post  
Excellent looking. Really like the latches.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Kevin
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #18 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:26am
Print Post  
Thanks Sean,  The dovetails add unbelievable strength.  Great idea on the cedar.  I could line the bottom of the compartments with it.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Kevin
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #19 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:33am
Print Post  
The handle in the pic is dyed veg tanned leather.  Made the next one out of buffalo leather, came out very nice.

Also making Ammo boxes to hold 100 rounds of 45-110 in the Cheyenne boxes.  Same brass hardware and leather handle.

  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
marlinguy
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

Posts: 17978
Location: Oregon
Joined: Feb 2nd, 2009
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #20 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:46am
Print Post  
Beautiful case, and workmanship! I've built several cases, but only one from scratch, and I also used white oak for that one. 
I've tried several ways to keep the gun from shifting, but unless you're shipping them, they really don't move much. Once you pick the case up by the handle, the gun is sitting as it will, and unless you're pretty roughly handling the case, it wont move. 
I try to keep the clearances close at the ends, so the gun wont shift forward/back, and make a narrow point somewhere near the middle to eliminate much shift. On my last case, I built in an old leather strap and buckle, so once I put the gun in, I close the buckle, and it holds the gun securely in place. A padded block on the lid can also be used to press against the barrel, or receiver when the lid is closed, and retain the gun well.
A good source of old hardware is the thrift stores. I have gone there for each project and purchased old suitcases, or luggage for as little as $1. If the cases are really worn out, they're cheap, and the old hardware is usually still much better than anything found locally new.
  

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Leo1885
Junior Member
**
Offline



Posts: 85
Location: Beaverton, OR
Joined: Sep 30th, 2007
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #21 - May 5th, 2015 at 11:24am
Print Post  
Looks good, but try to line up the screw slots on the hinges.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
ChrisB
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 26
Location: England
Joined: Sep 17th, 2014
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #22 - May 5th, 2015 at 1:50pm
Print Post  
I really like your case. Here is a picture of mine before I fitted small brass knobs on the compartment lids. I will send pics of the brass hooks. I hope the photo shows with this message.
Cheers,
Chris B  Cool
England
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Kevin
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #23 - May 5th, 2015 at 3:23pm
Print Post  
Very nice!  I love the layout
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
slumlord44
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2850
Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254
Joined: Dec 21st, 2007
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #24 - May 5th, 2015 at 9:37pm
Print Post  
Beautiful work. Way beyond my woodworking talents.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
ssdave
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2134
Location: Eastern Oregon
Joined: Apr 16th, 2004
Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #25 - May 5th, 2015 at 10:13pm
Print Post  
Beautiful workmanship.  Thanks for sharing!   

To keep the rifle in place, some old cases I've seen have felt buffered blocks in strategic places, similar to what you see in musical instrument cases.

dave
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Aonghas
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #26 - May 6th, 2015 at 10:56am
Print Post  
Quote:
After receiving a Shiloh Hartford model 1874 in 2012, I began looking for a wooden case to hold the rifle while traveling.  Not much out there.  I did see the cases made by Huey rifle case company.  Gorgeous, but fabulously expensive.  Here is a wishlist of features that I wanted:
Solid quarter sawn white oak-no plywood
solid brass hardware-as period correct as possible
half mortise lock
all brass aged to look one hundred years old


Why?

Quote:

leather handle-buffalo leather
billiard cloth interior


No you don't. That's felt, and you want baize.

Quote:

interior compartments for tools,cartridges,etc
all metal is brass


Except wad-punches, turnscrews, nipple-wrenches, nipple cleaners, etc.

Quote:


wood must be oil finished


--
Aonghas
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Aonghas
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #27 - May 6th, 2015 at 11:07am
Print Post  
Quote:
Nuclearcricket, Thanks for the comments.  There is a cutout that the butt snuggles into securely.  It just wasn't ready when I took these pics.  I'll upload a new pic later today.

Oughtsix, PM me your contact info and I'll get back to you soon.


I have a pistol box which was custom made for what looks as if it may have been a Broomhandle Mauser. and it has very simple recessed catches.

I'll post pics in due course, but don't wait up - I have to post from anywhere I can find wifi ATM, and strangely enough, I don't carry the box about with me. The camera, yes.

The earliest I can post pics will be Friday afternoon - which translates to sometime before midday on your side of the pond.

--
Aonghas
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Aonghas
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #28 - May 6th, 2015 at 11:17am
Print Post  
QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on May 5th, 2015 at 9:06am:
How much does it weigh empty?  Its lovely and I have always wanted to make a wooden case of one or two if my rifles. 
However, I've recently developed lower back "issues" and suddenly weight has become a much larger concern to me.
I'm having to rethink a lot of the stuff I take to a match Sad


Hmmm. Seal the wood inside and put a rubber seal between the lid and the box, then fill it with helium...

Quote:


Did you seal the wood on the onside as well as the outside?  Some woods have a lot of Tannin and other potentially corrosive bio-chemicals that can slowly fume off as they age. I have sometimes wondered about the implications of longterm storage in wood cases.


To 'age' oak, mahogany and fruitwoods (to mention only a few), treat the wood with potassium dichromate or chromic acid. Start with a weak solution and keep adding 'coats' until the right colour is reached - with the wood wet.

You can wash out the residue with rainwater, and a brush, soaking up excess water with a sponge. Oil or varnish when the wood is dry.

Never, but never stain hardwood - the softer parts of the grain absorb most of the dye, while the harder parts take little or none, which is exactly the opposite of what you get with naturally aged wood.

A similar effect can be obtained using ammonia, I am informed...

--
Aonghas
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Aonghas
Ex Member


Re: Oak rifle case
Reply #29 - May 6th, 2015 at 11:21am
Print Post  
Quote:
questionablemaynard8130,
Weight is about 18 lbs.  The penalty for using white oak!  I chose quarter sawn white oak for several reasons.  I found good examples of cases made from this in the 1800's. It is the most beautiful wood I have ever seen.


Hmmm. Have a look at imbuia

Quote:

  And it is extremely durable.


So is imbuia. I want to make a stock from it.

--
Aonghas
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 [2] 3 
Send TopicPrint