Gun Cases

[expat_alaska]

I have 3 actual Pietta 1851 Navy type pistols that I can swap parts within the 3 to create a few more Italian historical repros.

I finally bit the bullet and ordered 2 oak wood cases from Hampel's so the pistols were not just lying around on the coffee table. Each case will hold two revolvers facing each other.

https://www.hampelswoodlandproducts...d-top-cases-large-over-12?variant=17328118662

This is the best deal I have come upon.

Old South Firearms has 2 factory second glass top cases with no refunds: I guess you get what they send you, and I am not so good with that.

http://www.oldsouthfirearms.com/displaycasewoodglasstop.aspx

The price was right but they wanted $64 shipping! I decided against it.

When I get the Hampel's product I will do a review with pics. I have heard good things about Hampel's on other forums.

I would have liked to do a couple of double compartmentalized cases from Bill's Cases, but it is out of my price range. Bill does make some excellent cases, make no mistake, and if you want that, go for it. I have no personal knowledge of Bill's product but his photos show excellence.

Hampel's produces a different product and he suits my needs.

I would like to hear from anyone that had experience with either of these two suppliers.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[AlexanderA]

The low-priced cases are not authentic. You get what you pay for. Bill Shumate's cases are authentic, but they are pricey.

Any fabric-lined cases are not good for long-term storage, because the guns will tend to rust where they come into contact with the fabric. (Even the beginnings of rust will stain and discolor the fabric lining.) This can be avoided by greasing and wrapping the guns in plastic when putting them in the cases, but, again, this is not authentic.

I use my authentic cases for display only, and store the guns in the original boxes they came in, or in ordinary cardboard boxes.

 

[entropy]

My uncle built the case my 1860 Army is in; the top and bottom are redwood, the body is pine; it is not fabric lined. it has a section of belt around it, and an original Union NCO buckle at the front. It was my Great-great Grandfather's, whom I am named after. My uncle built the pistol from a kit, also, for my Grandpa, who also shared my name. I did some genealogical research and found my namesake had been issued an 1858 Remington, not an 1860 Colt, but my uncle had already built the gun.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

what features would folks here consider "Authentic" for a display case?
This is something I've never considered before.
I have several wooden cases/boxes that just happen to be included with the revolvers I purchased. Only one has a glass front for display like the OP linked from Old South.

 

[AlexanderA]

what features would folks here consider "Authentic" for a display case?

1. Mortised locks and inletted hinges. Most of the cheaper reproduction cases have surface-mount hardware.
2. A thin strip of wood (valance) running around the inside of the bottom of the case, so that the lid fits over it and there is no visible gap between the lid and the base.
3. Fabric-covered internal partitions for the gun(s) and accessories. (This would be the "English" style of casing. There is also a "French" style in which the interior has a single block of wood, which is routed for the gun and accessories and then covered in fabric. Some repros make this internal block out of styrofoam -- certainly not authentic even though it is invisible.)

Here's an example of an authentic reproduction:
http://www.billscases.com/index.htm

 

[1861]

Any fabric-lined cases are not good for long-term storage, because the guns will tend to rust where they come into contact with the fabric.

WHY would fabric cause rust on metal? First time I hear something like that. A simple explanation, if you'd be so kind, please?
A week ago I ordered this http://www.negrinisrl.com/en/product/2027-lx-2/ from Italy, it's quite expensive, but then again, it seems quite luxurious, so I guess the price is fine. I hope to receive it this week. I plan to keep my revolvers in it. Any comment or advice is welcome.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Jim - I have a bunch of Gerrod Hampel's English Style cases.

Most of mine are his standard off the shelf versions but he worked with me after I got my LeMat to build a copy of an antique fitted cased LeMat set that I saw in an auction catalog.

You would be hard pressed to tell the difference except for the deterioration of the antique one after 150 years of existence.

I have older cases that he made with inset locks and hinges as well as his newer ones with the flush mount hardware.

Several years back he told me that he could no long produce a case at what he thought was a reasonable price with the inset locks, etc. and so opted for flush mounts to keep competitive.

Both grades have worked equally well for storing my nicer specimens.

No rust yet but I do take them out periodically to caress them with an oil rag.

The oil will discolor the fabric but that just gives the case the same look seen in the antique cases.

I store my modern handguns in cloth lined zippered cases and have not experienced any problems with rust there either.

If you live in an area that has high humidity and the cases are not stored in a climate controlled space like air conditioning, then any cloth will absorb and hold moisture from the air which might encourage rust formation.

The only problem that I do have with the full English fitted wooden accessory cases is that they take up a lot of space in my gun safes so not every antique or reproduction gets one.

Your choice of boxing a pair together sure looks like a better solution both space and dollar wise.

I do not own any of Bill's cases so I can't help you there but I do have several EMF cases, a Replica Arms (Marietta, OH) one and a Colt 3rd Gen. case.

These are comparable to Gerrod's earlier cases in hardware and equal in craftsmanship to all of his work.

I even have a double gun fitted case that has a flocked plastic tray interior (nice wood outside) that may have come from Dixie Gun Works as the revolver that came with it was so marked.

Even it serves me admirably.

 

[AlexanderA]

WHY would fabric cause rust on metal? First time I hear something like that. A simple explanation, if you'd be so kind, please?

Fabric (especially felt, and fabric with padding behind it) is hygroscopic, that is, it tends to absorb moisture from the air. This is a problem with padding in gun cases as well as padding on racks in gun safes. If gun metal is in contact with this fabric for a long time, it will rust. The only way to avoid this rust is to put a barrier, such as plastic wrap, waxed paper, or even heavy grease, between the metal and the fabric. (Grease, of course, will stain the fabric.)

Polished blued finishes on antique and reproduction firearms will rust faster than the Parkerized and other finishes on more modern firearms.

I've had to rip the padding out of my gun safes and racks when I saw rust forming at the points of contact. Such padding isn't needed anyway because wooden racks are softer than gun metal, and won't scratch it.

 

[expat_alaska]

Jim - I have a bunch of Gerrod Hampel's English Style cases.

Most of mine are his standard off the shelf versions but he worked with me after I got my LeMat to build a copy of an antique fitted cased LeMat set that I saw in an auction catalog.

You would be hard pressed to tell the difference except for the deterioration of the antique one after 150 years of existence.

I have older cases that he made with inset locks and hinges as well as his newer ones with the flush mount hardware.

Several years back he told me that he could no long produce a case at what he thought was a reasonable price with the inset locks, etc. and so opted for flush mounts to keep competitive.

Both grades have worked equally well for storing my nicer specimens.

No rust yet but I do take them out periodically to caress them with an oil rag.

The oil will discolor the fabric but that just gives the case the same look seen in the antique cases.

I store my modern handguns in cloth lined zippered cases and have not experienced any problems with rust there either.

If you live in an area that has high humidity and the cases are not stored in a climate controlled space like air conditioning, then any cloth will absorb and hold moisture from the air which might encourage rust formation.

The only problem that I do have with the full English fitted wooden accessory cases is that they take up a lot of space in my gun safes so not every antique or reproduction gets one.

Your choice of boxing a pair together sure looks like a better solution both space and dollar wise.

I do not own any of Bill's cases so I can't help you there but I do have several EMF cases, a Replica Arms (Marietta, OH) one and a Colt 3rd Gen. case.

These are comparable to Gerrod's earlier cases in hardware and equal in craftsmanship to all of his work.

I even have a double gun fitted case that has a flocked plastic tray interior (nice wood outside) that may have come from Dixie Gun Works as the revolver that came with it was so marked.

Even it serves me admirably.

Thank you for your reply, sir! Very good information. Just awaiting the product to be delivered about 2-3 weeks out.

I have always admired your posts. Thanks and keep on keepin' on. In case I missed it, I sure would like to see a pic of that cased LeMat. Post it here as we are discussing cases. That must be a very large case.

Jim

 

[PainlessWolf]

Evenin' While you wait for for Mr. Kibbey to come back to this thread, here are a couple of pics of my Hampels cased leMat. This is how I display it between outings. In the corner where it cannot be seen from this angle is the 50 grain measure for the shotgun barrel.
regards,

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Is that LeMat flanked by a Light Sabre and a Mojito?
Nice pic.

 

[1861]

That sure is a lightsaber

 

[PainlessWolf]

Gentlemen!
As nice as futuristic weaponry may be, I have to say if Road Agents came to my little spread and made to belabor me and mine, the LeMat would be the weapon I reached for. *chuckles* ( The LeMat is displayed in my Tank Room where the gun cabinet also resides ) As many of you know, if you have a space dedicated to hobbies, many implements of all kinds will find their way there.
regards!

 

[expat_alaska]

Got my cases from Hampel this afternoon. Very good quality and the pistols fit perfectly (thanks to whomever that I measured it correctly!).

Everything fits properly.

Very pleased and pictures will be forthcoming (when I get around to it!). It will be a Leech & Rigdon and a Schneider & Glassick in one case, and a 1851 Navy 2nd Model and a 1848 Pocket (both squareback TG) in the other case.

As a Pietta 1851 Navy type parts swapper I have decided that this is what I want... for now. If I can get my extra plain cylinder converted to a 12-stop slot, I can display a Rigdon and Ansley also. We'll see.

Have a good night, folks.

Jim

 

[expat_alaska]

Well, as I am not much of a photographer, the pics could have been better.

Top of the case (typical of the other one):



Pietta 1851 Navy Second Model .36 and Replica Arms (El Paso) 1848 Pocket .31.



Pietta Leech & Rigdon .36 and Pietta Schneider & Glassick .36.



All I have to do with the latter to create a 1851 Navy Third Model and a Griswold & Gunnison is to swap barrels between them and add my spare 1851 Navy engraved cylinder to the Navy

If I swap the barrels between the G&G and the Second Model and use the spare plain cylinder on the Second Model I have a S&G and a (fantasy) 1851 Navy Second Model Dragoon .36, my favorite of all.

If I get my second spare plain cylinder converted to 12-stop slots by my machinist neighbor this winter I will have a Rigdon & Ansley to add to the bunch.

The 1848 Pocket .31 5-shot 6" is an orphan. Sorry. Way too small for my long fingers, but I like the squareback TG.

The cases are just great for the price. To all of the detractors that say not to store the pistols in these cases, have you not heard of silica gel (dessicant)? I have several tea-bag sized packages of it to place in the cases with the pistols. They are very easy to dry out in the microwave when one feels the need to do so.

I do things on the cheap insofar as different variations.

I am grateful to EK for his info on post #7. Thank you, sir!

Jim