Mounting crossed rifles to the wall

[leadcounsel]

I'm looking for ideas on methods of mounting two crossed rifles on the wall for decoration or presentation. I have a M1 Garand and a K98 that I want to cross.

I was thinking of something simple and understated and inexpensive such as vinyl coated hooks but can't seem to find the right sizes.

Thanks.

 

[Tinpig]

Some kind of wooden pegs might look better with two old wooden-stocked rifles.

Garand and K98? Don't be surprised to find the Mauser on the floor some morning.

 

[Jmurman]

Tough situation. I do alot of woodworking and I am always on the look out for a good 'gun hanging' design.

If you could draw what you'd like, then maybe it would give some of us ideas where we could make something.

Feel free to PM me or email any idea you might have, ok?

 

[leadcounsel]

I was thinking of something simple like vinyl or rubber coated hooks that won't damage the rifle. I like the idea of wooden "L" shaped pegs - 1 for the trigger guard and one for the forearm.

 

[Ed Ames]

You can buy brass hooks with soft liners specifically designed for wall mounting of rifles. They are designed for level hanging but some plastic zip ties would secure them at an angle. To cross them you will need to make standoffs of different thickness.

I would make a plaque from a sheet of good plywood, either finshed or painted, with two of the hooks mounted directly and two mounted on wooden blocks attached to the sheet. You could shape it as a shield or something to look nice and it wouldn't have to be more than 20-30 inches across. Put some strong anchors in the wall and hang the whole plaque/rifle presentation as a unit. With some planning you could avoid the zip ties by using the slings to hook the hooks.

It isn't my style but it could be amusing.

 

[leadcounsel]

Good input so far. Keep it coming...

 

[mudriver]

I hang guns using black coated bicycle hanging hooks. I cut the end off so I have the screw, the offset and about 3 inches of 'hook' left. This creates a hanger that sort of hides (being small and black) and I can adjust the angle of the hanger so it 'hides' behind the gun with little showing. The guns appear to 'hang' to the wall with little visible support.

If your interested I'll try to take a pic.

 

[rondog]

JMHO, but I think "crossing" them might be more hassle than it's worth. I'd hang them parallel, with the M1 on top, of course.

 

[peyton]

I thought you would rather hang some of those "trophy rifles" I saw at your 3/101st HQ building at Camp Stryker. FYI, I am back at Camp Liberty fighting computers. I think the big presentation board with the hooks is the solution. You have to find the studs in your wall that would support the weight. I would sketch out you idea and go to a welding shop for the metal work.

 

[leadcounsel]

Peyton,

Best of luck over there. I'm heading back to the sandbox again soon too.

I thought that our 3/101 TOC was awesome - all of the hanging war trophies like the AKs, SKS, MG88s, Dragunovs, Mosins, Enfields... it was really cool.

I haven't decided on which is the best plan, but right now I'm leaning toward the crossed rifles on some sort of stylish hooks.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

It's obvious that the best plan involves a dremel. You just need to scoop out half the thickness of each gun where they intersect so they interlock. You could epoxy bolt them together at that joint so they would stay in position. This way, they'll lay flat.

Be sure to post pictures!

 

[armoredman]

First, are you hanging two working rifles, or two dead ones for display only? If rifles that are not functional, then do like Jorg suggested, carve out where the stocks interesect to get them flatter, glue, etc., otherwise, put the Mauser in back, and measure it's thickness. Buy two sets of hooks at a craft shop, one set length the same as the first with the thickness of the Mauser added. Screw in your plaque, and hang. Add in a hanging ammo pouch bottom each side, so you rifles will always have a full load waiting for them, and people looking at the decoration will never know...

 

[leadcounsel]

Here's what I decided on - I located some inexpensive vinly coated U shaped screw-in type hangers. They have a slight lip canting them upward on the end, and appear designed for garage tools. These were under $5 each. You can see how they fit the weapons perfectly and they look simple and great. I canted them up slightly so the weapon would lean toward the wall and against the door jam.

I went with inexpensive and easily replaceable rifles.

The rifles aren't functional - really easily anyway. The Mosin has a broken trigger assembly and the Steyr doesn't have a clip or any ammo in the house.

I read in another posting an idea I liked. The poster suggested hanging an inexpensive non-functioning rifle or leaving $20 on the table, etc. which would be attractive for a thief and obvious to the homeowner that someone has been in his house.

As an added benefit they are readily visible once in the house, and they would tip me off that someone was or had been in the house if the rifles had been disturbed.

Thanks for all your input.

 

[Jmurman]

Great idea and they both look good!

 

[peyton]

That looks like a good set up. I would also suggest a little bit of safety wire to close the opening. The door opening and closing could dislodge your rifles through vibration. I am in Camp Victory (still) by the way.