How to Build a Custom Wood & Leather Case for Guns
When a gentleman purchased a high-end handgun in the 1800s, it came in a handsome leather case for keeping. Usually the depression into which the gun fit was chiseled out of wood. But the guns lasted better than the cases; likely, if you've purchased an antique Navy Colt, the original case did not come with it. Or if you purchase a modern handgun, it has no case to begin with. With a few inexpensive materials found at any craft store, you can make a handsome presentation case for your gun.
Things You'll Need
- Wooden box that fits the gun
- Florist foam block or a Styrofoam block
- Strong shears or utility knife
- Spray mount
- Red flannel
- Leather
- Brass or copper brads (1/4 inch)
- Brass corners (optional)
- Shoe polish (to match the leather)
Instructions
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1
Decide how you wish to present your gun; will the case hold the gun by itself, or a few bullets as an accent? Or perhaps a name plate?
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2
Purchase a hinged wooden box and foam pieces that suit your gun. Craft stores typically have numerous unfinished-wood boxes for staining and painting. Select a plain, square box and foam pieces large enough to fill the bottom of the box. The green oasis foam (sometimes called "funeral foam") will take an impression very well; Styrofoam is stiffer and harder to work with but more durable.
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3
Cut the foam so that a perfect square or rectangle fits snugly inside the box.
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4
Arrange the gun and any other pieces you want to present on the foam. Press the gun into the foam, about halfway, to create an impression of the gun. Press it only half way, so that half of the gun's profile sits above the foam.
If using Styrofoam, use a chisel to hollow out the impression (if you find that necessary).
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5
Remove the foam from the box. Spray it on its topside and on its sides with spray-mount adhesive.
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6
Lay the red flannel on top of the foam. Red flannel is the classic material for presentation; it is soft on the gun and makes a handsome presentation against gunmetal gray. "Finesse" the flannel with your finger tips, until it fills the impression for the gun and covers the flat top of the foam with minimal wrinkles. Smooth the material onto the sides. Trim excess flannel from the corners and bottom of the foam. You should now have a neat square into which your gun fits perfectly.
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7
Lay the bottom of your box down on the rough, unfinished side of your leather piece. Smooth the leather onto the sides. Cut the leather with your shears, so that it covers the outside of the box exactly; it does not need to wrap into the inside of the box. Repeat for the lid of the box.
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8
Spray the bottom of the box with spray mount. Wrap and press the leather onto the box to cover it exactly. Repeat for the top.
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9
Hammer the brads onto either side of the box corners, about 1/4 to 3/8 inch from the corners, spaced about 1/4 inch. Alternatively, hammer brass corners onto your case with the brads.
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10
Touch up the raw edges of the leather (on the corners) with a matching shoe polish. Touch up the exposed edges of the wood with the same shoe polish, or a closely matching wood stain.
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Spray the inside bottom of your case with spray mount. Push your foam/flannel piece into the box. Your presentation case is ready.
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Tips & Warnings
An old leather jacket, valise or suitcase, should provide all the leather you need for this project. You may line the underside of the lid with red flannel, a square of wallpaper, an old newspaper, or whatever suits your taste, to individualize your case. (You may stain it, but gun cases are not typically raw wood inside.) Funeral foam is not as durable as Styrofoam, but the flannel lends it some stiffness. For sheer presentation, it is easier to work with than Styrofoam. For rifles, antique cases are available from custom case makers, with leather handles, straps and combination locks (see Resources below).
Classic gun cases never had brads or nails on their insides; this scratches the guns.
