Antique British gun case restoration project

[Altitude sickness]

These look promising

 

[rookhawk]

Weaver leather generally has batter tack than Tandy. Might try there.

You want a single tongue if you’re looking for authenticity.

 

[steve white]

Some DIY case makers have found a cheap source for baize....drum roll...used baize taken off pool tables. They get it for almost nothing. Could help with a slightly vintage "look."

 

[CM McKenzie]

I looked for those style of roller buckles. Everything I found either was not solid brass or the roller was cheap
I’ll keep looking for those buckles

Look up 50 buckles or 49 buckles at weaver leather. I like the 49 buckles a little better. Both are quality.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Thank you

 

[CM McKenzie]

Thank you

Also try panhandle leather in Texas. They carry very good quality hardware.

 

[rookhawk]

Some DIY case makers have found a cheap source for baize....drum roll...used baize taken off pool tables. They get it for almost nothing. Could help with a slightly vintage "look."

A friend of mine that is a very accomplished gunsmith has a steamer trunk full to the top with soiled, trashed, ugly, smelly baize circa 1850 to 1970. I asked him early in my gun interest what on earth he kept it for?

When you buy a vintage gun and you need a pad added, you need to move partitions in that original case. If you can find the same era, patina, and soiling of original baize you can adjust the case without creating a mismatched abomination. Sometimes restoration isn't the right thing, keeping max original is the prudent path. A friend on this forum recently had that same circumstance occur and you'd never know the case wasn't 100% original thanks to the use of a 100 year old perfect match of baize being added to his now 15" LOP gun stock's case.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I finally got around to finish this case this weekend. Added the label, barrel ribbon, oil pot and snap caps

 

[rookhawk]

@cbvanb you dream it, you can build it!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Thanks for all the help with this project Rookhawk.

 

[rookhawk]

Thanks for all the help with this project Rookhawk.

It was all you, buddy. My favorite authentic part most cases omit? The barrel lifting ribbon! So classy.

 

[Papa72]

Amazing & tedious work superbly done!

 

[flying sailor]

I finally got around to finish this case this weekend. Added the label, barrel ribbon, oil pot and snap caps View attachment 662641 View attachment 662642View attachment 662643View attachment 662644

Looks very nice indeed!

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Is that an original oil pot or a repo
Gumpy

 

[franzfmdavis]

I finally got around to finish this case this weekend. Added the label, barrel ribbon, oil pot and snap caps View attachment 662641 View attachment 662642View attachment 662643View attachment 662644

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the journey!

 

[Altitude sickness]

I bought it on eBay from India. I thought it was an orginal vintage. But it looks new. I’m sure it’s a reproduction

 

[evamitabha]

Thankyou for the lovely write up.

How many meters of Baize material do you need for the complete restoration?

 

[Altitude sickness]

One was more than enough

 

[Altitude sickness]

When you restore one you learn why they cost so much. Building one from scratch is a lot of labor.

 

[PCC600]

When you restore one you learn why they cost so much. Building one from scratch is a lot of labor.

A magnificent bit of work . A good gun always needs a good case .