Repurposing 1800's Carved Cabinet to Rifle Display

[thi9elsp]

This thread will provide you the details of how I began my journey searching for a rifle display cabinet, the bumps along the road and the final result. Hope this is helpful to others that may consider doing something like this.

Thanks
Firstly, thanks to @Beck for starting the thread Gun Cabinet otherwise I might not have gone down this road.
A special thanks for @rookhawk for his time in answering my questions and guidance as I purchased the sourcing cabinet.
Thanks to all of you who posted to the Gun Cabinet thread as those postings gave me more inspiration to pursue my project.

Why?
We live on the west coast of Florida in a stilt home and for the first time had storm surge inundation in the lower level from Hurricane Helene. Two rooms and a bathroom were finished on that level and that's where my fire/gun safe was stored as it was too heavy to move to the second floor. Fortunately, I always move my rifles and ammunition out of harms way but the safe was soaked with 20" of seawater. I didn't want to remove all the drywall and redo it for fear I might miss something growing as mold had started in the safe.

The Search
I spent a couple months searching, having built a rifle rack from scraps and having the firearms exposed in my den. I used FB Marketplace, Google, 1st Dibs, Invaluable as well as others. I posted on the Gun Cabinet thread about using a Secretary and repurposing it but what I found was that most of them didn't have the height for the rifles or sufficient capacity even though I don't have a large quantity of firearms in my collection.

In early December I found this cabinet that was going to be auctioned off in Austin later in the month. Hey, we'll be visiting family in San Antonio and I could rent a U-Haul trailer and bring it back myself.

The Cost
Winning bid with buyers premium was $625 and I've spent about $150 on materials. So, $775-800 total.
Shipping - unfortunately, the auction house was closed while I was in Texas, so I had to furniture ship home. A month ago I had a local mover move it from the lower level to the second floor into my den. Total $1,050.

So All-in $1,800

What did I get?
Late 1800's carved cabinet, two-pieces. As I understand it, in the late 1800's there was still hand carving for furniture pieces but moulding was being machine produced. In looking closely at the lion's heads, cherubs, flemish church figures and the trim around the doors and the two lower door panels those all appear to be hand carved as I can see individual wood carving tool marks. I assume the top and bottom moldings are machined.

I would say that portions of this one were done by an apprentice as there are flaws where some of the decorative carving is rectangle and others are square. The only piece similar to this I could find on the internet is located in UK, came from a church and the antique dealer has it listed for 3,400 pounds. But, it is of better quality than what I purchased.

Here are before and after photos of the cabinet. I will post separately the steps I took to get it finished for those who may considering doing something like this themselves.

I am very happy with the results.

John

 

[Rare Breed]

This thread will provide you the details of how I began my journey searching for a rifle display cabinet, the bumps along the road and the final result. Hope this is helpful to others that may consider doing something like this.

Thanks
Firstly, thanks to @Beck for starting the thread Gun Cabinet otherwise I might not have gone down this road.
A special thanks for @rookhawk for his time in answering my questions and guidance as I purchased the sourcing cabinet.
Thanks to all of you who posted to the Gun Cabinet thread as those postings gave me more inspiration to pursue my project.

Why?
We live on the west coast of Florida in a stilt home and for the first time had storm surge inundation in the lower level from Hurricane Helene. Two rooms and a bathroom were finished on that level and that's where my fire/gun safe was stored as it was too heavy to move to the second floor. Fortunately, I always move my rifles and ammunition out of harms way but the safe was soaked with 20" of seawater. I didn't want to remove all the drywall and redo it for fear I might miss something growing as mold had started in the safe.

The Search
I spent a couple months searching, having built a rifle rack from scraps and having the firearms exposed in my den. I used FB Marketplace, Google, 1st Dibs, Invaluable as well as others. I posted on the Gun Cabinet thread about using a Secretary and repurposing it but what I found was that most of them didn't have the height for the rifles or sufficient capacity even though I don't have a large quantity of firearms in my collection.

In early December I found this cabinet that was going to be auctioned off in Austin later in the month. Hey, we'll be visiting family in San Antonio and I could rent a U-Haul trailer and bring it back myself.

The Cost
Winning bid with buyers premium was $625 and I've spent about $150 on materials. So, $775-800 total.
Shipping - unfortunately, the auction house was closed while I was in Texas, so I had to furniture ship home. A month ago I had a local mover move it from the lower level to the second floor into my den. Total $1,050.

So All-in $1,800

What did I get?
Late 1800's carved cabinet, two-pieces. As I understand it, in the late 1800's there was still hand carving for furniture pieces but moulding was being machine produced. In looking closely at the lion's heads, cherubs, flemish church figures and the trim around the doors and the two lower door panels those all appear to be hand carved as I can see individual wood carving tool marks. I assume the top and bottom moldings are machined.

I would say that portions of this one were done by an apprentice as there are flaws where some of the decorative carving is rectangle and others are square. The only piece similar to this I could find on the internet is located in UK, came from a church and the antique dealer has it listed for 3,400 pounds. But, it is of better quality than what I purchased.

Here are before and after photos of the cabinet. I will post separately the steps I took to get it finished for those who may considering doing something like this themselves.

I am very happy with the results.

John

View attachment 685585
View attachment 685586

OUTSTANDING!!!!! You hit a grand slam!!! Absolutely love the outcome!!! Well done sir!!!

 

[thi9elsp]

For those that are interested, here are the steps I took to modify the cabinet.

I repurposed the single shelf from the upper cabinet to the lower cabinet and am using that area for storage of ammunition and other items.

I originally expected to store the rifles vertical. Had I realized I could store them horizontal, I would have approached the blue backing differently.

I brad nailed in two pieces of luan to the back of the cabinet and then masked off the entire cabinet, sprayed adhesive (3M Super 77), and spread the blue felt I had purchased at Joanne's fabrics.



Once the blue felt was secured I went to trim it off with a utility knife, brand new blade. Unfortunately, I had slippage on the felt and ended up with some gaps where the luan was showing through.

What do many of us ask ourselves? What do you do with the back skins? Well, I have skins from both of my buffalo sitting in my closet. So, I got some 1/4" thick by 1 1/2" wide trim, cut it to size, used the spray adhesive and wrapped brown Cape buffalo hide to it. In some spots, the adhesive didn't hold well and my wife Ann helped by hot glue gunning it for me.

I purchased an LED light strip on Amazon that I could cut into 3 pieces and it came with connectors so I ran a piece on either side and across the top. It has a remote and dimmer which is nice to have.







Once I had this done, I had an epiphany. What if I could put the guns in horizontal like @rookhawk had suggested. Sure enough, my CZ 550 375 H&H is a 1/2" longer than the 404J. I tested and it fit with about 1/2" to spare at both the butt end and barrel crown.

I purchased this rack:

https://www.holdupdisplays.com/products/fishing-rod-and-gun-rack-track-bundle

But, the back of the cabinet didn't seem as thick as necessary to properly secure the rack. So, I used two more pieces of 1/4" thick by 1 1/2" wide trim pieces and wrapped these with black Cape buffalo hide and nailed them to the cabinet's back panel using my brad nailer.

Note, one thing about the rack is you have to drill your own holes in it. This was actually a good thing for me so that I could line up the holes to the thicker cross pieces in the cabinet. Once the black trim was nailed in place, I screwed in the rack and then installed the adjustable holders to get to final result.



Here's another look inside. The lions head walking stick was purchased in 1975 in Paris when I was 15. Hope I never have need of it, but am happy I've kept it all this time.



Here's some photos with a bit more detail on the cabinet's carved figures and door plates.

 

[thi9elsp]

I almost forgot to post the most important photo. The Dalmore Toast!

 

[Sarg]

Looks very nice, great work, sorry to hear of your flooding that sucks !

A question why did you mount your rifles with the bolts to the back ?

 

[thi9elsp]

@Sarg thanks. I wanted to see the cheek piece. Also, it’s a more natural way for me to grab the rifles - just like I would otherwise. Since it’s a bit tight that helps me handle them more carefully

 

[ZG47]

Nice result.

 

[Brent in Az]

Handsome cabinet!

 

[Rimbaud]

Brilliant. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Mekaniks]

That’s really cool thanks for sharing

 

[Hunt anything]

WOW!!

 

[Woodcarver]

Nicely Done! Beautiful way to display your rifles.

 

[Altitude sickness]

That was a great find. Did they say where it came from?

 

[wesheltonj]

Nice work and the horizontal keeps the recoil pads fresh too

 

[AZDAVE]

Nice job on the refurbishment!

 

[thi9elsp]

@Altitude sickness They didn't say specifically. Here's the original write up for the listing:

Flemish style carved oak bookcase, late 19th c., the upper cabinet having foliate carved cornice and frieze, over dual glazed doors, framed by columnar beast forms with lion and figural masks, lower cabinet with two drawers and two doors carved with figural scenes, interior with one shelf, rising on plinth base and short straight legs

The other one I found similar to this piece is located in the UK and is simply listed as Victorian Era, Late 19th Century without any specific build country.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192893734487

I also found some Flemish style hand carved panels for sale during my research which were similar to the lower door carvings on this piece.

 

[Fixfire]

Well done!!
What was the decision, if any, on horizontal display versus vertical?
Horizontal definately enhances viewing, but could probably hold more vertically.

 

[thi9elsp]

@Fixfire Our member @rookhawk had recommended horizontal display to avoid gun oil seeping into stocks over the long term. I originally planned to do vertical, but in such a way that the stocks would be displayed. When I figured out the cabinet could handle horizontal, I achieved the best of both options. Coming across the rack made the decision much easier too.

 

[MontanaPat]

Nice job, beautiful cabinet. Flemish makes me think it could be from Belgium or Northern Europe, or at least the builders were from that area.

 

[VertigoBE]

Congratulations on some very beautiful work @thi9elsp !

I cannot say if these are "Flemish Cabinets", but it would explain why they are quite common here in Belgium. (Flanders is the northern half of Belgium, where I come from). I see these kinds of cabinets all the time listed for next to no money. My mother has two of them.

If I were allowed to display my guns in the general living room area or office, this is also the route I would be taking. However we are obliged to always keep everything in a safe.