1851 MGC Colts Presentation Case

Well it's winter-time here - so a project to help occupy those long winter nights has been to make a presentation case for my TWO MGC 1851 Navy Colts (+accessories).

The box (an old wooden) cutlery box was stripped cleaned and re-lined with green felt, and is ready for the next stage: to create the wooden partitions for the pistols, powder flast, bullet mold etc.).....so here are some pics of the first stage:



Part two will be loaded soon - so keep an eye out for those old wooden boxes - they make nice gun cases!

Kiwigunner

Somehow I just know these will turn out very good.

Thanks Ozzie,
The challenge now is deciding where to put everything. But that's part of the fun!
One possible layout is along these lines....... I have yet to buy a nipple wrench and some lead projectiles!



I'll play around with some cardboard templates before I start cutting up the woood partitions and coveringthem with green felt. But These MGC Modellguns are worth preserving with a good cae in my opinion!


Kiwigunner

Where abouts do you find these old cutlery boxes?
You got me thinking now.

I usually get them on TradeMe auctions www.trademe.co.nz
Cost between NZ$10 & NZ$30 (plus postage) - so good cheap but quality (usually Oak/Oak veneer) boxes.
I always check on the dimensions before bidding! (Some people forget to say what they are!)

I guess there must be an Aussie equivalent.

Just an update on the next stage:
after viewing various Colt Navy boxes I decided on this layout/mockup.
Now the wood needs trimming, covering in felt and gluing into position.
Hopefully this week will see it completed - with a facsimile of Colt's instructions sheet.
Note: I now have a nipple wrench; and there's a space for putting in some .36 lead ball.

The project is surprisingly absorbing, and has helped while away some rainy evenings!

Kiwigunner

It's been a long wet winter - but at last the final stage of this project is near!
The glue takes a while longer to dry!
So after cutting the wooden spacers to size (and angles to fit) they were glued to felt pieces - first on one side, then when dry - folded over and glued on the other side.

These were held in place with a flat wooden block clamped to a steel ruler by large office clips.




Once dry, the felt was trimmed close to the wood and measured "in situ" for fitting checks.
Then they were glued in place, and held with scrap wooden bars until dry.



These photos show the START of the final assembly - more photos of the completion of the project will follow shortly.

Kiwigunner

And at last the final pics!


During the final stages of assembly, I decided to make a smaller container for the lead balls and to make a cover for them - to prevent the obvious displacement when moving the presentation box. I also found I had an old Deputy Marshall's badge which I put into the box. (Probably not period authentic??).



And the final box completed - AT LAST! A good winter project that lends a lot to my MGC Navy Colt Modelguns!


Hope some of you will give making presentation boxes a go..... my total cost was less than NZ$40.

Kiwigunner

A job well done as usual.

I've been checking ebay and gumtree, and these cutlery boxes are appearing quite regularly.
Some of them are very very nice with beautiful polished timber.

Mate, I ran out of compliments

Excellent job and it really sets those pistols off

Thanks guys - as always I appreciate the positive comments - Ozi, I hope you will get one or two boxes and follow suit!

I really believe many of our old modelguns (and some of the new ones) deserve protecting and storing safely! I've gotten to putting small silica gel bags inside the boxes to absorb any moisture or humidity! We get a lot of both in Auckland, NZ.
Re-cycling quality wooden cutlery boxes is worthwhile too!

Kiwigunner

Yes I've been looking at cutlery boxes to maybe give it a try.

I don't have the powder flasks etc, only percussion revolvers, so I will need to start looking.

Hi!
I'm amazed, what a beautiful job!
Thank you for sharing it!
I noticed a curious linguistical difference with french, about the nipples wrench : we call that a chimney key (literally)

Hi Kiwigunner,
beautiful job, you give me ideas...

Philippe

Merci beaucopu mon amis; I hope some of you (and Ozguns) do try to give it a go!
I'm onto another project now....and have set up this as a competition for am M1/M2 Carbine sling as a prize:

https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t3534-competition-open-to-all

Hope you will have a guess or two for this!


Kiwigunner