Custom made gun cases

**jim Glass** · 02-18-2015, 10:42 PM

Every time I take this Ruger single six revolver to the gun range other people are impressed with the gun case I made for it. The gun case is a standard 2 X 8 with a sotandard 1 X 8 lid. Never did get around to finishing the case with any stain or polyurethane. The goal of the gun case was to look like a piece of lumber rather than a gun case. Yep, there is a little
boo boo near the pistol grip.

The nest for the Ruger single six was machined on my CNC milling machine. I could machine a fitted nested case for any handgun. All I would need is a pencil tracing of the actual gun on a piece of paper and mailed to me with the thickness of the actual gun included.

What do you think about this idea for a custom hand gun case? How could this be marketed and what would people pay for a custom case like this. Should it be offered either unfinished or finished.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...se%20empty.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...0and%20gun.jpg

Thanks for your input,
Jim

**welderguy** · 02-19-2015, 02:22 AM

Jim I dont know if anyone else is getting this , but my antivirus says there is malware on the page your pic is on!

**jim Glass** · 02-19-2015, 08:28 AM

Hummmm. Pics are at photobucket.com. I'll look into it.

All I know to do is replace the pictures with a direct links to the pictures. Doubt the problem is at photobuck.com Could be my own computer.
Jim

**canid** · 02-19-2015, 08:50 AM

Aside from any bells and whistles you may wish to add, the quality of the fit and finish will be the primary factor in determining a price. It's a nice custom case but for a product it's not there yet. The tearout from your cutter is pretty noticable and the stepover should probably be finer. It looks like you used a ball nose endmill. A router would probably be more appropriate for the higher rpm desired and a good router bit for that use. I think smaller depth of cut would compensate and give you finer stepover while it was at it.

As far as bells and whistles, a soft lining might be desirable. Hardwoods showing some figure would be a plus. Any compositing or inlaying or other aesthetic embillishment can take you further in perceived value.

Do not take my criticisms wrong; it is a pretty nice case. For a very well finished, simple fitted wooden pistol case you should be able to get one or a couple hundred dollars depending on where and how well you market.

**Rick** · 02-19-2015, 08:52 AM

I'm using Norton 360 and don't see any issues.

To your questions, Jim, having a "camouflaged" weapon is always a good idea. I think the weight would be less than ideal. I'm kinda partial to my plastic and foam cases because they are so light weight. But I like the one you built.

**hunter63** · 02-19-2015, 11:38 AM

Nice case.....would be useful as a decoy or interest at the range.
I agree with a soft liner as well.

Anyway, I am a soft case guy or foam lined.

Do have a couple of custom made cases for Rem 742 and a Ruger .44 mag.....very nice wood boxes, but heavy.

Made by a friend that passed many years ago, but I have to say, I don't use them.

Photo bucket give my virus scan fits as well at times.....and has pop-up's for Win 8.1 and all sorts or other stuff.
They keep asking me to "Go Pro", so I would have to pay for the privilege of being messed with.

**jim Glass** · 02-19-2015, 12:01 PM

This is the input I was looking for, thanks. I basically carved out that gun case rather quickly because all I was looking for was a case to store and transport the revolver. Selling or marketing this gun case was far from my mind at the time. I have made countless items in my machine shop I thought I could sell only to find very little interest. The interest in this gun case caught me by surprise.

I have a Rugar LCP and a Bersa Thunder in need of a case. I'll make them and post for another opinion.

Sorry about Photobucket.com. They give me fits as well. Computer changes are often no better, just different.
Jim