The Gun Case Thread

Ashcroft said:
Thanks Canvasback, it may be unique, I've never even seen a photo of one like it. I'm looking for a big case for a big gun, if anybody can help me it would sure be appreciated. I need it to fit my Westley Richards 10 bore with 32" barrels and of course it also has a doll's head so I need at least 33" inside minimum. A rebuildable project would be fine. Every fine gun deserves it's own case.
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Neither have I. Love those curved edges. I had an old Abercrombie and Fitch "envelope case" which I have never seen another vintage version of (although a couple new ones). it was embossed with A & F and had a serial number but when I contacted Bob Beach to learn more about it, they had no record of that style. Much as I liked it for originality, it was a pain to use, so sold it to a fellow who had an A & F branded gun. I got it because it came with my Tolley single barrel.

I like unique but they also have to work. LOL
 
Id like to find a nice vintage case for my jd dougal sidelever. I have a suitcase type but it doesnt lock and the leather is cracked. Im scared itll open by accident and drop the gun. Being a sidelever im not sure if itll fit in a negrini case
 
I've recently been through that same scene Brybenn, looking for a case for my side lever external hammer 16 gauge Dougall. I looked for 10 years and none of the suitable unoccupied vintage cases that I could find were deep enough. After about 7 years I gave up and modified a nice slightly deeper than average leather case to just tightly fit, not ideal. Then lo and behold a nice restorable 5" deep case came home and after some primping and interior fitting I now have a great combination. The only drawback, it's one of those strange designs that they used for a few years with the handle at the back, opposite to the latch and the latch is broken, I still haven't found a replacement. If you pick this style of case up by the handle and the latch pops open you spill the contents ( your gun) out what is now the bottom. Not good. Excellent straps well secured advised.
 
This is not a gun case but is an English Cartridge Magazine built by, or for Greener. These cases are rather uncommon and this is the only one I have personally see.
 
This not a gun Case, but rather a Cartridge Magazine by or for W W Greener. This is the only one I have personally seen but they do appear from time to time in the English auctions. It will hold 8 boxes of shot shells. It is styled much like an English gun case as it is leather covered with brass corners and inside has exposed oak and the the Makers trade label.
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Beauty, Bill!
I bought one similar to that - not as fancy as your Greener case - but that one had such a strong smell of must or maybe hide glue (fish glue?) inside I couldn't stomach it!
was actually looking to contribute to this thread today but my restoration on this old case is, well... let's say just not going so well! Going to give it a rest and come back to it on another day.
 
Londonshooter said:
Beauty, Bill!
I bought one similar to that - not as fancy as your Greener case - but that one had such a strong smell of must or maybe hide glue (fish glue?) inside I couldn't stomach it!
was actually looking to contribute to this thread today but my restoration on this old case is, well... let's say just not going so well! Going to give it a rest and come back to it on another day.
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I'll post a pic of the interior in due course. No odour in mine but moths got to a bit of the interior lining.
Bill
 
Cow Town Bill said:
This not a gun Case, but rather a Cartridge Magazine by or for W W Greener. This is the only one I have personally seen but they do appear from time to time in the English auctions. It will hold 8 boxes of shot shells. It is styled much like an English gun case as it is leather covered with brass corners and inside has exposed oak and the the Makers trade label.
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Bill, when you are tired of that and want to pass it along to someone who will both treasure AND use it, send me an email. That’s fantastic.
 
Joseph F. Smythe, Darlington

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This is a case I have been tidying up. Corners on the box were pretty shot and one strap broken with the other in tough shape. Kevin from Sharkskin in Sarnia cut the materials for straps for me then I had a little stitching to do. Will likely dye the case to a more uniform colour. The lining is fair condition for 130 years old, but shrunken - I plan to leave it as is.
The maker:
Joseph Forrestall Smythe was born in Dublin and by some accounts apprenticed as a gun maker with W.W. Greener in Birmingham before moving to Edinburgh to work for Alexander Henry. In about 1875 he moved to Dublin to become manager of Trulock Brothers (Trulock & Harris) of 9 Dawson Street.

In 1885 he moved back to England and bought the business of Francis Brebner at 13 Blackwellgate, Darlington. Smythe was an accomplished gun maker and this case label boasts "Patronized by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales and His Highness The Shahzada Nasrullah Khan". Khan was a crown prince of Afghanistan, later ascending to the throne of Afghanistan as Emir for one week, from February 21 to February 28, 1919. He is shown here meeting with Queen Victoria in 1895.
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If history remembers Smythe, though, it has less to do with his skill as a gun maker and more for a tragic incident when his ammunition manufacturing business blew up. At that time he was producing 370,000 loaded cartridges annually. Multiple buildings in Darlington as well as the factory were destroyed, and several people maimed and disfigured by the blast when 65 pounds of powder ignited.
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Hopefully this link works or else paste it into browser.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4586360.bowls-darlington-began-bang/
 
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Thanks, Bill and Stephen, for your comments. A boxlock ejector is not usually my kind of thing but this is a 6 1/2 lb. 12 ga. that shoots like it was made for me so its definitely a keeper. Incidentally, it is the one from my thread about pits and Damascus refinishing. I'm about to box it up to send to Chris to strip/de-oil/refinish/re-checker, glass the head, and have an ultrasonic cleaning of the receiver and bits.
 
Londonshooter said:
Thanks, Bill and Stephen, for your comments. A boxlock ejector is not usually my kind of thing but this is a 6 1/2 lb. 12 ga. that shoots like it was made for me so its definitely a keeper. Incidentally, it is the one from my thread about pits and Damascus refinishing. I'm about to box it up to send to Chris to strip/de-oil/refinish/re-checker, glass the head, and have an ultrasonic cleaning of the receiver and bits.
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You will have to post pics after Chris' restoration. Look out pheasants, there's a new gun in town.
Bill
 
My few remaining cases pale in comparison to the examples of the leather-makers' artwork already shown, but thought I might add a couple photos of mine to this thread. I should get busy & photograph my rook rifle cases & my Oak & Leather two-gun case, before it's time to let them go to another caretaker.

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