Project by Bermuda_Les | posted 01-13-2015 05:52 PM | 2934 views | 13 times favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
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For about seven years I produced custom mahogany presentation cases as a part-time hobby. I was honoured twice by being asked to produce a case the American Pistolsmiths Guild Raffle Gun for that year. Eventually my workload and job demands forced me to shut down the case business. Examples of my work can still be seen at http://www.centercustomcases.com/
I maintain the site in the hope that I will someday be able to resume making cases.
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
20 comments so far
CampD
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1818 posts in 4462 days
#1 posted 01-13-2015 06:18 PM
Very nice work!
I have another to make for a Luger.
-- Doug...
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#2 posted 01-13-2015 06:25 PM
Thank you. As a Luger owner, it started by me wanting to make one for myself, and quickly got out of control from there. :) Lugers are a beautiful pistol, and the cases are a joy to make.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
Northwest29
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1706 posts in 3467 days
#3 posted 01-13-2015 06:27 PM
Les, thank you for your post and welcome to Lumberjocks! Those presentation cases are just beautiful you are a very talented craftsman. I hope that you are able to return to making cases as I’m sure there are a great many people who would be pleased to receive one. Please share more of your work and perhaps even some of your building techniques.
-- Ron, "Curiosity is a terrible thing to waste."
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#4 posted 01-13-2015 06:42 PM
Thanks Ron, maybe someday I can get back to it. Hmmm… posting some tips on how I did it might be very useful indeed. I never took photos during construction, so any advice would be textural only, but there’s a few tips that members who are attempting something like this might find helpful. I did it all by trial and error, had no one to ask.
These days I’m attempting to make some mahogany Cabinet/Bookshelves for the Living Room after a long hiatus. I’m sure I’ll be seeking help, because I feel way out of my depth.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
mcoyfrog
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4757 posts in 4571 days
#5 posted 01-13-2015 06:46 PM
Sweet cases, and welcome to LJ’s I’m sure you will love it here
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
Tom Howbridge
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60 posts in 2359 days
#6 posted 01-13-2015 06:55 PM
Welcome to lumberjocks Les,
those are some cools boxes !
-- Check out my weekly videos at http://www.youtube.com/TomHowbridge
xraydav
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218 posts in 2947 days
#7 posted 01-13-2015 07:08 PM
I was so impressed Les, what beautiful work you do. When I was going to college I worked at a great sporting good store in Framingham MA, called Lew Hortons. We had, and sold so many beautiful guns. I still have a Walther PPK made in Germany with wood grips that so needs a great box like yours. Thanks for the motivation.
David
-- David, Norwood Mass, [email protected]
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#8 posted 01-13-2015 07:29 PM
Hi xraydav,
I spent many happy days in and around Framingham, have good friend who live there. Used to shoot frequently at the Boston Gun Range in Worcester when it was located down by Union Station before it moved out to SW Cutoff. Talk care of that PPK, they’re a rare find.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
Mainiac Matt
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9772 posts in 3305 days
#9 posted 01-14-2015 12:58 AM
Beautiful work Les…
Mind me asking where you found your hardware?
-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam
Dan'um Style
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14188 posts in 4959 days
#10 posted 01-14-2015 01:38 AM
Welcome to lumberjocks and your website link is nice. You do especially nice interior work.
-- keeping myself entertained ... Humor and fun lubricate the brain
HillbillyShooter
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5811 posts in 3269 days
#11 posted 01-14-2015 03:06 AM
Very nicely crafted.
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#12 posted 01-14-2015 12:43 PM
Hi Matt,
Yes, I think the hinges, half-mortise locks and knobs all came from Rockler. I also used Lee Valley. The brass collars for the cartridge holders and the rubber feet were milled by me from brass rod on a metal lathe.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#13 posted 01-14-2015 12:44 PM
Thank you all for your nice comments.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
WMD2006
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102 posts in 3200 days
#14 posted 01-14-2015 02:14 PM
You beat me to it. The cartridge collars look really sharp! Guess I’ll be adding another project to the backlog…
-- -MDWhite
Bermuda_Les
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162 posts in 2206 days
#15 posted 01-14-2015 06:23 PM
I think I should point out WMD2006, that I tried doing these with a drill press, and just couldn’t do it. Too loosey-goosey. Your mileage might vary. I broke down and bought a small metal lathe from HarborFreight.
Les
-- Making sawdust in Bermuda. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
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