doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reline a gun case -How to?

I have a 1920's Belgium high end Guild double that I would like to put in a case. No makers mark, but still very nice. I have a nice fairly old leather case that I would like to reline and refit the inside for this gun. Can anyone give me some details on how to build the inside after I strip out the old stuff? Should I do traditional english style with "thin dividing walls" to create the compartments, OR should I do the French style where the gun sits into a exact lined cutout for the gun and components? Which would be more correct for a Belgium, 1920's, doublegun? More questions to follow... thanks.

ALSO, is this task to refit and reline the inside of this case something I can do myself or should I send it all to an "expert?" Can it really be that tough? What is the most correct color felt to use? Any advise and direction is appreciated.

ALSO, anyone with good information in regard to this work, I would be grateful for your direct email address. I'm also looking for a good source for nice tools to put in the case. I need to find custom tool makers. thanks.

FWIW, I'm in the process of partially relining several old and new hard cases to make them suit my needs and look good, too. Wool felt is surprisingly hard to find, and I have looked at a lot of fabric samples over the last couple of months. Finally settled on some very nice velour that I found at Calico Corners (a chain store with "decorator" fabrics). The nice velour is $20/yard and the really nice velour is $60-$120/yard. I'm comfortable with the velour choice because several of the new Emmebi cases that I have seen are using velour, and it looks GOOD. I'm cutting dividers and blocks from 7-ply birch plywood (smooth and stable) and using spray adhesive to stick the fabric to the wood. The spray adhesive can be had at some fabric stores, or go to your auto body paint supply and look at something like 3M trim adhesive or headliner adhesive. I think a traditional British-style case is a lot easier to do than a French-fitted case, and you can always swap guns in a single case if it's not French-fitted. One of the cases I'm redoing is for an 1892 Belgian hammer Damascus, the others are for my current L.C. Smiths and future Parkers. Gotta plan ahead, in case I get lucky on a Parker.

Galazan has some very nice tools in their catalog. Jeff's Outfitters often has nice tools, as well.

Sharper,

For a more traditional look, I'd suggest using a worsted wool....which is basically billiard cloth that is found at most billiard supply stores that reline tables. Usually about $30./yd. and you'll need only a 1-1/2 to 2 yards for your case.

PM me if you wish, as I can likely get you started.

turnstone@bitterroot.net

Rob H.

Nice collection of articles in the first 3 issues of Double Gun Classics e-zine
http://www.doublegunclassics.com/alt/DGCJuly-Aug05Ad2.pdf

Not traditional, but I've built several reproduction Colt cases using a flocking compound sold by Woodcraft and some others. It is very durable and can be made so that it looks just like felt. All you need to do is strip your old interior and glue in the partitions where you want them. The flocking process starts by painting the area you want to cover with a special colored adhesive and when finished you spray the flocking fibers into the painted area with a special flocking gun. Let the whole thing dry for 24 hours and than use air to remove the excess fibers.

The whole flocking gun setup is cheaper than a couple yards of wool felt (if you can find it) and the supplies will do a couple cases. If you try it, I think you would like it.