Cranky CJ
Member
My wife never did like my mothers china cabinet so I asked her if I could make a gun cabinet out of it, she said yes and the following is what I came up with.
China Cabinet Repurpose
- Thread starter Cranky CJ
- Start date
- Status
OP
OP
Cranky CJ
Member
It is a really old cabinet and the back panels were pretty much junk. I took quarter inch birch plywood and make new panels. Wired led puck lights in the top and made a floor plate out of one of the shelves. Matching the stain of a early last century cabinet wasn't easy but I got close.
I have all the parts to cable lock all the long guns into the cabinet to "try" and add security to it.
I have all the parts to cable lock all the long guns into the cabinet to "try" and add security to it.
Very nice job! I personally think gun cabinets are great for displaying long guns, but poor security. If you could devise a lock bar tied into the wall, that could help slow down a potential smash and grab thief. But nice work repurposing the cabinet!
OP
OP
Cranky CJ
Member
Security is an issue. Its an old cabinet, if somebody wants in, they'll get in. I'm going to cable all the guns into the cabinet. On the other side of security, I have three big dogs that roam the house freely. All three have deep barks that make you think twice.
I have a couple of spare sheets of 1" laminated armored glass and I've been thinking about using them to build a gun display cabinet. Welded steel construction, decorated with veneer and wood carvings, to hide the fact that it's more or less bombproof. The only problem is that the glass is so heavy that even the weight of a steel cabinet can't prevent it from tipping over when the door is opened, so it'll have to be bolted down.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,297
Cranky CJ
You did a great job of refitting the old china cabinet into a very nice display case for your long guns. Of course security is nearly no existent but then again you do have the dogs doing roaming security any ways. The cable lock is a good idea and I often thought about placing a sheet of wire mesh on the inside of the door. Not much extra protection but it might slow them down a bit trying to get the guns out.
You did a great job of refitting the old china cabinet into a very nice display case for your long guns. Of course security is nearly no existent but then again you do have the dogs doing roaming security any ways. The cable lock is a good idea and I often thought about placing a sheet of wire mesh on the inside of the door. Not much extra protection but it might slow them down a bit trying to get the guns out.
Ed N.
Member
Very pretty! You did a great job.
I've always stored my long guns muzzle down, however, to keep oil in the barrel from weeping into the action and stock. Any particular reason you went muzzle up?
I've always stored my long guns muzzle down, however, to keep oil in the barrel from weeping into the action and stock. Any particular reason you went muzzle up?
AlexanderA
Member
Old-school gun cabinets are great as long as you keep them in a secure room. And your entire house should be burglar-proofed if you have a significant number of guns. My collection has long outgrown any reasonable gun safes(s), so I've had to expand my "security perimeter" outwards.
That would only be a problem if you're putting an excess amount of oil in the barrels. I just lightly coat the bores with rust-inhibiting grease (RIG). It stays where you put it.
Muzzle-down is not a very stable way of placing guns in a rack (unless you lock them in in some way).
That would only be a problem if you're putting an excess amount of oil in the barrels. I just lightly coat the bores with rust-inhibiting grease (RIG). It stays where you put it.
Muzzle-down is not a very stable way of placing guns in a rack (unless you lock them in in some way).
JTHunter
Member
Nice piece of work there Cranky! It's always nice to see something "repurposed" instead of being thrown away.
I might have been inclined to use one of those little LED strip lights like for under kitchen cabinets to light up the counter. They would give more even lighting w/o the "hotspots" the pucklights make.
I might have been inclined to use one of those little LED strip lights like for under kitchen cabinets to light up the counter. They would give more even lighting w/o the "hotspots" the pucklights make.
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
.
That looks great. I'd sure like to be able to admire my long guns like that.
Living where I do they must stay in the safe, save for the dedicated house gun.
Nice job!
That looks great. I'd sure like to be able to admire my long guns like that.
Living where I do they must stay in the safe, save for the dedicated house gun.
Nice job!
old lady new shooter
Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 30,619
The cabinet looks really beautiful.
I agree with the folks who expressed security concerns, am wondering whether the 3M window film could be used for this purpose?
I agree with the folks who expressed security concerns, am wondering whether the 3M window film could be used for this purpose?
LoneGoose
Member
A cop once told me that a dog is a better home security device than a burgler alarm. Makes sense. And you have three.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,079
Very nice. Growing up as a kid in the 50s-60s everyone I knew had at least one glass door-ed gun cabinet in their house. First woodworking project most of us did for 4-H or wood shop was a 3/4 gun open wall rack.
While security is a concern, only you know the risks of your individual scenario. Do what you feel is appropriate and makes you comfortable. My concern is always more about ease of access to kids or others unfamiliar with firearms and safe handling than those who break into my house with the sole intent of stealing my firearms.
While security is a concern, only you know the risks of your individual scenario. Do what you feel is appropriate and makes you comfortable. My concern is always more about ease of access to kids or others unfamiliar with firearms and safe handling than those who break into my house with the sole intent of stealing my firearms.
kimberkid
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 1,654
My thoughts exactly ...
... but it is a beautiful show case, and with the sentimental connection, it's a double win!
.
OP
OP
Cranky CJ
Member
MN river rat; I hear you, the only thing that can't be undone is one of the shelves was turned into the floor board for the butts to rest on. everything else can be reversed easily. Another piece of my mothers furniture was a kitchen hutch, similar to a Hoosier hutch that I turned into my reloading bench. Again, I saved the original top and made a better top for reloading, everything can be reversed if needed at a later date.
ApacheCoTodd
member
I LIKE it!
I see no reason to pee in your corn flakes regarding the open display as I too am guilty of wanting to enjoy some of my firearms visually on a daily basis.
When I saw "china cabinet", I expected a bunch of limiting panes in the glass - not so!
Also, no drawers for flat-ware and the like. I find drawers a distraction in gun cabinets and racks.
In the end though, it's those great feet that really sells this particular piece of furniture for me and those in conjunction with viewing it as climbing the stairs? Outstanding.
I'd have a mind to that heat register below it and watch for untoward effects on wood or contents.
Todd.
I see no reason to pee in your corn flakes regarding the open display as I too am guilty of wanting to enjoy some of my firearms visually on a daily basis.
When I saw "china cabinet", I expected a bunch of limiting panes in the glass - not so!
Also, no drawers for flat-ware and the like. I find drawers a distraction in gun cabinets and racks.
In the end though, it's those great feet that really sells this particular piece of furniture for me and those in conjunction with viewing it as climbing the stairs? Outstanding.
I'd have a mind to that heat register below it and watch for untoward effects on wood or contents.
Todd.
woerm
Member
Nice work
Nice work and excellent workmanship
Nice work and excellent workmanship
ColtPythonElite
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,473
Nice work.
old lady new shooter
Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 30,619
Love your sig line, from which book of Heinlein is it?
- Status
