Colt Army Presentation Case

[Norton Commando]

We've had quite a few rainy days here recently in Houston, Texas which has forced me to seek indoor activities. So, I built a wooden storage case for three of my torque wrenches and then I built a wall cabinet that holds ten sets of steel-point darts and also serves as a beverage shelf.

Continuing with the wooden storage case theme, I decided to build a presentation case for my 1860 Colt Army. It seems that Samuel Colt provided nice wooden presentation cases for many of his customers who bought Colt black powder revolvers and I thought it would be a fun project to replicate one.

I don't know what wood was used for Colt's cases, but I used oak for the top, bottom and sides and pine for the dividers. The overall design is loosely based on some of Colt's original presentation cases.

At one point I thought about building multiple cases for sale, but decided against it because it takes far too long to build just one with my limited wood-working tools. Most of the wood was cut with my jig saw, so it was a painstaking process to finish shape and size the pieces using only a wood rasp, block plane and sandpaper. I'm just not set up for wood working, but the end-result looks decent, in my mind anyway. See attached pics.

 

[bannockburn]

Norton Commando

Very nice work! My Colt Model 1860 would feel right at home in that presentation case!

 

[Navy Six 2]

Beautiful job! For some reason, the percussion revolvers just look right in a presentation case.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

For your so-called limit of tools, I think you did an outstanding job on the presentation case!

Stain can really bring out the beauty of wood grain. Do it again!

 

[Norton Commando]

Thank you all so much for the compliments!

Jason

 

[AlexanderA]

Excellent craftmanship. I especially like that you took the trouble to inlet the lock and hinges. Most modern reproductions have those components surface-mounted.

If I may make a constructive suggestion, all the originals that I have seen have the internal dividers covered with the same cloth material used to line the top and bottom. In addition, most of them have a thin strip, also covered in cloth, that goes around all four sides, on the inside, and makes a seal with the lid.

 

[Norton Commando]

Excellent craftmanship. I especially like that you took the trouble to inlet the lock and hinges. Most modern reproductions have those components surface-mounted.

If I may make a constructive suggestion, all the originals that I have seen have the internal dividers covered with the same cloth material used to line the top and bottom. In addition, most of them have a thin strip, also covered in cloth, that goes around all four sides, on the inside, and makes a seal with the lid.

Thank you.

I did indeed think about covering the dividers with material and making a seal-strip but was concerned I wouldn't be able to trim the material precisely enough. Following is a picture of a real Colt and presentation case with the dividers covered with a blue felt-like material, which is the same material used for the top and bottom of the case. I don't think this one has the seal piece and I've since sold the gun so I can't verify one way or the other.

If I can figure out how to cover the dividers I may make another case.

Best,

Jason

 

[bannockburn]

Jason

If I can figure out how to cover the dividers I may make another case.

Yes please, by all means, make another case!

 

[arcticap]

Your case is beautiful and I could never make one.
But I recalled this TFL thread where j-bird documented how he constructed his pistol case.
It could provide some helpful hints for anyone who wants to build a revolver presentation case.

My New ‘51 Navy Display Case!--->>> https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250257&highlight=building+a+box

 

[AlexanderA]

Following is a picture of a real Colt and presentation case with the dividers covered with a blue felt-like material

It looks to me that the dividers in that case must be made of a cardboard-like material, covered in cloth. If they were wooden slats, they couldn't have the curvature around the trigger guard, etc. Actually, that curved divider is kind of a unique feature. I hadn't seen that before.

These are what are known as "English" style cases, with the dividers. There are also the "French" style cases, with an internal block carved out to hold the gun and the other components, and the whole thing covered with one piece of cloth stretched and glued into the recesses. Something like that required considerably more skill and time to make, was very specific to the gun, and was obviously far more expensive.

Modern reproductions of French style cases tend to use styrofoam or vacuum-formed plastic for the internal block. Notorious examples are the cases sold with early reproductions of Paterson and Walker Colts. A better approach would have been to make a "sandwich" out of thin layers of plywood, cut out with a jigsaw in the appropriate places.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Very nice work Norton! I wish I had the skill and patience to make a case like that. I really like the green lining too. Looks very "rich" for lack of a batter term.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Beautiful craftsmanship Sir.

 

[Norton Commando]

If anyone is interested, the subject presentation case is up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of USD 50.

Jason

 

[expat_alaska]

Jason,

Do you have a link?

Jim

 

[arcticap]

For anyone who wants to follow the auction, the eBay item # is:--->>> 163546023891

Just enter the # into the eBay search box.
The case already has a bid.