Displaying Guns

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DS Gun

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I recently bought two engraved revolvers that were bought with the intention of display only. One is blued and the other is stainless steel. I am curious what the best way is for display. I was thinking about the glass display boxes where the gun is on velvet and is pushed into foam - like this http://www.customdisplays.com/images/3xcolage.gif

Is this a safe way for me to display the guns? I did some searching on the forum and read some threads about rust and moisture. I am in Central Florida where it is humid, but the display cases would be inside my house in AC. I really would like to display them, especially since they are so pretty. :D I am just a bit discouraged now after reading a couple of threads on rust. I didn't think there would be any problems since they would be behind glass.

Thanks for any help on proper ways to display guns! (Oh, and I was hoping whatever way I use, the container would be lockable).
 
Thanks, not that it changes much, but I should have added that they will be displayed in an area where only my wife and I would see them. They will not be seen by anyone entering my home for maintenance, delivery, etc. They would only be something I could see daily to admire. I don't have ammo for these particular guns in the home.
 
Due to what our society has become, you really should lock them in a safe. It's a shame that people can't display items like engraved firearms in their own homes, but the potential trouble is not worth it.
 
put a dehumidifier in your safe... in florida not to mention you should keep a dehumidifier with your ammo as well
 
Along these same lines...
in states/localities that require locking devices / safes for storage of all firearms, would it be legal (prudency aside) to have a muzzleloader displayed as decoration (say, over a mantle)?
 
What about UNINVITED guests? A burglary could relieve of your valuable collectibles. A quick in and out will be defeated by a safe.

What make of pistols? Only Colts SAAs should be engraved but that is just my opinion.

Buy a safe and keep them there until you want to display them.

streakr
 
Use silica gel packs and learn how the maker advises recharging them. Some can be reheated in the oven to remove the accumulated water. Check gun accessory distributors or a good camera shop.

Use a sealed case to prevent excess moisture from getting in. Your local commericial glass supplier may be able to get vandal resistant glass that doesn't have wire in it. It's used in detention grade facilities - it's not thin or cheap.

The real problem displaying guns isn't delivery guys as much as a "friend" of a friend, someone you don't know a buddy drags over to your house. Most gun thefts seem to occur in the next six weeks because of this sort of casing, according to the Justice Department.

Display them as best you can, just be really selfish and show them to noone. The real thieves are the middle class looking guys with, say, embroidered "Boeing" shirts they picked up from DAV.
 
Lock 'em up

I'm with the keep them in a safe. You will be better off and there will be alot less chance of theft.

Smithiac
 
In my personal opinion, if your wife and yourself are the only people that are going to have access to the room, just display them.

Am I supposed to keep my art in my vault instead of on display just because I have to be scared of someone stealing it?

Its insured, I purchased it because I love it and want to be able to see it.

If the biggest concern everyone was voicing was safety opposed to theft, then I would probably listen harder.

You purchased them to display and enjoy, so do it as long as the guns arent causing problems from a safety standpoint

Just my 2cents
 
Big Bang...My home is my castle. I will display what I want and I definately do not believe in locks on any of my guns...EVER!!...And I do have my T/C .50 cal Hawken over my mantle.

But in DS Gun's case I still would lock them in a safe...All my firearms are in the safe except two house guns and the T/C...My CCW weapon spends a lot of time out of the safe too.
 
Are you handy building things out of wood and glass or are you going to purchase a ready-made display case?

If it were me, I'd purchase extra thick safety glass and build the display case to a custom size to best display the dual pistols. That way, you could design vent holes thru the foam and pour silica granules into the holes for moisture absorbtion. Please don't forget safety, though, and install a hasp/padlock on the case.

I know that you secondarily asked about safety and everyone seems to be jumping on that and not even giving a second's worth of thought to the main question of D-I-S-P-L-A-Y.

Find some surface that the display case can be bolted to so someone will actually have to work at getting your pistols. This will keep them safe from the casual idiot who happens to walk into the room with the pistols.
 
Thanks all. Everyone has given me a lot to think about. Although I understand everyone's point of view, I will be displaying them in some way. I definitely want them to be safe from being stolen, taken down by kids, etc. As Creade mentioned, to me these are the same as displaying art, the only difference is this "art" can be very dangerous if put in the wrong hands. That is why I want them to be in a locked case that my child couldn't get into. If someone breaks in for a quick grab there are many things he/she would probably also grab that mean much more to me than these revolvers.

I also decided for them to be displayed in an area where no one will see them but my wife and I because I very much understand about friends seeing them and telling their friends etc. We believe that my parent's elderly neighbors were killed years ago, in their home/execution style, because it was known they had rifles and those were one of the items stolen from their home.

MinnMooney, I was hoping to buy something, mainly because I am not very good with making things like this myself. As you and Tirod mentioned, I think the silica packs would be very good. I didn't think about that. I will also think about how I can bolt the case to the wall so that it will be harder to remove. My big question was how I can display them without hurting the guns - rust or any other possible problems.

Thanks!
 
I'm all for displaying them.........when you're home. As long as the cases can be lifted right off their hooks and placed in the safe quickly, why not? I wouldn't leave 'em up if you're not home, or even when you go to bed.
 
Oh, AFA your original question - IMO, they should be hung in a case on some pegs or hooks, so air can circulate around them. I don't think a form-fitting recessed case lined with felt/velvet/whatever would be a good idea. Sounds like a moisture trap.
 
Photos

Here are some photos of them.
 

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I was hoping for more info about the HOW to display the guns...is there some type of velvet, foam, etc in the case that would be really good or bad etc.

These are YOUR guns and if you choose to put 'em out on display I say good on you. Life's too short to always be worried about what MIGHT happen.

sylvan-forge
I knew about silica gel I just never knew there was such a handy, cheap way to use it. Maybe in the display case behind the velvet/foam (whatever) you could put one of these. Thanks for the information!
 
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I still say display 'em if you want but if you've got nice guns like these maybe you have enough other items to justify an alarm system for your house. Plus make sure your insurance covers them.
 
Perhaps investigate the anti-theft hangers used to hanging art. Put something like lexan over the guns instead of glass to give it some shatter resistance...might be reasonably secure. If you have an alarm system check into wiring it into the display.
 
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