Ideas for Hanging Guns on The Wall

[BSA1]

I did a search on this topic but did not find any ideas. However based on the comments made on other threads it should be interesting to see how long before this one goes off-topic.

I store most of my firearms in a large walk-in vault. It has 12" thick concrete walls, 12" thick concrete ceiling, concrete floor and a Fort Knox steel vault door in my basement.

Did I mention the entire vault is encased in concrete except for the heavy steel bank door?

I would like to take advantage of some wall space and hang some guns on the wall inside the vault.

Did I mention this was inside the vault surrounded by 12" of concrete and a steel vault door?

(Just trying to keep everyone focused).

So I am looking for ideas on what material to attach to the wall to hang the guns on? My first thought is traditional pegboard attached to 2x4's nailed into the concrete. But I don't like the appearance of brown pegboard and have never had good results painting it.

With so many new building products how there does anyone have or seen other material? I am probably thinking of a 4' x 8' area.

 

[oneounceload]

Bent deer hooves with moly bolts inserted so they go right into the wall

 

[BSA1]

In my case that would be a lot of hooves. I doubt if they work well with handguns either.

 

[MattShlock]

I would probably go with strong pegboard, painted a nice flat color that shows the guns off, and well supported. Kinda made for this. Anything else is custom.

 

[Jim K]

Just don't do what one veteran's post did with some trophy guns from as far back as the Civil War. They drilled holes through them and nailed them to the wall! It is to cry.

Jim

 

[brbdwyr]

Frame the wall with 2x2's or flat 2x4's, lay up some horizontal slat wall, get some nice slat wall hardware, and voila'. http://www.slatwallsystems.com/ is a good place to start:

 

[BSA1]

I love the look of slats but am concerned that the grooves for the hangers will be too wide. The slats look to be about 2" wide which would seem to cause any guns (handguns and long guns at a angle).

P.S. The mods moved the thread to handguns but my question applies to long guns also. But handguns are the toughest to hang evenly.

 

[hovercat]

You can buy pegboard factory painted. Or hang a sheet of 1/4" melamine and drill holes only where you want pegs.

Can also be done by using a cabinet grade sheet of 3/4" plywood, staining it, and drilling/inserting section of dowels.

 

[98Redline]

I am not sure what you mean by hanging at an angle. When installed the slatwall hooks will come straight out of the wall at 90 degrees.

For pistols, why not just put a self up and use a rack similar to this:
http://www.gun-racks.com/pistol_racks

 

[BSA1]

For a gun to hang in profile horizontally level the hooks the gun rests on have to be at different levels.

I want to hang long guns, rifles and shotguns, and handguns on the wall so shelves and the cute handgun wood box does not meet my needs. I need a system that is flexible for changing needs.

I know this is a tough topic as few owners have a truly secure location where firearms can be openly displayed.

 

[niner4tango]

Home improvement stores sell white pegboard and plastic strips to finish off the edges. Looks real clean.

If you want to go upscale look at:
https://wallcontrol.com/Index.htm
or
http://www.alligatorboard.com/

 

[Berkley]

Do a Google search for "covering pegboard with burlap". It makes a clean looking background you can get in many colors, and the weave is open enough you can insert the hangers easily.

 

[BSA1]

Thanks for the ideas and feedback.

 

[BigG]

Brass coat hanger hooks are what I use. Buy them at any hardware store. Two hold any gun.

 

[RedAlert]

While I saw you mentioned hanging the guns from the wall; what about a free standing bookshelf with adjustable shelves. That way you could arrange the guns any way you like. Also as a free standing unit, it could be easily removed if you decide to re-decorate.

 

[leadcounsel]

Affix a thin steel sheet to the wall, and use metal magnetic hooks. They run about $1 - $2 each in bulk and are strong enough to hold most guns if you get the right sizes. Something like a polished aluminum wall, with magnetic hooks, would look hot!

Very versatile and clean looking.

Or, affix a wire mess sheet to the wall, and then use hooks designed to fit into the mess and stick out 6" or whatever. Also clean and versatile.

As for how to attack to concrete... either a 'beats nails' adhesive application that is very strong, and/or a masonry bit, anchors and screws.

BTW, I love the idea of a poured walk-in gun room. That is my dream one day.

 

[BSA1]

Whatever I put on the wall is going above either some base cabinets and counter top or a 8' work bench.

Cabinets and counter top look nice.

But a work bench with custom build shelving underneath is more functional as it allows me to design it to meet my storage needs,

And I thought women had trouble making up their minds!

 

[barneyrw]

1/4" pegboard comes in white in 4' X 8' sheets from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. For hanging handguns from the trigger guard I use the 1" curved hooks and dip the curved part in liquid rubber for coating things like the handles of pliers. I got it at Ace Hardware. I also use the plastic retainers that keep the curved hooks in place on the pegboard.

 

[karlsgunbunker]

Will any of these work. I believe they are from 7.62x54r.net

 

[barnbwt]

Nick Cage's gun room in Kickass was...kick-ass ... and used horizontal white slats with white L-brackets to hold everything (same as gun stores often use). Big cork-board with photos, news-clippings, and strings, too . Looked good mainly because all the guns were black , and probably wouldn't have worked as well if they were all deer-hooves or holding O/U shotguns --something to keep in mind.

Whatever you go with, resist the urge to use dark colors, since it will make the room functionally more difficult to deal with (cleaning, finding stuff, etc.). I'd visit a local gunstore or three and see how they do it, since your goals are similar; flattering presentation, while also utilizing space efficiently . If you store the guns too efficiently, you will neither see them nor use them ever, so avoid the temptation to "stack 'em deep" as the saying goes...


Case in point; "So that's where I left those thirty Mosins...oh well, I suppose I'll have to build another rack to hold the 40 Mosins I just bought to replace them"

TCB

 

[BSA1]

I have given thought to a vertical rack for some long guns. It will have to be commercially made as I am not that good of a carpenter. Maybe long guns in a vertical rack on the floor, handguns and gunsmithing tools on the wall.

As for how LGS hang their guns. Well hangs them with a single hook through the trigger guard. Long arms in vertical racks.

Sounds like I need to rent a movie...

 

[barnbwt]

"Sounds like I need to rent a movie..."

If Kickass, may not want to watch it with the missus, depending on her character...

Here's a good one;

A lovely bunker seated on the outskirts of a Moscow, only used by a previous supervillian owner on Sundays to plan world domination. Yours, for the pittance of one million, American

I think pegboard/slatboard covered with cheap/simple indoor-outdoor carpeting would look really slick. And lighting will be about 90% of making it look good. Look to the above photo for track lighting pointers

TCB