Author Topic: Packing Antique guns for shipping (Read 10007 times)

Hurricane ( of Virginia) · « **on:** October 04, 2011, 06:43:27 PM »

My personal preference for shipping is either a metal case ( expensive but openable for inspection which has been required at the US post office...no longer can get insurance above $1000.00 by Fedex). A wooden case can easily be made from 1x4 in an oblong frame and plywood covers. Usually 6 feet x 1 foot will be acceptable size and weight for shipping. The I go to Home DEpot and by a slab of foam insulation about 3.5 inches thick. . Cut it to fit inside the case. "sccop" out about 1.5-2 inches in the shape of the gun. Place the gun in the mold ( scoop) and cover with a soft material. I additionally make some "wickets" of coat hanger to secure the gun in the mold at several places. Lastly I cover the inside with 1 inch foam pad. Then screw screw the lid on with many screws ( anyone opening it will need a power drill).
Hurricane

The current problem referred to above was a gun tightly (?) attached to a board placed in cardboard box with no "foam" or buffer at the end.

Dr. Tim-Boone · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2011, 06:57:46 PM »

TOF had a great idea...after doing as you mentioned just above he wrapped the gun in plastic and placed it in the insulation or Styrofoam and then fill all of the remaining space with expanding foam from a can....tight fit and nothing will get it loose til the person receiving it cuts it free!!

alyce-james · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2011, 08:24:30 PM »

Some months back I purchased a flint .32 caliber long rifle from Jerry Eitnier. If Jerry would ring in and share his package style I'm sure the information would be very helpful to all that have interest in shipping. I received the rifle here in Texas. I don't believe the rifle moved at all. The box showed NO wear and tear. UPS was the carrier. AJ

keweenaw · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2011, 07:19:00 PM »

It's really hard to beat a Kalispel heavy aluminum case with welded corners. The guns don't move in the foam and the case can't be bent enough to break anything. All the guns in the Three Centuries book were shipped to and from the museums for photographing, etc. in those cases and none were damaged. The problem with any cardboard box, even if you foam the gun in place with expandable foam, is that the box can be bent and the gun broken. Not really a problem with short modern guns but a definite problem with longrifles with thin wrists. Building a box with plywood sides is fine, but building the box takes time and if that time has any value it will exceed the cost of shipping back an aluminum case. One of my friends took a rifle on an African hunting trip in a Kalispel case. The baggage handlers must have thought it would make a good loading ram as there were dusty foot prints down the case when he got it at the baggage claim but the gun inside was undamaged.

Tom

Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2011, 09:40:45 PM »

Snyder,
Nothing more needs to be said, if you are shipping and recieving severala year the $350.00 for the case is less than all the time spent on packaging,materials and trips to the store to purchase the afore mentioned.

debnal · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:37:23 PM »

I have an aluminum case that is 74x11x4 from Zielger engineering. It has shipped over 100 times with no damage to guns. My post office affectionately calls it Big Bertha.
I insure if only for actual loss of the case. You can run it over with a truck and the gun will not be damaged.
Al

Dr. Tim-Boone · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:46:31 PM »

is that Ziegel Engineering

Buck · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2011, 05:36:24 AM »

Yes Doc, Ziegel Engineering. Haven't had a broken one in their shallow case yet. I did however have one broken in the 5" deep case but we think they pinched it (possibly had it leaning against the bumper) and twisted the case long ways. Also was Christmas week, not a good time to ship anything that is fragile.
Buck

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2011, 05:35:49 PM »

Quote

My personal preference for shipping is either a metal case ( expensive but openable for inspection which has been required at the US post office...no longer can get insurance above $1000.00 by Fedex). A wooden case can easily be made from 1x4 in an oblong frame and plywood covers. Usually 6 feet x 1 foot will be acceptable size and weight for shipping. The I go to Home DEpot and by a slab of foam insulation about 3.5 inches thick. . Cut it to fit inside the case. "sccop" out about 1.5-2 inches in the shale of the gun. Place the gun in the mold ( scoop) and cover with a soft material. I additionally make some "wickets" of coat hanger to secure the gun in the mold at several places. Lastly I cover the inside with 1 inch foam pad. Then screw screw the lid on with many screws ( anyone opening it will need a power drill).
Hurricane

Fred,
You might have interest in how I use the foam insulation. I get the blue board from Lowe's, Home Depot probably has the same thickness, it comes in 1/2, 3/4 and 1", maybe other thicknesses. I see how thick the rifle is then buy the correct thickness to fit them inside a box I make with 1X4's covered with Luan plywood. I put one thickness on the bottom, then I take the inside pieces, glue them together (probably not necessary) then trace the gun's outline on the glued together pieces. Then I cut the outline out using my hand held jigsaw. Put a little glue on one side and fit it on the whole piece I had on the bottom of the box. Then I wrap the rifle with thin bubble wrap and place it in the outline I cut out. Then I put a full piece of foam on last and screw down the Luan plywood. If you got the right thickness insulation board it fits perfectly with no play. If you are a little shy of having the box filled to the top you can lay enough bubble wrap in to take up the space. Have shipped several this way with no damage. No need for scooping, or wire wickets.
Dennis

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2011, 06:27:22 PM »

Wow, I feel as though I'm really cheating fate- I wrap mine in old grocery store plastic and paperbags, slide it into a fluorescent tube shipping box from Lowes and tape the heck out of it. Then I take it to Cletus at the little country post office and send it insured priority mail. I insure the heck out of it too just in case something unsavory happens to it. I haven't had so much as a scratch. I got the box idea from Dennis a while back. Oh, I forgot, I tape a couple of pieces of dried cane to the rifle to hold it rigid. (For you Northerners- cane is like bamboo, but the Alabama version!)

hawknknife · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2011, 03:45:46 AM »

Al, Was that Big Bertha" that the post office busted up in Mizzippi?

debnal · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2011, 04:28:28 AM »

That was Big Bertha. What happened is that I shipped a modern Kentucky in the aluminum case. Apparently the postal guys threw it out of the airplane and the case must have landed with great force on the tarmac. The shock was so great that it actually busted the barrel tennon from its mount! But the gun was not damaged at all. I just remounted the tennon. That is the best reason to get one of these. If that had been a cardboard box the wood would have been shattered.
Al

Kermit · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2011, 06:09:34 PM »

When I look at Ziegel or Kalispel web sites the cases I see shown are too short for my longest guns. Do they build custom or is something not shown on the sites?

I've done the 1x6, 1/4" plywood, blue foam thing and never had any damage. My time is valuable, sort of, so I wonder about buying a good case.

BTW, Kalispel is out of business, but these folks are repopping them. Here's the longest:

http://www.exploreproducts.com/kalispel-style-50-caliber-rifle-case-641306.htm

Hurricane ( of Virginia) · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2011, 08:52:31 PM »

I hope this thread will help many. I invte others to bring to the attention of our members other subject to present here for the benefit of everyone. Each such discussion will not only remain in tha ALR archives (available by search engine)but will be indexed and linked in the " library" educational forums for additional easy access.
Hurricane

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2011, 11:31:35 PM »

I, too, do the foam cutout thing in a wooden box like Dennis describes above. But one more trick, I slip the gun into a plastic gun bag, and drop some of those silica gel pacs to absorb any moisture, then seal the bag up and fit it into the foam cutout, screw the box shut, and ship.

Buck · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2011, 12:24:58 AM »

Kermit,
Go to the price list on Ziegels and look at the applications column. You will find the info there, look at item 12 its 62" but a double case. I have a couple rifles at the 64" length, just put it in at an angle you'll be good. I put 2 in a case all the time I just have a foam divider and I normally put the rifles in a sock for extra protection. They are worth the money if you do a lot of shipping.
Buck

Kermit · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2011, 03:11:33 AM »

Thanks--I see that's 62" long, but that they also have one for "musket," #96, that's 74" long!!! That ought to do it!

debnal · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2011, 04:29:21 AM »

I have the 74 inch case and I have been able to ship just about any gun except for one HVF. They carefully structered it so that it just fits the Post Office parameters for priority mail.
Most strongly reccommended.
Al

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:32:05 PM »

Do you guys who build wooden boxes cover them w/ cardboard or mail with the bare wood exposed?

Hurricane ( of Virginia) · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:40:06 PM »

Bare wood exposed, but I lightly sand the edges so the postal employees don't look anxious every time I come in ( a couple are my patients). Also "duck" tape around the edges works well.
Hurricane

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:10:05 AM »

[Do you guys who build wooden boxes cover them w/ cardboard or mail with the bare wood exposed?]
I glue one side down and use the shorter sheetrock screws on the other. Then tape the USPS label straight to the bare, exposed wood. Just be sure to wrap the tape all the way around the box so the labels doesn't come off the bare wood (most tape doesn't stick well to bare wood). Like Hurricane says I will sand the corner so no one gets splinters.
Dennis

tpigskin · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:22:39 PM »

VERY helpful thread...AWC

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Author Topic: Packing Antique guns for shipping (Read 10007 times)

keweenaw

hawknknife

tpigskin