I purchased this wonderful display curio from 'Bob's Solid Oak Reproductions', in Littleton, Massachusetts !

The cabinet overall measures 80" x 38" x 17", inside measures 59 1/4" x 32" x 13"
( glass front plate is 54 3/4" x 24" {beveled on the edges} with four bevel edged side plates at 26 1/4" x 6" )

The wood is solid walnut, with a nice cherry finish.

Here are a bunch of snapshots to give you an idea what this case looks like, and it's size !
( it's tall but I wish it was just a tad wider ). * please disregard my farmers tan ;-)

The case is accessed via the two locking side doors !

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I threw in a few swords just to give you an idea ..... but I'll have to figure a proper layout , and a good way to suspend them,
within, upon my return from Scotland ! ( I've been brainstorming this with Vince ;-)
Meanwhile, as the guards will be out of country, they'll stay locked up in the safes !

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The mirror reflecting might be a bit distracting, ? , but I can try hanging some tartan, or something, and see how that works !
( Marge & Rachel like the mirror, but they are probably more interested in fixing their hair than viewing swords *g* ;-)

The light turns on by touching the upper door hindge, on the right side, and it has 3 settings !
(touch once low, touch again brighter, and again very bright .... next touch is off ) Kind of a neat feature !

The draw on the bottom opens for storage ..... and of course it came with a bunch of heavy duty glass shelving
( which are set on adjustable peg holed brackets, all along the inside ) .

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The case was expensive ..... a little over $1,200.00 with delivery .....
But considering the fine pieces I wish to show off I figure they deserve something nice, secure, and in keeping with the dens decorum !
My only problem is I need at least two more of these ( one for dirks & knives alone ;-)

Well, that's my story & I'm sticking to it , Mac

Great looking case Mac!

I had considered one like that myself, but I didn't like the mirror either and space was an issue for me. Definetly put some tartan in the back.

Are you going to Scotland with Vince? Either way it sounds like the trip of a lifetime. The only trouble will be getting you to come back!

You look pretty sexy in that shirt. Ever consider catalog work?

That is a great looking case, Mac ...

I'm going to be in the market for one of those next summer ... I'm hoping to find one like that with a solid back and no mirror. I have 35 yards of my Lindsay family tartan that I'd love to use as a backdrop and a buddy of mine in Ft Worth is designing some glass sword cradles for vertical display ... he wants to install them in whatever display I settle on and use some of my swords as guinea pigs to see if they work out as he plans (his idea being that glass contacting the sword for suspension will never mark, scratch or maar the steel when the sword is resting on them). If they work out well, he wants to start making and selling them as an alternative to wood or metal sword hangers.

I've found quite a few curio cabinets that could serve as sword displays, but none as large or nice as yours. Again, my compliments and congrats on a nice purchase ... and the swords look great in there! The Claymore and baskethilt really catches my eye ... very nice indeed! :)

Hi Patrick

No, Grace would get jealous *g*

Seriously :-) ..... No, I'll be traveling with my wife (Marge) , Big Mac (Dad), and Mom (Helen) !
We're doing a 10 day tour of the Scottish Hielands , June 30-July 9, via the same tour outfit that Ron Luciano used !(Trafalgar Tours)
Stops include : London, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Inverness, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye, Loch Lomond, Glasgow, Ayrshire !

To say I'm excited is an understatement ......

Mac standing on the hallowed ground of Culloden, the bridge at Eileen Donan ( "You've done well Highlander"), to whisper a prayer at Glencoe ...... to stand on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond ......

Man, it's almost overwhelming *sniff *

But .... I'll be back ..... the gas is far too expensive there to keep our trucks on the road *g* Mac

Thanks, Jim

It is a challenge finding a suitable "sword" sized case ..... I'd just about given up figuring a custom job was really my only option ! There's always tradeoffs .... always something that is not quite right, but this one will do quite nicely !
The only real problem is ...... I want a few more, and they are pricey $$ *ouch * ( but what isn't these days ;-)

The mirror can be covered quite simply, on this piece, so that is not a problem !
I think the main thing is to find the correct balence in displaying them, without "overcrowding" !
Having each piece compliment the others, while utilizing the space at hand, and showing them to their best advantage !
(The right suspension will be key ! )

Just you wait & see what Billerica Kelvingrove comes up with *g*

I'll be taking (mental) notes when viewing the displays in Scotland ;-)

Best of luck to you, Jim ! Mac

Jim Lindsey wrote:

That is a great looking case, Mac ... I'm going to be in the market for one of those next summer ... I'm hoping to find one like that with a solid back and no mirror. I have 35 yards of my Lindsay family tartan that I'd love to use as a backdrop and a buddy of mine in Ft Worth is designing some glass sword cradles for vertical display ... he wants to install them in whatever display I settle on and use some of my swords as guinea pigs to see if they work out as he plans (his idea being that glass contacting the sword for suspension will never mark, scratch or maar the steel when the sword is resting on them). If they work out well, he wants to start making and selling them as an alternative to wood or metal sword hangers. I've found quite a few curio cabinets that could serve as sword displays, but none as large or nice as yours. Again, my compliments and congrats on a nice purchase ... and the swords look great in there! The Claymore and baskethilt really catches my eye ... very nice indeed! :)

Hi Mac!

I know you are going to love Scotland! The tour you are taking sounds like the same route i took on my tour a few years back.

I remember those cases are Kelvinsgrove! Ah yes, BRIGHT red backgrounds! , id prefer tartan myself.......
as for the hanging mechanism, i WANT to think they where plexiglass peices suspended from the ceiling of the cases. But my memory might be going out on me. I'll have to check my photoalbum on that one.........

Have a great trip and say hello to my Buddy Ben Nevis for me!! and also give a "shout out" to Nessie for me as well.......... (yep, i actually SAW the real monster, but unfortunantly my batteries in my camera died. drats...)

Mac,

That display case is nicer than I envisioned from you description. However, I'm with Patrick, the mirrored back has to go, whether it be replaced with tartan, or some other light colored background would be up to you.

As for display layout ideas, this is what I did. Got a towel (or you could do with drawing an outline on the floor) which approximates the interior dimention and lay out what you want displayed. See the pic below on my own idea based on what I think the Browning 8-gun steel and polycarbonate display vault might be like on the inside. Problem is, it's a tight fit for what I have (can't even imagine what your problem might be), and I intend to acquire more VE pieces. Maybe I'll have to get 2 or 3 or...

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That's a very nice case, and very nice collections all around.

Stephen, you simply must stop buying up all the wonderful VE pieces. Leave some for the rest of us! ;)

Seriously though, Stephen, what sword is that in the very center of your arrangement there? Is it a Vince Evans? I'd love to see more of it (and all of them, really)... :)

Mac,

Very nice cabinet.....indeed....!

Have a grand, glorious & safe time across the pond.


Aye,

William
aka Bill

Thank you, Mac! That's an exquisite piece. :eek:

Hi Mac,
Nice cabinet you got there,
Petrol is only £00.80p a litre at the mo, lol.
Safe journey to you and yours,
Dont forget to get into the whiskey factory if it's on your route, :D

MMM,Jealous,
Although i can think of 3 maker's i'd try to get in and sample their wares,
AClass,
Paul macdonald,
Rob in Isle of Skye,
Also i've gotta say when my Aunt and Uncle came over from OZ,my uncle was a little put out that the whiskey factory wares were noticably more reasonable in the local shop's,pretty much two to one price wise,
So Mac if you can manage 2-1,check the shops,
Also must add,
England 4,Croatia 2,
MMM lots of beer this evening,
Best on the trip Mac i bet it'll be a corker,
Oh yes hangover coming my way. :D

Thanks, Lee !

Mac

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Mac,

I guess one of the most difficult task would be figuring out how to attach hooks or hangers to suspend the swords, though I'm guessing no such thing is necessary for the Evans Two-Hander. And is that the Pinch O'Snuff by Eljay I see in there? Speaking of whom, I had lunch with Eljay on Saturday and enjoyed every minute. A fellow sabre fencing our Eljay, he evidently teaches it in Thailand, along with Biology. Quite a gracious gentleman and he had some interesting antiques to show me. Bought them on EBay, which goes to show ya you CAN find treasures if you know what you're doing.

Tim,

Mac did answer most of your questions. I did a mini-review on SwordForum: http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s...ight=darcy

I have to keep buying Evans pieces, otherwise Mac and Ron will get WAY ahead of me, and that will never do.
:p

Hi Mac,

Awesome case you found, and I think it'll look great, back-lit and with a tartan
background. The MacDonald of Sleat would look great I think. Have a great
time in Schottland. I think it's safe to say I'm as envious as everyone else
that I'll not be there myself. When you get to Culloden, and if you remember,
can you take a snap of the MacLachlan/MacLean stone there, if you wander
on by it? I'd really appreciate it. Have your parents been to Scotland before,
or is this a first for all of you? I can't wait to here of your travels.

Take care, and be safe.

Alex

Mac,
The display case is very nice, and 'reasonable' (compared to the metal ones. I will be interested to see how you ultimately dress it out. I hope your trip thru Scotland is as fine. When I was 10, I got to drive up from East Anglia with my parents and grandparents- washed my hands in Loch Lomond with my Grandad, heard a piper over the highland hills on a twisty little road, saw the castle at Edinburg, bought some wool,etc. Altogether very warm memories, and I hope you collect plenty of your own.
JCWebb