Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Interesting and Very Expensive Display Option Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Stephen S. Han




Location: Westminster, CA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 211

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 11:40 am    Post subject: Interesting and Very Expensive Display Option         Reply with quote

Hi all,

I've previously written on my quest for an attractive, but secure display cabinet. What I had in mind was a kind of a Morton's Gun Cabinet (wood body, glass front, locking door), but with steel body with wood facade (not necessary but attractive to look at), polycarbonate or plexiglass rather than glass, and better lock (the gun cabinets come with really flimsy locks). Well, it looks like someone read my mind and made something which closely resembles my requirements.

Problem: VERY expensive.

On the other hand, given my collection, I think a secure display option is worth a serious consideration.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=274555

Below is Amazon.com description.

Product Description
Traditional gun display... with safe-like security! You can depend on the Sportlock Security Gun Cabinet! Don't lock your treasures away... keep them protected AND on display! This handsome Sportlock Display Case has a showcase-quality beauty on the outside, but locks up tight on the inside. Interior and exterior surfaces are wood, but between them a 150-lb. sheet of 16-gauge steel encases every wall and even the door frame. The display window looks like glass, but it's actually a 1/4" thick sheet of high-impact polycarbonate... 250X stronger than normal glass. Two separate LoriLock tempered-steel dead bolt locks with Schlage keying keep the door secure. Four 3" security hinges face inward, and lock the door in place when closed so even if the pins are removed, the door cannot be opened. Finally, steel cables anchor the door at both top and bottom corners. You AND your guests will able to appreciate your collection, instead of your security system! Handcrafted with loving detail: Made to exacting standards by a custom cabinet shop in the U.S.A.; Constructed from American lumber, hand stained and coated with three layers of sealer and lacquer; Includes 2 cu. ft. drawer with full-extension ball bearing runners. Slides come out for easy access. Rated to hold up to 100 lbs. Two halogen lights at the top of the case provide plenty of illumination; Holds 9 rifles with 3 1/2" spacing; Interior measures 54 1/2 x 35 7/8 x 12 1/8"
View user's profile Send private message
Bryce Felperin




Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: 16 Feb 2006

Posts: 552

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 12:41 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Yep, very expensive to buy and ship. I myself have a gun safe that cost me $1400 when new. It's running out of room though. :-)

Yes the cabinet you found sure looks nice. However for a whole lot less money you could probably find a local cabinet maker in your town/city and hire him to make the same thing a whole lot cheaper. Heck, you could probably buy the power tools, wood, polycarbinate glass and metalwork/locks yourself and build it for not very much money. It all comes down to how much you can afford and how much time you have.
View user's profile Send private message
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 12:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Stephen,

This case seems to be a fair balance between security and display. If casual handling of the items is what you're trying to avoid this looks like a good, but expensive, option. A much cheaper gun cabinet from a sporting goods store will be cheaper and just as effective in that sense. The clear front may not be traditional glass, but it still won't hold up to a dedicated intruder for any real length of time. It also looks like something that could be removed in and of itself by a resourcefull thief. "We can't breach it now so let's take it along for later." If security is your real concern than a steel gunsafe is really the way to go. It's as secure as can be made and most are heavy enough to prevent quick removal. This case looks attractive but I really think it's a waste of money and will give you a false sense of security.
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Stephen S. Han




Location: Westminster, CA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 211

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 3:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:
Stephen,

This case seems to be a fair balance between security and display. If casual handling of the items is what you're trying to avoid this looks like a good, but expensive, option. A much cheaper gun cabinet from a sporting goods store will be cheaper and just as effective in that sense. The clear front may not be traditional glass, but it still won't hold up to a dedicated intruder for any real length of time. It also looks like something that could be removed in and of itself by a resourcefull thief. "We can't breach it now so let's take it along for later." If security is your real concern than a steel gunsafe is really the way to go. It's as secure as can be made and most are heavy enough to prevent quick removal. This case looks attractive but I really think it's a waste of money and will give you a false sense of security.



Yeah, I thought the dollar/value ratio was a bit off. I think at this point, the option of a cheaper gun cabinet with wood/glass for display when I'm home, and put the sword collection in my Liberty Safe when I'm away for an extended period of time. A bit of a pain in the butt, but I think that's probably as good a cost/benefit compromise as I can get.

If the above were a bit cheaper, I would still get it, so that it would be a slightly better deterrent when I'm at work. Even a casual burglar can easily breach your standard gun cabinet, but the above security cabinet would give that person an additional amount of "pain-in-the-rear" factor.

Another option is to have on built to my specs, as Bryce suggested. If I have some time I will explore that. I think a workable steel and 1 inch thick polycarbonate case in a museum style can be made for a lot less than the $2500 it would cost.
View user's profile Send private message
Steve Grisetti




Location: Orlando metro area, Florida, USA
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Likes: 9 pages
Reading list: 28 books

Posts: 1,812

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 4:52 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:
... It also looks like something that could be removed in and of itself by a resourcefull thief. "We can't breach it now so let's take it along for later." If security is your real concern than a steel gunsafe is really the way to go. It's as secure as can be made and most are heavy enough to prevent quick removal....
The case Stephen linked to weighs 340 pounds. I would have thought that sort of mass would discourage the "let's take it along for later" option.
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
View user's profile Send private message
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 4:57 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Steve Grisetti wrote:
Patrick Kelly wrote:
... It also looks like something that could be removed in and of itself by a resourcefull thief. "We can't breach it now so let's take it along for later." If security is your real concern than a steel gunsafe is really the way to go. It's as secure as can be made and most are heavy enough to prevent quick removal....
The case Stephen linked to weighs 340 pounds. I would have thought that sort of mass would discourage the "let's take it along for later" option.


Two or three convicts with a few tools and determination can cart that away fairly quickly.
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Don Stanko




Location: ohio
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 482 books

Posts: 255

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 6:09 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

In regards to home safety. I've done crime prevention research for the last ten years. In that time I've learned one thing - give someone prevention tips they can use, if the suggestions are too time consuming or unpalatable they wont do it. Are the swords safer in a stronger safe or hidden from sight? Yes they are. But the case you have chosen fits your needs and is safer than a standard curio cabinet so I say go with it, that is if you can afford it.

Don
View user's profile Send private message
Alex Oster




Location: Washington and Yokohama
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 410

PostPosted: Wed 02 Aug, 2006 8:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:
Two or three convicts with a few tools and determination can cart that away fairly quickly.


Agreed, I once moved a whole shipping container (the huge ones you see on international trade ships)by myself with 1 jack, four logs, a handfull of shims, and a lot of elbow grease. However, you could always run a security chain of some sort to discourage a quick drag. Link it to the bulldog maybe?

The pen is mightier than the sword, especially since it can get past security and be stabbed it into a jugular.
This site would be better if everytime I clicked submit... I got to hear a whip crack!
My collection: Various Blades & Conan related
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Sean Flynt




Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Likes: 10 pages
Reading list: 13 books

Spotlight topics: 7
Posts: 5,981

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 1:08 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Large museums have workshops to design and make cases for the display of all kinds of priceless objects. Might be worth a call to the nearest large museum to see if any those folks will take a freelance project. It can be tough to turn down extra money for doing something you do every day anyway....
-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Stephen S. Han




Location: Westminster, CA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 211

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 6:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:

Two or three convicts with a few tools and determination can cart that away fairly quickly.


Indeed. My Liberty Safe weighs over 800 pounds empty. But it can be moved with relative ease by two burly men with a motorized dolley. Which is why my safe is bolted to the concrete floor in my family room/add-on from inside the safe.

The Sportlock model does appear to have pre-drilled holes in the body to have it bolted to your wall studs which should add to security.

I considered contacting the local museums for their input. It's on my "to do" list. Google search on "museum display" and "security" has yielded some interesting results. Problem is always cost to benefit ratio, it seems.
View user's profile Send private message
Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin


myArmoury Admin

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 6:10 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Stephen, is this investment a reaction to a past issue with security or simply a precaution against the potential for trouble?
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 7:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'm in a similar position Stephen but my main issue is space. Like you, I secure everything in my safe when I'm out of town for more than a day. I've seen several display cases that I'd like to use but I just don't have the room.
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Stephen S. Han




Location: Westminster, CA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 211

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 8:08 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Nathan Robinson wrote:
Stephen, is this investment a reaction to a past issue with security or simply a precaution against the potential for trouble?


A little of both. A few months ago my dog saw off three misguided youths who were schlepping around my backyard while I was out. My across the street neighbor saw them run out of my back yard, slam close the gate and then peel out in their car, which they had backed into the neighbor's driveway. So people have trespassed in my yard before, so I figure I should take some precautions.

I do want to display my collection, for many reasons. I don't want some unschooled people touching my stuff without my supervision. I try to keep my guests informed and supervised, but stuff happen.
View user's profile Send private message
Stephen S. Han




Location: Westminster, CA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 211

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 8:09 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Patrick Kelly wrote:
I'm in a similar position Stephen but my main issue is space. Like you, I secure everything in my safe when I'm out of town for more than a day. I've seen several display cases that I'd like to use but I just don't have the room.


Yeah, I did have to get a little creative, but managed to clear away a section in my livingroom/dining area which is 4 feet wide. It gives a bit of options, so I feel fortunate in that regard.
View user's profile Send private message
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

PostPosted: Thu 03 Aug, 2006 8:33 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I think it's time for me to buy a bigger house. Big Grin I keep my collection confined to one room in the back of the house. I don't want the place to look like a small medieval times franchise, nor do I want to have my collection out in the main part of the house where everyone sees it as soon as they walk in the front door. Fortunately the previous owner of my house was a bit security conscious. The windows are tempered glass ( a few years ago I had golf ball size hail stones bouncing off of them for around twenty minutes with no breakage) and very few of them can be opened at all let alone easily and the door locks are as secure as they can be. However, like you I'm always looking for a good compromise between security and display.
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Sean Flynt




Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Likes: 10 pages
Reading list: 13 books

Spotlight topics: 7
Posts: 5,981

PostPosted: Fri 04 Aug, 2006 7:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Because I'm still tasting drywall dust after commissioning a library, it occurs to me that folks with limited space could use the wall itself as the body of the display. Cut the drywall from between however many studs it takes to house the entire collection, line the space in the wall with whatever grade wood you like, then just buy or commission impact-resistant glass doors and hinge them to the studs. If you could find a source of doors like they use in supermarket frozen food aisles, you could design the cabinet to fit those (with added lock or latch). Nobody's going to run away with that display. You might be able to get that done cheaper than you could have a custom display made, especially if you paint the interior rather than use fine wood, and can find prefab doors. Any competent contractor could do it. Depending on the wall, the case wouldn't allow more than a single row's depth of weapons, but you could have two rows, one low, one high. You'd want a couple of lights in the top of each cabinet, of course. Oooh...if you use a non-load-bearing interior wall, you cut straight through it and put plain glass on one side, doors on the other, so you could see different sides of the weapons from the two different rooms. People do it with those opaque glass blocks....While you're at it, you could use the space between studs on either side of the display for built-in bookcases for all your arms & armour books, helmets, etc. Woo-hoo! (forgive the crappy freehand Photoshop sketch--gimmie a pencil any day....).


 Attachment: 100.97 KB
[ Download ]

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
J. Bedell




Location: Maryland, USA
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Reading list: 7 books

Posts: 226

PostPosted: Fri 04 Aug, 2006 8:48 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thats a fascinating idea. Where do you come up with this stuff....?

And your such a great artist too! Big Grin

-James

The pen may be mighter, but the sword is much more fun.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address
Sean Flynt




Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Likes: 10 pages
Reading list: 13 books

Spotlight topics: 7
Posts: 5,981

PostPosted: Fri 04 Aug, 2006 8:51 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

As for the origin of the idea--the price of the case SH linked to is around 2/3 of what it cost me to professionally drywall over 600 square feet of library and closet (ceilings and insulation included). I'm betting he could get a sweet built-in unit for less than that monstrous space-hog display. Much depends on the construction market, I'm sure. Labor and materials might be outrageous where SH lives, for example. But if housing starts are down....


J. Bedell wrote:
And your such a great artist too! Big Grin

-James


I'm actually not quite that bad, but Photoshop, haste and a sticky mouse turn me into a blind, insane monkey. Laughing Out Loud

Usually I'm just the resident Deranged Shop-Monkey.



 Attachment: 33.53 KB
monkey.jpeg


-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1


Last edited by Sean Flynt on Fri 04 Aug, 2006 9:08 am; edited 3 times in total
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
J. Bedell




Location: Maryland, USA
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Reading list: 7 books

Posts: 226

PostPosted: Fri 04 Aug, 2006 8:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Quote:
Photoshop and a mouse turn me into a blind, insane monkey.


hahahaha
I couldn't do any better even with pencil and paper.

Seriously though, I think that is a brilliant idea. I wonder if my dad would mind if I cut out a few walls.....

-James

The pen may be mighter, but the sword is much more fun.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address
Bryce Felperin




Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: 16 Feb 2006

Posts: 552

PostPosted: Fri 04 Aug, 2006 10:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Steve Grisetti wrote:
Patrick Kelly wrote:
... It also looks like something that could be removed in and of itself by a resourcefull thief. "We can't breach it now so let's take it along for later." If security is your real concern than a steel gunsafe is really the way to go. It's as secure as can be made and most are heavy enough to prevent quick removal....
The case Stephen linked to weighs 340 pounds. I would have thought that sort of mass would discourage the "let's take it along for later" option.


Nope, a good sturdy dolly and a truck can transport that case really easy at only 340 pounds. All you need for that one would be two guys, a freight dolly and a light pickup truck to take it away. My gun safe on the other hand weighs 800 pounds and needed three guys with a motorized dolly to get it up the stairs and into my apartment. They also needed a large truck to move it. If I choose to bolt it to the floor...then they'll need to open it to get it out of my apartment (it has holes on then inside for doing this).
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Interesting and Very Expensive Display Option
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum