doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Oak and Leather or save the money?

Exactly the kind of information I needed.

I have no need for a presentation case, just a transport case. I think I'll go with a fancy Americase, although heavy they won't break if you drop it (knock on wood). Several different options including a two-gun English style, may even trim with some nice veneer. They did a very functional case for my K80 and they're only 30 minutes away.

My Kolar SC came in an Americase. You simply can't find a better case of its type, but its still heavy. For trips to the range its a soft full lenght sheath type without zipper.-Dick

I have a gun case that has literally flown more miles than most people I know. I will only use all aluminum cases for travel. Had a rifle and shotgun in aluminum case get hung up in Europe for several months one time and needed a case to go on another hunt. I bought another just likt the first one and got on a plane.

I have seen "indestructable" plastic cases destruct in dramatic fashion. Many people never fly with a gun, and those who do usually only make a couple of trips in their life time. The folks I know who fly on a regualr basis also use 100% aluminum cases.

I use Kalispel cases. Not the cheapest, or lightest, but worth every penny and pound.

http://www.kalispelcaseline.com/Default1.asp

I also ship expensive guns many times a year, as do many of my friends. We have all seen rifles in good plastic cases break all too often. I have not seen one broken when shipped in a full aluminum case.

Oak and Leather looks cool, no doubt about it. But if you are not storing the guns in the cases where you and others can view the oak and leather, then I see little value in it. If you are interested in protecting the gun, then you can't beat a totally aluminum case.

Aries (Maryland) and Nasco (previously All American) cases are out of business, but Americase has a great selection. I recently saw a case being made by someone whose name I don't remember that uses the same indestructible hardware that Aries used to use. The spring loaded recessed locks and the indestructible spring loaded handles made by J.W.Sessions of Bristol, CT. (previously used by Aries) are the only acceptable hardware used by aluminum case makers today. Unfortunately, Nasco and Americase continue to use less durable hardware, apparently to save on manufacturing cost. Maybe someone has seen the case I saw recently that included the Sessions hardware. My small collection of early Aries cases is not for sale until I find an acceptable replacement. The ancient Anvil gun cases used similar hardware, but apparently, they are no longer in the gun case business. I think they are still making excellent travelling cases for rock bands.

It's hard to argue against Marc's perspective. I still have a Halliburton 16x20 formed aluminum camera case that I bought 30 yrs ago for my Nikon F2s. The camera is useless from deterioration of the light seals but the case is fully functional, albeit with some scars. The main scars are from my father (RIP) leaving it on the roof of his car and driving off after taking a picture of Mt Lassen and having the closed (thankfully) case fall off the roof at 25 mph or so.

I've had two or three Americase's but I'm not sold on their construction and ability to withstand a drop. They are heavy in the multibarrel/tube models and the simple pop rivet construction looks good and "feels stout" from all the weight, but I'm betting the heavier models will fail if dropped. They're fine for most car/truck travel but I don't trust their construction for airline travel where a good fall from a conveyor or cargo ledge is a real probability.

Oak & leather is for display or the controlled outing to the local field during fair weather while protected in it's canvas cover and placed in a carpet lined trunk of a car and strapped down. I can't imagine anyone with their sanity putting a $3k case in the back of my leaky campershelled pickup and piling lawnchairs and icechests on it, then driving 2,000 miles.

I have been happy with my Americases but I have suspected there is a better frame out there. I would like to be able to buy that type of case without any interior. If someone knows where to get the bare outside case or frame if you will, I would sure like to know. Regards, Jake

I bought two Americases, one had no interior and the other I simply removed. I reconfigured both to my needs. If you contact them the cases may be available as shells only. Ask about their scratch and dent inventory, I saved about 35% on the two. Better locks would be necessary for air travel as mentioned.

I have lost a couple of rivets off the corners of my Aries cases over the years, most probably when the Southwest baggage handlers threw them either on to or off of the baggage carts. I have witnessed this, but didn't get too offended because I knew they couldn't achieve the desired result using hand power and gravity. I am actually missing one whole corner on one case, but the case is still intact. Anvil may agree to build case shells without insides with Sessions hardware. This would be the best case you could find on today's market since the interior probably represents more hand work for them than the shell. Let us know what you find out.