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Pistol Pac's that never were

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Charger Fan

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July 26, 2009 - 8:22 pm

I sort of got a funky idea a while back, when I bought my Model 40 .357 Supermag. I decided that this wasn't an ordinary revolver, and shouldn't be stored away as ordinary revolvers usually are…so initially I thought I'd but DW Pac case & store it in there. However, the usual going rate for a DW case is $150+ (often closer to $200).

The cheapskate in me took over. Screwy

I discovered 1970's & 80's briefcases! Laugh The first one I ended up with was an American Tourister hard shell briefcase…I like this style, so as I've found others, I've added them when I can. So far, they are all different from each other, yet retain some similar characteristics. I'm sure other brands will work fine for Pac cases, I've merely chosen American Tourister for mine. Usually anything 17.5″ or wider works for most any 8″ barrel gun…10″ barrel guns get cramped.

A trip to a fabric store netted me some good foam (comes on rolls & sold by the foot) & some fabric that's almost identical to real DW Pac fabric. A couple fresh, SHARP razor blades & some time spent cutting & trimming, and I've got something that looks good.

Here's my .357 SuperMag in it's case. There's ample room for extra barrels when (if) I find some.

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I trimmed the foam in the front & sides on angles, so it wouldn't pinch when I shut the lid. I borrowed a patch from my 15 Pac & put 3 polished .357 Max bullets in the open space.

[Image Can Not Be Found]

Here's a side-by-side with my 15 Pac. The fabric color is a little darker than the original DW fabric, but close enough for me. Smile

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That was a couple months ago…since then, my DW family has grown some. I've been hit with Porkchops! lol2 The 'Chops are in exceptional shape & although some came in Pac's of their own, I knew the first time I laid eyes on them that like the SM, the ones without Pac cases deserved something more than just “being tossed in with the others”. They may not be the coolest DW made, but they are sure unique in their own special ways.

So last week, I obtained some suitable American Tourister cases that should be great homes for some old 'Chops, then I hit the fabric store again (one must be strong with his manhood in this store rofl ).

Here's the D-11 & W-12 (.38 Spl & .357) 'Chops in their own new home, each with 3 polished examples of matching ammo.

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I recently became the new owner of a High Standard Sentinel MK II (.357)…a Porkchop made by DW from '73 to '75, for High Standard. DW cousins are a good enough excuse to have a Pac case too, so I figured that since I needed a home for my Model 14 (.38 Spl.) 'Chop for a while, I may as well pair him up with his cousin for a while.

The Model 14 is on top, Sentinel on bottom. Incuded are two extra HS small grips, and 3 polished (yes, apparently I have a lot of spare time) .357 bullets.

[Image Can Not Be Found]

How about you guys…any freaky DW storage places…or is it just me? rofl

SHOOTIST357

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July 26, 2009 - 8:35 pm

Man, you are in my favorite place… Laugh I make duplicate PP cases from American tourister also. I have a "james bond" model with the tilting latches (movie buffs will understand). If you are like me and have to put all your DW's in a case, engage in a new project and build yourself a "hot wire foam cutter". There are plans all over the internet. I've had mine for over 10 years now and cut all kind of gun cases with it. Here's the result...

SHOOT

SHOOTIST357

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July 26, 2009 - 8:44 pm

here ya go...

Charger Fan

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July 26, 2009 - 9:17 pm

Looks great! Laugh I assume that foam cutter also does a horizontal cut? That's the hardest part…the horizontal cut.

James Bond tilting latches…like these? These turn 90 degrees. Smile

jaggman

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July 27, 2009 - 5:00 am

Will you guys make me, ah lets say, 5 of these?

lbruce

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July 27, 2009 - 5:49 am

Pretty cool! I had thought of doing something similar but hesitated because I would need a bigger safe. Hmmm a bigger safe.

Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.

SHOOTIST357

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July 27, 2009 - 6:02 am

Charger Fan said:

Looks great! I assume that foam cutter also does a horizontal cut? That's the hardest part…the horizontal cut.

James Bond tilting latches…like these? These turn 90 degrees.

Exactly like those! I can't remember the movie, but Q issues bond a briefcase with those latches. Most of the cases I find with the original PP type latches are very cheaply made. The Touristers seem a lot better built.

SHOOT

SHOOTIST357

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July 27, 2009 - 6:12 am

If anyone is interested in building the cutter, these guys have 30+ pages of info…

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=292695&page=1

and here's a quick tutorial everybody should watch.

The “Pink” case in the photo above was one I had planned on doing without fabric–I was going to spray the foam with adhesive and then cover it in powdered velvet(like inside a jewlery box(–yea, yea…. I spend a lot of time in the fabric store also Laugh ). But, I don't think it is going to work out as planned. That layer of 1/2″ foam is very firm and doesn't give much. It cuts perfect and fits the gun like a glove…but….

SHOOT

Supermagfan

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July 27, 2009 - 7:26 am

I love the whole Idea of this and with CF's idea, I bought one tourister also. The safe is the problem. These things take space, LOTS of space. I have to remove guns from them to put the guns in a safe or store them in a double locked closet with no fire protection. Maybe just buy an armored car and drive it into the house?

CF, Those projects look fabulous, very artistic and original looking.

The hto wire cutter is a great help too, Shootist, thanks

SMF

A man cannot have too many SuperMags

Charger Fan

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July 27, 2009 - 10:22 am

Thanks, you guys. Laugh Jaggman, if I can figure a way to mass produce these things, I might put these into production!

Yep, the main drawback to these cases is that they take up lots of room FAST. I have room for one or two more, then I'm full up. SMF, parking an armored car in the garage may not be a bad idea! Cool lol2

SHOOT, your hot wire setup sure looks a lot more stout than the ones those guys are using in your links. Smile I guess the only way to do a horizontal cut is to actually have two foam layers…one that's got outlines cut & one that is flat. Sorta like how the old Porkchop cases were done, except I was trying to improve on that idea a bit.

I guess I could pay these guys; http://www.foambymail.com/weapon.html to cut the foam for me...but nah, that's cheating. 😛

SHOOTIST357

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July 27, 2009 - 10:41 am

Charger Fan said:

Thanks, you guys. Jaggman, if I can figure a way to mass produce these things, I might put these into production!

Yep, the main drawback to these cases is that they take up lots of room FAST. I have room for one or two more, then I'm full up. SMF, parking an armored car in the garage may not be a bad idea!

SHOOT, your hot wire setup sure looks a lot more stout than the ones those guys are using in your links. I guess the only way to do a horizontal cut is to actually have two foam layers…one that's got outlines cut & one that is flat. Sorta like how the old Porkchop cases were done, except I was trying to improve on that idea a bit.

I guess I could pay these guys; http://www.foambymail.com/weapon.html to cut the foam for me…but nah, that's cheating.

Actually, you can cut any way you want to Smile All I do is put a taller piece of vertical pipe in to cut taller foam. For the horizontal cuts, you just make your vertical cuts first (outline of gun) remove the gun piece, and cut it into layers (horizontal). Then you put the slice back into the case for filler under the gun. This is just as accutate as a bandsaw if you use a guide to help keep your foam straight.

BTW-- if you ever pull a new PP completely apart, they are two layers of foam also--glued together.

SHOOT

Charger Fan

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July 27, 2009 - 11:14 am

SHOOTIST357 said:

Actually, you can cut any way you want to All I do is put a taller piece of vertical pipe in to cut taller foam. For the horizontal cuts, you just make your vertical cuts first (outline of gun) remove the gun piece, and cut it into layers (horizontal). Then you put the slice back into the case for filler under the gun. This is just as accutate as a bandsaw if you use a guide to help keep your foam straight.

BTW– if you ever pull a new PP completely apart, they are two layers of foam also–glued together.

SHOOT

Oh, duh! That makes perfect sense to put a thinner portion of the slice back in! I was trying to make it way too complicated. Mad That's what I get for having an idea in my head & just running with it. I'm going to have to get myself a hot wire sometime soon & stop messing with razor blades. lol2

I admit haven't examined the innards of my PP enough to notice that they are glued together.

zoommb

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July 27, 2009 - 12:11 pm

SHOOTIST:

Thanks a million for all the great info about cutting foam. I have been trying to cut it with a razor. Screwy Yeah, like that works. Mad

This will really help.

Thanks again,

Smile

-Mike

SHOOTIST357

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July 27, 2009 - 12:16 pm

zoommb said:

SHOOTIST:

Thanks a million for all the great info about cutting foam. I have been trying to cut it with a razor. Yeah, like that works.

This will really help.

Thanks again,

-Mike

Guys, if you build one and it doesn't work, ask me why before you pull all your hair out !!! The nichrome wire is not neccessary either. I use beading wire from the fabric store. I may try to build a bigger/badder one from a car battery charger...

SHOOT