Auto 5 Cases

Discussion in 'Browning Auto A-5' started by Auzzie, Apr 24, 2022.

  1. Jta5er

    Jta5er .270 WIN

    Don’t know but you did incredibly well finding those two. First year blue velvet and a special order 2 barrel brown! Very extraordinary
  2. Jta5er

    Jta5er .270 WIN

  3. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    Yes, congratulations on those 2 pre-war cases!
  4. win7stw

    win7stw .30-06

    I hope to have one of those some day
  5. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    You will.
  6. Jta5er

    Jta5er .270 WIN

    What maker might this be? Goat on a rock/mountain?
    [​IMG]
  7. Auzzie

    Auzzie 20g

    You really scooped the pool on that deal. Not just one case but two along with the fancy receiver 12g
    Now that’s hitting the jackpot
  8. Madman

    Madman .22LR

    It is rewarding to have a good find every now and then! I still think that the "hunt" for that next find is a big part of the fun for our hobby (or disease)!!
    Anatidae and win7stw like this.
  9. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    I agree!

    ‘madman’ - is the interior of the brown case more beige or olive color? I have seen these lined with beige, olive, and green. Nice cases. Congratulations.

    ‘Jta5er’ - the hasp portion of those locks are very similar to the hasp construction on the Browning cases. The locks on the Brownings are surface mounted. The goat lock is recessed like the later Tolex style locks.
  10. Madman

    Madman .22LR

    The color of the interior of the case has definitely aged and looks to me to be a gray with an olive tint. I think this comes from the dirt and gun oil from the past 90 years. When I peeked under the Browning logo on the interior of the top lid it appeared to be a medium gray. I vacuumed and cleaned a small spot on the interior and it comes back to a medium gray that matches the color under the Browning logo.
    Anatidae likes this.
  11. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    A little update:

    I'm so close to finishing that I can taste it.

    All that remains is notching the back side of the blocks even with the newly-installed lid straps, locating the comb block and grip strap (when the gun comes back from the engraver and wood specialist), and gluing all the blocks in place.
    [​IMG]

    Even though the original cases typically have black straps - I'm REALLY pleased with the 'black coffee' (dark brown) shade of the straps. I think it adds variety to the color scheme and softens the look. It's like the stock on an engraved gun - I think the wood should be subordinate to the engraving, not overshadow or detract from it - everything should 'balance'. The brown straps will blend better with the wooden stocks. Black straps would be too much of a contrast (IMO) and are uninteresting (to me) - and it's MY case.

    I see I'll probably need to add a tapered spacer block on each side of the breech-end of the barrel slots. When I 'felt' and install them, then I'll put a 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 1/4" thick neoprene rest under the barrel lugs - but notch-out the neoprene FOR the lugs to keep the barrels from rolling or sliding in any direction. Right now, that area looks awfully wide. I'll follow-up with a photo of a set of barrels in there - they just won't have 2-1/2 wide forearms, though. Back to the shop......

    I was trying to decide what glue to use on the blocks. I'm pretty 'set' on using shellac for 2 reasons:
    1. If I need to remove anything (for whatever reason) in the future - I can relax the shellac with denatured alcohol without damaging the fabric (even though concealed)
    2. Primary reason - part of the appeal of these old-'style' cases is the aroma. The smell of 3M-77 spray adhesive has dissipated since it has cured, thankfully. I think shellac with be a more desirable aroma, if any 'smell' lingers. The gun will supply some of the characteristic smell I hope to achieve for this case......an old gun shop (walnut, boiled linseed oil, Hoppe's No.9, and just a hint of Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco). I think the 20 oz. felt will absorb some of these 'flavors' with a light sprinkling and a little use. I just need the gun, now.
    I recessed the grip strap into the bottom of the grip riser block - it can be adjusted if needed. The original straps are either just surface-mounted (underneath) or fastened by the nail and washer into the edge of the riser block. I will fasten the comb block (1/2 teardrop shape) with a screw from the bottom of the grip riser and through outside rear wall of the case. This secures the gun to a solid anchor point when the grip strap is buckled.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I'll follow-up with some close-up photos of the trim details when I get everything glued-in. I just need the gun, to be completely finished with this project. Can you imagine this thing at the gun club? The D5 is 30" xf/f and 30" sk/sk. 'Can't wait!
    [​IMG]

    Thanks for your continued interest and encouragement. We may all benefit from this venture and collaboration.
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2023
    Auzzie and KyBoB like this.
  12. Ranger6

    Ranger6 Administrator Staff Member Administrator Global Moderator Forum Moderator

    Man, that case is the nicest case I have ever seen. Very awesome. Great job. I like your attention to detail. I can't wait to see the gun inside its new home.
    Anatidae likes this.
  13. Auzzie

    Auzzie 20g

    I support that statement. It's a work of Art.
    Anatidae likes this.
  14. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    Thanks - Yeah, I can't either - it's going to culminate a 5-year insistence on returning that gun (as close as we can), to its original glory - and it just needed a specially configured case.

    Thanks, Auzzie!

    Sorry for the delay, but the design-side of my brain took-over, again. Instead of completing the last few little details, I played around with the spacer block design for the breech-end of the barrel slots.

    This is a set of Superposed (my apology) barrels with the post-'55 'trap' forearm - what they called a 'semi-beavertail' forearm. The other set is for the same gun, but it has a 'field' forearm. So, you can see how much wider the D5 'full' beavertail forearms are, to fill the wide part of these barrel slots.
    [​IMG]
    The bottom lugs on a set of Superposed barrels, below: (they tend to gouge the lining of most cases even though the barrel assembly rests mostly on the forearm and forearm knuckle).
    [​IMG]
    Here's the neoprene 'shoe' I cut for each set of barrels to rest in........(keeping the barrels centered in the slot)
    [​IMG]
    And here's the solution to the 'blocky' coffin-like appearance of the original cases for wide beavertail forearms I've encountered.
    [​IMG]

    I'll install a piece of 2mm thick 'black coffee' leather to the felt-covered end block to protect it from the breech. This is a detail used later-on for the Tolex-style cases. I'll cover the wooden pieces with purple felt and glue them in place, then 're-fit' the neoprene shoe for the barrel lugs.

    [Edit added 2/10/23] Here's the D5 barrel set template in the new spacer blocks.
    [​IMG]

    The 'stepped' design is less obvious from the top, mirrors the 'stepped' effect of the barrel block, ejectors, and barrel fences (see photo 2), and gives the case a hint of 'Art Deco' styling - which is reflected in some of this unique D5's details......mainly the thumb tab of the opening lever.
    [​IMG]

    OK, so I didn't finish - but I incorporated something that I felt was needed, that will make this case even 'better' - and I'm still close to finishing it. I'm really just having fun, now......finally!
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2023
    Jta5er and Ranger6 like this.
  15. Bruski

    Bruski .410

    Beautiful work. Stunning.
    Anatidae likes this.
  16. Madman

    Madman .22LR

    You sir have some creative talent and much more patience than I. Awesome!!!
    Anatidae likes this.
  17. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

  18. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    Thanks for those comments. It’s been worth the effort to see this thing come together and realize the results.

    No need to comment - just an updated photo of how the block spacers turned-out. They’re a little tight but when everything is glued in place, I believe it’ll be just right.

    I’m waiting on some lac flakes to mix my shellac. I’ll experiment with its application and get this one glued-up.

    Now that the weather is getting nice, I’ll get back in the shop and start the next project. I’ll have a much better idea of my labor time on the next case build and will be able to estimate a cost for a single and 2-bbl Auto-V case. Thanks for you interest and support.
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2023
    KyBoB and Bruski like this.
  19. Auzzie

    Auzzie 20g

    Been a long haul but boy you got an outstanding result. That should be a happy home for any D5.
    Anatidae likes this.
  20. Anatidae

    Anatidae .270 WIN

    Thanks! Speaking of the D5…..the engraver started on the new replacement trigger guard this afternoon.
    [​IMG]
    This is just roughed-in. Most of the details came from my ‘before’ photos. The other item I sent him was a copy of an original ‘smoke print’ on a D5 that Andre Watrin signed 6/12/61. The CRAZY thing about that is a friend in the UK had the exact gun #82437 signed by Watrin. I called him to see how much he could take off the price to offset export and import expenses and we decided it was too cost-prohibitive. I bought 3 guns from him at 2 different times in 2015 but things have changed since 2020. The engraver said the smoke print was very helpful from a size and proportion aspect.

    This is VERY exciting news! Now that my project is on his bench, he should knock everything out in the next week or two. Then, back to wood and checkering reconditioning. Hopefully this project will be completed soon. On to the next.

    My shellac flakes will be here next week. I’m starting the next case build (project) tomorrow.
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2023
    Auzzie and win7stw like this.

Share This Page