Picked this up two weeks ago in a garage. I saw the Smith & Wesson logo. I didn't see the rest until I got it home and cleaned the top. It reads GUN CLUB. This was in the Smith & Wesson Revolver Club. It held targets and ammo.

Attached Images

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Don Mundell

Cool find!

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Jorge

Thanks. My wife and I are arguing as to where it's going to go in our house. I want it in our gun room. She wants to get a plastic piece to cover the top and put it in the living room for a coffee table.

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Don Mundell

Living room is fine, it should definitive be on display. But not as a in plastic covered coffee table...

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Jorge

Jorge
How would you protect the top? I was afraid to clean the 1/2 inch of dust on the top. The paint is almost gone.

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Don Mundell

Not exactly sure, but I would look for an antique wood treatment oil or something.

If it's too much I'd just leave it alone.

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Jorge

What a great pick up, if I brought it home my wife would demand it go in my room. I’m sure garage sales in the US are a collector’s delight, with much gun related junk, I mean treasures, to be found.

How about getting a piece of 6mm glass a few inches larger that the chest, glue 4 rubber pads on the corners to rest on the top. The other thing I would look at is somehow sealing, setting, fixing (or what ever they call it) so the artwork dosen’t fade anymore.

Word to the wise:
ANY time your wife is in favor of putting a firearm related object in the living room GO ALONG WITH IT!
Jim

I wouldn't touch the finish. I'd build a box around it with recessed panels on the sides. Rabbet the top edges and get a glass panel to fit.
I'd probably use furniture grade pine and just give it a clear finish. The top'd sit about a quarter inch or so above the box.
Oh wait, leather panels dyed saddle tan on the sides.

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Keep on Chooglin'

You don't understand, my wife collects Savage and Stevens, so gun related items aren't a problem. We have Smith & Wesson, Savage and Stevens posters, Flyers, calendars and envelopes framed and hanging in every room in our house.
I like the idea of a box built around the top.

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Don Mundell

Excellent find! I just realized that it's sitting on a wheelbarrow! I didn't realize it was that big 'til y'all started talking about using it for a coffee table.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

f. t.
Sorry for the confusion. I should have given the dimensions in my first post. 21 inches high x 20 inches wide x 44 inches long. I like the idea of a box top.

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Don Mundell

Let's figure out how many J frames could be stored in that box.

I like it!

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The American dream is alive

Why don't all of you send me your J Frame stocks. I'll let you all know how many it holds. I'm willing to try, how about you?

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Don Mundell

Don, cool find for sure! Contact your local museum and speak with a preservation specialist as to how to protect the box and the writing on it. Some glass can actually hasten the deterioration of the wood and of the writing that is on it. Kyle

Is this something that Renaissance Wax can protect?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'll try it on a small section. Right now it is in my garage on the top shelf.

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Don Mundell

Don: we made an end table out of a beautiful antique egg incubator. I got 4 wooded spools from Hobby Lobby (look like oversized thread spools). I put felt pads on the ends and used them as spacers to hold a glass top a couple inches above the wood. This allowed air to flow between the glass and the wood/paint. Has worked very well. Great find!

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Randy
Another great idea! Thanks.

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Don Mundell

Call a major museum in your area, or a state history commission. They should be able to point you to "best practices" websites or perhaps offer advice directly.

Just heading out to clean / protect without some research can make for a good-looking box with no collector value because it was cleaned. True for any older item. Sometimes the dirt goes with the story.

Your correct, so far I vacuumed the dirt out of the inside and a light wipe with a damp cloth on the outside.

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Don Mundell

Fantastic find, and I know your a collector, so if you already know all this, humor me, I love restoring old varnish work on boats, my wife has a very successful business doin' it.

"IF" it's a paper label/ sign (decoupage) surfaced with varnish,or shellac you can wipe it down with mild soap & water (Murphys Oil Soap) and dry it completely. A crazed finish ( fine spiderweb looking cracking from UV exposure) will be made more apparent if it is waxed. The wax gets in the cracks and dries white.
If it has great financial value as a rare item that must be left "as is", you may want a skilled varnish person to look at it.
With enough existing topcoat, it may be taken down and revarnished ( if it is spar varnish) to restore the clarity.
If it isn't crazed, the Ren wax polished out with microfibre, could be your best bet.

Then again, once it's waxed, clear coating is much more difficult.

I like the boxed and glass table top idea, myself.

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Halfway and one more step

Wow, great score, the box is nice too.

Does she have a sister that likes old guys?

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Back to back World War Champs.

I agree-----win--win situation,
And, you should conserve it to preserve it too
olcop

All good advice everyone, but, I think for the time being, I'll leave it alone.

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Don Mundell