Displaying guns-Does anyone still have open gun displays?

[rwsmith]

No displays...

Not any more. All guns locked up. I don't have much to look at anyway. My 686 is stain. steel with big rubber grips. Savage rifle with composite stock. 3rd gen aluminum frame. The only piece I have good to display is a 1929 Browning Auto 5 shotgun that is in gorgeous condition.

 

[JustAnotherGunGuy]

Living in Saint Louis City there is only one way to store anything that you hold of value, and it ain't no glass cabinet.
Growing up in South Louisiana grandpa had all of his in a nice glass and wood cabinet. It's just sad that it won't ever be like that again. Between criminals and liberals it seems most of the good times I remember growing up are lost, never to be regained.

Edit: needless to say, all of mine are locked in safes, only to be gazed upon with shades drawn and an eery feeling in my stomach that's I am being watched. Thank goodness I talked the wife into leaving California!

 

[Fishinfool]

Kind of depends on where you live, how many people you have in your house, and what kind of people come into your house. I won't comment on the siliness of the statements about liability.

Actually, some states (my former home state of CT, for example), require by law that un-attended firearms be stored in secure gun cabinets, or have approved trigger locks installed. Weapons not properly stored - secured, and subsequently stolen and used in a crime can subject the owner to penalty.

Unfortunately, there is just about no thing as a "good neighborhood" anymore. Gun thefts are a major problem, everywhere. When you think of the value of even a modest collection, a decent safe just makes sense.

Larry

 

[Old TexMex]

I wish I could post a picture from "Rio Bravo". The rack of Winchesters with the chain across them is what I'm thinking of.

 

[P&R Fan]

My Dad was a gun collector all his adult life. He was interested in old Single Shot target rifles. Stuff like Ballards and Winchester Highwalls. He had a pretty impressive collection, including some by some famous barrel makers. He kept them in a really nice wood cabinet with glass doors. Whenever he and Mom would go on a trip he would take them to the attic and cover them with blankets. When he re-modeled the house he made a false wall, which he hid the guns behind when they were out of town.
After he died almost 20 years ago I bought a Zanotti safe to put at Moms house. She had trouble opening it, so I took it home and she bought another one with a keypad lock. It works out well for both of us.
All my really good stuff is in the safe. The carry guns are in a drawer, along with a few other self defense guns.
I would never have mine on display.
Too much risk.
Jim

 

[poordevil]

Display - no way. Everything is out of sight under lock & key. What a same. Actually I have considered a cheap upright cabinet to put some junkers in so the thieves would be satisfied with that. But civil liability scares the jebies out me. A dope head steals a gun in a burglary of your home, knocks off a 7-11 and kills someone and you are libel for allowing it to happen.

Take the firing pins out.

 

[yeti]

On display? No way. Would love to, but would never do it.
A hidden vault room would be marvelous. Maybe some day.

 

[df06]

My friend did until about two years ago. Now someone else owns them.

 

[Waywatcher]

I say go for it. You obviously want to do it, so you should. A couple things though--don't put your most prized or treasured guns in it, and definitely don't put all of them in it. While it is true that it is good to slow down smash and grab burglaries it's also a shame to live an entire life worrying about it. Having one or a couple easily accessible 'sacrificial lambs' might work in your favor anyway--satisfied with a small score they might leave the rest, that are hard to get, alone. Lock your doors, lock your cars, lock your important guns...

...but mostly, don't let fear of a burglary be the sole deciding factor.

 

[H Richard]

gordon 21, I had those made up by a trophy/engraving company. They are not expensive, and identify each item, and people (the few that get into my office) always remark on the age of them. I also did too many 70 hour weeks and in retirement I want to be able to enjoy a few things. Everything else is locked up in a concrete vault I had built in when I built the condo, or in my loading room.

 

[sipowicz]

In hindsight, the display I had on my lawn was a bad idea...

 

[JSW]

I wish I could display some of mine, but they just sit in the safe. I've thought about displaying some but I'm in and out all the time, sometimes at night too. Even with my alarm system I would be worried about someone busting in and snatching up my guns before the cops could get there.

 

[blujax01]

RING RING RING

Caller: Good Morning Mr. Trusting, this is Joe Rhunn from Whee Fleasum and Rhunn Home Insurance. I'm just going through your claim, and I see you are asking $12,000 for some stolen firearms. Please could you clarify how they were secured?

"They were secured in my locked house, just like my watch collection and my coin collection, which were also on display and which were also stolen. And since the policy has no further provisions required, I can only assume you are calling because you need the spelling of my middle name for the check..."

Now I need a copy of the plans for Mike Grasso's most excellent gun rack, please!

 

[blujax01]

Nice Rack!!!

 

[gordon21]

If I do go through with my coffee table plan, I will only put very old guns in it. Finding a few non working or heavily corroded guns (thus low value) from before WW1 would be a neat display. Nothing like the value in H Richards shadow boxes.

I will make the top permanent and have access only from below with a locking drawer and a decent lock. Line it with period correct fabric and use the nameplates.

Ultimately, the best solution would be a "safe room" with concrete walls, floor and ceiling and a full height gun safe door like what Browning sells. Everything on the inside could be on display with open racks shelves, etc

A mini Cabelas gun library. 120 square feet would be big enough.