I have had an idea about a violin cased 16 inch .22 revolver...Help me out

[MelvinWalker]

Several years ago, I bought one of these Heritage Arms .22 single action revolvers that they offered in a rifle length 16 inch barrel. It came with a .22 magnum cylinder.

I was at a local thrift store and I saw a well worn 1920's-1930's vintage violin with case for $20, so I bought it. My wife looked at my like I had grown another head, but I immediately had an idea. One of my nice neighbors has a granddaughter that wants to learn violin, so I gave her the violin and the bow, because I just wanted the vintage case.

See the pics..

I would like to have someone make or maybe tell me where I can get a quality foam that I can either have someone somewhat professionally make two inserts for this with cut-out for this gun. I think you see what I am going for here. I had hoped that someone would make a wire "Lee Van Cleef" style detachable rear stock that I could fit to the top of the case, but so far, no company has offered that.

I'd like to avoid just cheap eggshell foam and I would rather have some dark memory foam similar to what we might find in a quality factory gun case and then have the cut-out done to exactly match the contours of this gun and the cylinder and maybe a couple of .22 ammo boxes...Of course, there would need to be a small amount of foam beneath the gun and not just completely cut out.

Any ideas here?

 

[NYlakesider]

Several years ago, I bought one of these Heritage Arms .22 single action revolvers that they offered in a rifle length 16 inch barrel. It came with a .22 magnum cylinder.

I was at a local thrift store and I saw a well worn 1920's-1930's vintage violin with case for $20, so I bought it. My wife looked at my like I had grown another head, but I immediately had an idea. One of my nice neighbors has a granddaughter that wants to learn violin, so I gave her the violin and the bow, because I just wanted the vintage case.

See the pics..

I would like to have someone make or maybe tell me where I can get a quality foam that I can either have someone somewhat professionally make two inserts for this with cut-out for this gun. I think you see what I am going for here. I had hoped that someone would make a wire "Lee Van Cleef" style detachable rear stock that I could fit to the top of the case, but so far, no company has offered that.

I'd like to avoid just cheap eggshell foam and I would rather have some dark memory foam similar to what we might find in a quality factory gun case and then have the cut-out done to exactly match the contours of this gun and the cylinder and maybe a couple of .22 ammo boxes...Of course, there would need to be a small amount of foam beneath the gun and not just completely cut out.

Any ideas here?

Find a car interior installer, many times those people do a lot of foam padding on seats.

 

[marinevet]

You might contact these people and see what they can do. I've never used them, but have the website saved on my desktop.

MyCaseBuilder Custom Foam - Pelican, SKB, Storm and others

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have been on a similar path for nearly a year. I have been working with a violin case and a couple of tennis racket cases. Quality, high density foam is not easy to find, nor is a lightweight, stiff backing to put in the top and bottom to keep the shape. Your case is more substantial than mine are.

My violin case is styrofoam lined, so I was able to trim away the inside (I used a wood chisel to shave the inside) to accommodate my receiver. I am having a difficult time finding an affordable glue to use that will not eat the styrofoam.

3M has some specialty type spray adhesives however at $38.00 per can I have to keep searching for a viable alternative. I made a bottom liner for the tennis racket cases out of cardboard then traced it on to foam poster board. I found some heavy foam at a furniture upholstery shop. Foam can be cut with an electric knife or a hot wire.

Good luck with your project.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I wonder how wrapping your gun in plastic wrap then lining the case with plastic wrap then put self expanding foam in it and press the gun into it as it hardens. It might take a couple of attempts but I think it would work.

I'm thinking the foam in a can used to fill cracks. It's urethane and can easily be cut and sanded. You could then use a little Super 77 spray adhesive and velour to line it.

If you've lined everything and completely wrapped your gun in a few layers of kitchen plastic wrap you shouldn't hurt anything.

I was at an indoor range and the guy next to me had a guitar case setup like that for an AR. It was really cool!

 

[MelvinWalker]

I wonder how wrapping your gun in plastic wrap then lining the case with plastic wrap then put self expanding foam in it and press the gun into it as it hardens. It might take a couple of attempts but I think it would work.

I'm thinking the foam in a can used to fill cracks. It's urethane and can easily be cut and sanded. You could then use a little Super 77 spray adhesive and velour to line it.

If you've lined everything and completely wrapped your gun in a few layers of kitchen plastic wrap you shouldn't hurt anything.

I was at an indoor range and the guy next to me had a guitar case setup like that for an AR. It was really cool!

I thought of the foam but I just know the last time I used that ws installing new windows and it was a nightmare. I got some on my hands, and it took a week to literally WEAR off....That foam was more durable and worse than super glue on your fingers. When that stuff dries, you could form a Pharaoh Egyptian pyramid around it. Plus I only have one chance to try it with this old case and that's with plastic lining it and the gun...If I got a drop anywhere else, it will expand and that's where it will stay.

I would prefer a hard but flexible foam like in a professional pelican case...Maybe even a very tight fitting closed cell styrofoam and then flocked like the S&W presentation cases? I am just pondering here.

 

[MelvinWalker]

I have been on a similar path for nearly a year. I have been working with a violin case and a couple of tennis racket cases. Quality, high density foam is not easy to find, nor is a lightweight, stiff backing to put in the top and bottom to keep the shape. Your case is more substantial than mine are.

My violin case is styrofoam lined, so I was able to trim away the inside (I used a wood chisel to shave the inside) to accommodate my receiver. I am having a difficult time finding an affordable glue to use that will not eat the styrofoam.

3M has some specialty type spray adhesives however at $38.00 per can I have to keep searching for a viable alternative. I made a bottom liner for the tennis racket cases out of cardboard then traced it on to foam poster board. I found some heavy foam at a furniture upholstery shop. Foam can be cut with an electric knife or a hot wire.

Good luck with your project.

When I read your post, I thought of something for you I had seen, so I have went back and dug through all of the upcoming local auctions...This one looks really nice for what you need. It's about 40 miles from me, but I am probably going to bid on several firearms and go pick them up personally when the auction ends in about a week.

This is a guitar case made by a place called "Savior cases". It has a professional cut out for what looks like a M-lok AR rifle broken down....A Glock pistol...two AR 30 round mags and an extra Glock mag...Current bid is $30, but I am not sure how high it will go? It closes in a week.

I can try and get it if you ever come to central Florida to pick it up?

 

[03hemi]

Same case, different gun.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Let me post some photos then the content

The two lighter pieces (actually light green)…the "L" shaped piece is 2"x24"x27" and the other one is 2"x10"x24". The two grey foam pieces in the Head racket case is 2"x8.75"x19.75" and you can see the white foam board lining the bottom. There are three charcoal pick & pull grid pieces; two 4"x20"x20" and one 4"x18"x19".

I thought of using the transformer from my grandchildren's train set to build a hot wire cutter to slice the light green foam in half in order to glue a one inch thick piece to the foam board bottom, then try to fashion a hollowed out second layer.

I would be interested in that Saviour case. I get to Inverness, Florida once a year if you are near there.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Just another idea.

Buy a sheet of this pluckable foam as the "center layer" to hold the pistol.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/HQ-ISSUE-Tactical-Rifle-Replacement/dp/B07JK22FLK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3HFPSR8QMYDRM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kqO_voH5SyOBYLN_l1GVLtVnSkSWR5HheM39z-XPZGUT5lzpF2ycingWNUsTFKSbmWWOewejG35Bhy7xpdxlwNXa9vZVBzQH9hnuwdrOd7l4Ie9SeRFhes6cOqIEvYP8MhRkyhLnmJsKSJB2_OqCvpgNcdi1Am2v8sDSgapRkKFuhwNlL_93Rl3V_LGIOeg-A1W_V3exK8AN7VoBL6f-cJ_69utU1lYaeFeFEF8RuGX-WKjSPC6W2Sfef2lJ71fgSKKZA-JVwbcq7-9HXnqQIaRxv1oC4QGG5Yt4Y1r4zc8.6rzDfryOQj-6HOxeKd9W73WTuoPkQ6zReGBSHpaSXLY&dib_tag=se&keywords=pluck+foam+insert+rifle&qid=1714958689&sprefix=pluck+foam+insert+rifle%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-3[/ame]

Then get a similar (solid, not pluckable) for the lid, and a bottom layer for the case bottom. Size the lid and bottom layer thickness, along with the pluckable layer, to be a tad thicker than the ID of the case for compression. Glue it in with 3M contact adhesive.

 

[ColbyBruce]

OP, have you looked at "the foam factory dot com" web page? There are several different types of foam offered there.

 

[03hemi]

What you're refering to is called "French Lined" like this.
This is the exact same violin case you have, just modified to carry the weight.

During production.

This will carry about 25lbs~

 

[lihpster]

I've always wanted to adapt one of these guitar cases for an AR.

 

[AJ]

I will look to see if I have any pictures left of my violin case. I used a violin case for an M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine and it held four magazine if I remember correctly. No modifications were needed. Carried it to the range and the gun shop a couple of times, but no where else.