That's being even more economical than the Canadian C7 chests which had pieces of rifle sling for handles.Quote:
Originally Posted by rayg
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That's being even more economical than the Canadian C7 chests which had pieces of rifle sling for handles.Quote:
Originally Posted by rayg
My British version Transit Chest from grant580 arrived yesterday - so I wanted to share these images with you to try to show you some of the quality of Rick's work. Hopefully the large pics will give you a good view.
I believe this chest was the first that Rick had made using his new dovetailing machine - it worked a treat. The overall quality and attention to detail of this repro is stunning. Hopefully the pics convey a little of that? Through the wholeprocess Rick has been an absolute diamond to deal with. We discussed issues, options, and solutions to try to get an accurate copy of the British chest - down to reworking the hinges to the three screw variety.
And the box was packed amazingly to protect it during it's sea trip. It arrived in immaculate condition.
I had originally considered using the online blueprints and either having a go myself. An idea quickly shelved as I have neither the space/equipment nor the skills necessary - my last woodwork lesson was aged 11 (nearly 39 years ago!!). I also considered having a local chippy run one up as suggested by PL....but I don't think I'd have been able to find the necessary components or someone passioante enough about the subject to do an acceptable job.
Finding Rick on the forum was te PERFECT solution.
Although I had seen Rick's initial pics before shipping, the end product surpassed my highest expectations (and I'm a pretty demanding bloke!). I cannot recommend Rick's work highly enough!
Thanks Rick!
Beautiful job! Very impressed...
Impressed........................ Just as remember seeing them stacked on the armoury shelves
Thanks again for the kind comments about my transit chest Andy and Peter, is it much appreciated! I am still "plugging" away here in Western Canada and will be building more as time permits. The next ones will be more Canadian versions, mostly because all my hinge sets are the four hole per leaf type.
I looked into getting a batch of the three hole British type hinges custom made by a hinge manufacturer in the U.S., but unless I get 250 or 500 made it is not worth one's while to have them made.
By the way, while searching for British hinges and various screws for my boxes I came a across a fellow in the U.S. who specalizes in strange and hard to find hardware, nuts and bolts etc,,. His website is http://www.blacksmithbolt.com and he sells the hard to find screws to fasten the lid hasps and posts to the boxes. His name is Dick Naven and he has bent over backwards to help me find those screws and is highly recommended in case anyone is interested.
Wonderful work!!! :thup::cheers:
Please inform me when the next british chests are made.
Cheers from Austria
I have one of Rick's transit chests as well and it is top notch.
If anyone in the UK is thinking of making one, then consider making it from the old Army folding tables, known to us as 'TABLES, GS. Folding, 6'. These tables are available from ex WD surplus in good used and often tatty condition but the wood is what I think they call pitch pine and identical to the real thing. I expect Skippy and Tanky have written a few off in their time in order to make life in the back of the Bedford machinery or Armourers truck a little easier
Hi Grant580,
Long time no speak! How is everything is the lovely west coast of B.C.? Are you still giving your tours at the mine?
Very, very, very nice work on your British No.4 Mk1(T) Transit Box for OxfordAndy (Rick). Now I'm jealous that I don't have one for my BSA-Shirley No.4 Mk1 Lee-Enfield. I guess I'm going to have to got to the bank and apply for a loan to get myself put down on your order list for one, lol.
What was your total man-hours, from start to finsh, for that transit chest for Rick (OxfordAndy)?
Beautiful work I must say. Far better than some of the museum reproductions that I've seen over the years over here in the Maritimes. Like Rick said ... here is one craftsman who loves his work.
Your Transit Chests are more like "Rebuilds" than "Reproductions", as you are using most of or either all of the metal furnature that came off the originals.
Do your chests also allow room for misc. equipment (bayonets, cleaning kits, rifle slings, spare magazines, bandolears, WW2 boxed ammo, rifle valise or case, etc.)? Can the rifle fit into these chests with their action and/or muzzle covers installed on the rifle? It would be nice to know.
I'll definately be ordering one in the future for my British No. 4 Lee-Enfield.
Keep up the excellent work!
Cheers!
Rgs...Keyan (kajn65)
P.S.-How was your trip back home to Cape Breton Island this past summer?
Thanks for the nice comments kajn65, it is very much appreicated. I will try and answer some of your questions.
First the fellow who's forum name is oxfordandy is Andy, not Rick. He too was a pleasure to work with and very patient and actually helped me with many things regarding the boxes. Part of his "tip" for building his box was a very generous donation of a set of British font brass stencils that would have otherwise been hard to find here in Canada. Those kind of stencils are hard to use though, because the paint always seems to work it's way under them but someday when I get more time I am going to try and figure out how to prevent that.
As far as the contents of the box goes, you have probably seen the contents list I apply to the inside of the lid? I assume of course that that equipment was standard issue when given to the snipers but I bet each individual sniper perhaps had a few extra items or maybe when the scout regiment spotting scopes were not available for what ever reason they had binoculars instead, things like that.
One thing I always wondered about is during the war the sniper was issued the box and it's contents, what would happen to the box itself once he was on a misson, or in battle? Did it get carried around in a lorrie with the unit, or kept with the armourers or what? Maybe some of the senior collectors might be able to answer that one?
As far as the hours go, I never actually kept track but I think one box from start to finish would be at least 25 to 30 hours, maybe more depending on how much stencilling I do. They are very labour intensive with all the hand work involved like cutting and tacking down the felt, cutting all the interior parts, sand blasting and painting the six pieces of hardware and applying the finish etc. Plus when I am done I have to spend about 2 hours properly packing it up for shipment. I guess this is what they call a "labour of love"? My total material cost is roughly $100 for each box so I guess if the $400 price seems like a lot, it's not.
PM me when ready to order.
RG