Standing a gun in the corner or hiding it away in a closet with the vacuum cleaner is hardly the way for a sportsman to treat the companion of his hunting trips. Guns are very decorative and make a most interesting display in the game room or the den. Aside from the matter of appearance, this rack will secure guns safe from damage by falling. There is no longer danger of the stock being dented or the telescope sight being knocked out of alignment.
The craftsman can, of course, make the rack from any .wood he wishes, but walnut seems to be suited above all others. Walnut is a wood used in gunstocks, and the tree itself is sure to be part of the memory of trips afield. What hunter hasn’t stopped under a walnut tree to eat lunch or admire the grouse he shot?
One piece of wood 3/4″ thick, 6″ wide and 8 ft. long is more than enough to make the rack. The bill of materials lists the number and size of each member that goes to make up the gun rack. The stock is cut and finished to these dimensions.
Full-size patterns of the side members as well as of the back member will have to be prepared. These patterns are traced on the stock, then the pieces cut to the required contour on the jig saw. The bottom member is cut as shown in the sketch to fit around the side members.
Click on the Pattern Above to get a larger size.
The decorative plaque is optional and can be omitted if the craftsman would rather not have it. Cut the ovals and the pheasant from pieces of nil veneer. The veneer can be of walnut for both parts, or the oval can be cut from a contrasting
wood such as maple. Use a very fine blade to saw out these parts. Glue them in place separately, first the oval and then the pheasant. Avoid using too much glue so that it will not be pressed out at the edges. Cover the veneer with a piece of paper and lay a block over it before clamping.
Click on the pattern above to get a larger size.
Fasten all parts together with glue and sixpenny finishing nails. Set the nailheads and fill the holes with wood composition. Sand all surfaces. Soften all edges and finish with three or four coats of thinned orange shellac, rubbing down each coat with No. 2/0 steel wool. Finally, apply paste wax.
