Points to Ponder…

One large one, would this be ‘open-plan’ or would one like it partitioned for gun, drinks or anything else you have. Two, side by side or one over the other, again with considerations for One, Three…

As you know, there are many; the usual ones I have used are Walnut, Oak and Mahogany. There are different types of each with levels of ‘figuring’ to match. If you want something with a level of WOW there is always Veneer; a lot of people will sell their cabinets with the ‘no veneer’ line, some sell them with veneer but deny it! As long as the construction is correct to allow for movement and weather there is nothing to wrong with veneer, it is personal choice and can be used in places such as drawer fronts to great effect.

This goes hand in hand with the above but there is the choice of locks and handles and figuring of the grain to think about.

You can, if you like, give over a whole drawer to this but, in my opinion, you will only open it when you have your boots on and maybe, before you head home; between drives it is in the slip or off with your loader… saying that it is a wonderful thing to behold set in the drawer… think cleaning kit also if you travel with one as at the design stage it is nice to build it all in. So, how do we stow these guns or gun; there is the divider method as in the traveling case of yore with either Baize or Leather (what colour?) to the base and even sides if you like or, foam. Whichever one you like, I will ask you to draw around each gun on say, some old wall-paper and post it to me as a template, I then can make dividers to fit or transpose your out-line to Auto-cad and send it off as a DXF to be CNC cut. Remember barrel length for a later note…

It has been known for guns to stand around drinking whilst the keeper pulls his hair out and the beaters, picking-up team and loaders freeze… but what is it you drink? Champagne, Gin, shots or a mixture; how many do you intend to take and don’t forget the glasses. This bibation package can take up quite a lot of space so is something to give

a little thought to when thinking it through. On the subject of glasses, there are so many types out there that one can get glasses fatigue looking at them on the web, they come in many shapes and sizes and at a range of prices, if you are to supply them, buy them in sets so you have spares as the holders will be made to suit.

Thank you for getting in touch and for taking the time to read through this and, with any luck; you will come back to me and not use this to go to others ( if you do, I wish you many a blank drive in the rain)

Now for the home-work; take said mentioned roll of wall-paper and draw around those guns or gun, do so twice, one for me and one for you. Keep mine safe for now but cut yours out.

Take the rest of the roll and retire to the garage where you keep the shooting brake, cut yourself a shape to represent the boot-chest and draw upon it the drawers (roughly 60mm shy all-round and don’t forget the central divider if you opted for a side by side configuration… get everything together that you take shooting and lay it on the drawer area, ask yourself, are you being over optimistic…. You know what it is like packing a case to go away and some of the things you have will need space or packing between them to protect them between drives. Dig out your barrel length template and stock and see how that fits, you may have seen something that ran front to back but yours may need to go side to side…

And before we go, remember that the rear of the seat slopes so the space tapers as it rises and that you haven’t made provision for the dog…