Hey all, anybody got more pics of the Motorcase's for rifles and a bit of information on what the heck is the reason for calling them that? My thought is that it is designed for being in a vehicle and getting at them easier somehow, but sometimes my logic doesn't work out right.

I just was curious when looking around at fitted fancy cases.

Red

I don't have any pix, but I used to collect British singles and doubles, many of them cased.



A Motor Case is exactly what the name implies, a case to contain the firearm when motoring. Better ones were built of oak, had a leather outer shell, and were intended not just for easy access, but primarily for protecting the firearm. Second class cases were of wood with canvas shell.



If you ever looked at the boot (trunk) of the older motor cars (contemporry to the day), you can see why the gun cases are of long, square, narrow shape with re-enforced corners. The boots were of very similar form, and the cases fit nicely there-in. Strong construction kept all the other crap that got piled in with them from damaging either the case or the firearm. Some motor cars, instead of an enclosed boot, had a platform at the rear similar to the carriers now seen as hitch attachments for pickups...a flat grill on top of which one's kit was lashed. The Oak & Leather case served admirably for that, too, and with the fine leather cover was easily clensed of mud, dust, etc., after an excursion.



Was also very handy for sea transport of firearms if you were the second son in a family (the one who commonly had a military commission purchased for him) and were being posted to one of the African colonies or the Raj. Protected the firearm enroute to or from, in the hold, in a crowded stateroom, or in the Purser's locker, and also to a small degree protected against salten damp.



AC

Dago,

Have a question for you on the "Here's a handy little trick" thread.

Thanks, pdhntr

pdh, I replied.

Alberta, is there a difference in protection to the gun between an oak and leather motor case versus the standard oak and leather case? I would guess it holds up better to weight on top of it due to the structure, but is anything on the inside different?

I find all this very interesting.

Red

Hi Again, DR -



Not that I recall. There WERE two different styles of interiors generally, as I am sure you already know.



One was the sort of "generic" fit...that is, divided into compartments which more or less fit guns of a particular type...similar to many current take-down shotgun hard cases, with the gun butt-stock held in place by a leather strap around the wrist. The other was the "French-fit" where the interior was virtually a mould of the rifle and its accompanying accoutrements.



The latter was more protective for several reasons...more surface area on the moulding which in turn also supported the case bottom & lid...less "rattle-room" for the case contents, soft baize lining right up against the gun kept any small loose items from wedging in between the gun and the case, if one forgot they were there and closed the lid on the ensemble.



Rigby, in particular, either built or commissioned many of the latter for their bolt guns and a very nice set-up they were, too.



I used to make a fair number of the latter for matched pistol sets, where I would make a case out of solid burl walnut planks, with solid brass piano hinges, then fill the interior of both bottom and top with plastic wood and cover with fine-tanned VERY flexible kid goat-skin (shiny-side out) while still damp. Then I'd close the lid on the box and squeeze them together and let the whole affair "set" under the tension of some surgical tubing. By tucking the goat skin in along all sides before closing, the pressure of the PW displaced by the gun(s) would keep it tight agains the case sides and would "flow" into the suede side of the leather which was on the insde against the PW. When dry that held it tightly held in place. It did take a little exprimenting to learn how much PW to put in there to fill the space but still let both halves close together, but as with any art, that is a learned-by-doing, eyeball skill.



Best wishes,



AC