Display cases!

[waynorth]

There was a thread here on displaying knives, and I believe I posted the first version of these cases on it, but I'm hopeless at searching this forum, so here's a new thread. What I'm hoping for is your feedback out there, and more ideas on displaying knives. If you have a nice collection, it's certainly enjoyable to look at them, when you are sitting back and enjoying your choice of a cold one, or otherwise relaxing!
I posted this one on the Schrade forum, because that's what's in it, but the main reason is to share ideas on display cases.

The case hangs on the wall, so takes little space in a room. It locks, and has steel backing so I can mount the knives with permanent Magnets! I can change all the knives in around 10-15 minutes!! So any thoughts are appreciated, and thanks for letting me show off a little!
Charlie

 

[VCM3]

Charlie,I have the chest type with the drawers.It is like an oak style,not expensive,but the top,has one large lid,with glass.I can put less pretty knives ,and users in the draws,amongst other things,and a small display to look at on top.
The freakin' knives in your case there,are ,well,Really Nice! So where does the magnets go?

 

[waynorth]

Thanks for the compliment!
Show us some pictures Vince! I've seen advertised oak cases, but never one in actual use!
The magnets are fat little discs, and you stack them by twos and threes, and they go between the blades and the backing.
I guess we need a picture of them; I'll post in a little while!

 

[VCM3]

Sorry for the mess in the bedroom,lol! It is a bit beat up,I've had it for a long time,pictures are so so...

Since we are talking display cases,check out this one a the Metropolitan Museum,in NYC!

 

[PhilL]

Charlie,I have the chest type with the drawers.It is like an oak style,not expensive,but the top,has one large lid,with glass.

Waynorth, nice collection, nice display. :thumbup:

VCM3, I really like that chest that you have, and you say it wasn't expensive? I've seen the Greshner chests and they're beautiful, but expensive, and no top with glass. Do you know the brand name of your chest or remember where you got it?

TIA

 

[VCM3]

PhilL,Did you ever get one of those catalogue's,the Sportsman's Warehouse,or someting like that.Well,it was in there,since back then,they do not seem to have them any more.I had to re- glue and clamp all the drawer faces on,when it came,it was poor quality,but served the purpose.In an effort to replace it,I have searched Ebay,and have found similar chests with the glass on top.A friend told me that Northern Equipment has pretty nice ones ,but the tops are not glass.Someday,I'm gonna make a custom one,with a glass top like this one but a bit larger.

 

[longbeachguy]

Nice cases guys! Much nicer than mine, which is my own maiden attempt at making a display case myself. As I usually do with a new woodworking project, the first time out I use cheap materials, poplar in this case (no pun intended) and I don't avoid mistakes, since it's basically a practice run. This one has some problems, but the purpose was served. I'm now making a small cigar humidor and the joinery is coming out much better. After that I'll probably try again at a larger knife display case, made out of cherry wood most likely.

Well here it is...it's made from poplar with a walnut stain:

 

[waynorth]

That's a nice cabinet, and collection by the way! You get to put stuff down on the top if you need to, at least temporarily. I'm always thinking about saving room, and double duty for spaces.
I thought for a second the armor was in your bedroom too!

So, here's a close-up of the magnets! I put extra ones behind the knife so you can see them, but it usually only takes two.
I buy them by the 100 from Lee Valley Tools.

 

[sunburst]

This is why I love coming to this site, because of the pictures posted above that make me go nuts with envy and enjoyment...

Thank you very much for sharing them with us, please keep on posting some more...

Those magnets are really pretty cool waynorth, where did you get the idea??

 

[waynorth]

Good first try, LBG! Great bunch of 3 blades, too!
I don't have my shop set up yet, so I had a friend make my cases, which is probably a good thing, if a little pricey.

 

[VCM3]

Charlie,I like this magnet system.Where do you get the steel backed case,and magnets?
BTW,This is in my foyer,LOL!

 

[waynorth]

A knife maker friend thought it up, and I've been refining it. These are actually the third generation cabinets. I'm thinking of producing them in small batches, but they'd be over $300- maybe too much??

 

[VCM3]

I remember viewing a thread on displaying high end bowies.I recall,that there was one,in wich they used organic magnets.This is a great idea,because the knife is sort of suspended in view hieght,as yours is.That is real nice!

 

[waynorth]

Here's one I haven't finished, to show anyone interested how it goes together! I put the steel in myself. You need to cut it out of 10 or 12 gauge galvanized sheet steel. My local heating shop does it cheap. Then you glue cloth over it. I use spray contact cement, then air dry the steel/cloth assembly for a few days so no fumes will linger. The first pic is the open cabinet, the second shows the back of the steel with it. You can see I just folded the cloth over a little, and taped it. You can see the molding strips I nail in to keep the steel backing in place.

Next pic shows the back with the hanger recess, and the board that gets anchored on the wall. You can then lift it on and off as you wish! Finally the brackets for table display at shows. So now you can make your own !!

 

[cockroachfarm]

Great thread! That idea with the magnets is brilliant - those little suckers will hold a John Deere to the side of a wall, they're that strong. (Naive question - do the magnets affect the blades in any way?)

 

[waynorth]

Sometimes they magnetize the blades for a while, but it fades away. Other than that, I don't notice anything. Someone should ask a metallurgist that question!!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I tend to use what I find, this was a case for some kind of measuring device, I know it's a little congested but it's really just to keep the dust off the ones I'm not carrying at the moment.