The Glade 4.0

Some here may remember that I inherited a M1911A1 handgun when my grandfather passed away recently. I finally got around to having the display case made that I wanted, and just got it hung up. Sorry for the reflections, but I don't have a lot of light control in this room. I'm still debating getting a plaque made for the bottom edge of the frame that reads, "In case of Axis, break glass".

I like the look of it, Aizle. Very well done.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

So, is the debate due to being hesitant that somebody might get the wrong idea when the next Democratic Campaign Volunteers make a house call?

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

LOL!

No, it's mainly about whether I want to be more serious or humorous with the display.

Just out of personal curiosity, is the gun in a non-firing condition? Like, the firing pin removed?

I only ask because I wouldn't know how I'd feel about having a gun + ammo on my wall that anyone could smash, grab, and use. But then, I also sleep upstairs and away from my living room.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

Put me down in the pro-plaque camp.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

This.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

And this.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

As I just got it hung and the pistol setup in it today, I haven't removed the firing pin and technically you could try and fire the ammo in there. As it's on the order of 70+ years old, I have no idea if it would work or not.

That said, the "glass" is actually 1/4" pexiglass and mounted with screws into the frame, which is solid oak. The case is also solid oak, which is locked with no easy hand holds to pry it open. Further, the case is mounted to the wall by 2.5" screws into a stud. Admittedly not as secure as a gun safe, but still pretty tough to get at.

I was still debating what would be the right thing to do as far as the firing pin goes. As I still take the gun to the range now and then I'm hesitant to completely disable it in a way that makes it annoying to make functional again. But it's on my list of things to look into. As for it's location, it's in my den, which is on the second floor and nearby the master bedroom, so it's not a very public space.

Well, it depends. Was your grandfather a jovial man? Would a plaque have made him laugh and purchase you a frosty barley beverage over which he would regale you of tales of how he used that very gun to put a stop to a Jerry that was about to get Private Smith? If yes, then absolutely.

If he was a dour old dude who had nothing but awful, painful memories of the war and would have resented it, then... probably no plaque.

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Holy shitsnacks!

Could you take out the firing pin but make a little non-obvious compartment in the case to hold it?

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Storing it somewhere else wouldn't be an issue. As it's my den, there are lots of drawers or other spots I could hide it. To be honest, I've never removed the firing pin on a 1911 before, so I'm not sure how much of a hassle it is.

edit: yay for youtube. I now see that removing the firing pin is super easy and fast, so I'll be doing that for while it's stored in the case.

As an alternative, why not swap out the live ammo for dummy rounds?

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Old ammo can absolutely still be fired most of the time, though it is far more corrosive to the gun than modern day ammunition. Just to clarify that little bit.

Still, don't take any of my concerns as me disliking the project. I think it's awesome.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

Beautiful case! I think it's great.

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When he's underwater does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?