So I picked up this M1A awhile back. I had a beater that I refinished several years ago and was unimpressed with it so I let it go, no regrets there. I've always had an M1A on my "someday the right deal will come along" list and now I have it. It's a beautiful pre-ban National Match built in Glen Nelson's shop in 1990. While I honestly have little desire to shoot it, I can't seem to leave it in the safe either. I generally view firearms as tools and aside from a few with sentimental value I don't keep them around if they don't prove useful. This one is different, it was built the month I went in to basic training and with the beautiful stock it seems to me to be a work of art and I'd kind of like to display it as such.
So I'm looking for ideas. I'm decent working with wood and I have some of the more basic tools (table saw, miter saw, router) so I'm not opposed to building something like a display case. Screwing a couple of hooks into the drywall/studs just won't work with the wife. Anyone do something similar and want to share? For anyone concerned, there is someone home at my house 99% of the time and two out of my three dogs are likely to turn all but the most hard core troublemakers away from my door should they decide my place looks inviting (it will be in my bedroom so not visible to the occasional guest in the house). That said, if we were going to be out of town and the house empty I would need to be able to get it back into the safe so I don't want to build something I'd have to destroy to get the rifle out.
So I'm looking for ideas. I'm decent working with wood and I have some of the more basic tools (table saw, miter saw, router) so I'm not opposed to building something like a display case. Screwing a couple of hooks into the drywall/studs just won't work with the wife. Anyone do something similar and want to share? For anyone concerned, there is someone home at my house 99% of the time and two out of my three dogs are likely to turn all but the most hard core troublemakers away from my door should they decide my place looks inviting (it will be in my bedroom so not visible to the occasional guest in the house). That said, if we were going to be out of town and the house empty I would need to be able to get it back into the safe so I don't want to build something I'd have to destroy to get the rifle out.