Flying with long muzzleloaders

[BillinOregon]

Just realized that if I ever want to travel by plane with my flintlock fowler, I may have to build or commission a custom lockable gun case that meets airline standards.
What airline-approved gun cases have y'all found for your long-barreled guns?
I know one way around this is to ship your gun to the destination, then ship it home. That wouldn't work going to, say, Africa, though.

 

[smokepole tc]

Look on contemporary longrifle site under muzzleloading accesories cases for sale 64" long 185.00 different sizes available.

 

[satx78247]

Several folks here, who fly to hunt with ML, have made rifle-cases out of:
1. a length of 10" ID PVC irrigation pipe,
2. two PVC end-caps,
3. some glue, that is specially made for PVC,
4. a suitable padlock
AND
5. a piece of "foam rubber" or other material for "padding".

The total cost of materials: less than 10.oo per case plus whatever a piece of foam rubber, to wrap/pad the firearm, costs.
(I, so far, have not paid for any foam, as I got mine FREE "as scrap" from an auto upholstery shop's "trash pile".)

Fwiw, the "PVC case" that I last made will carry two ML rifles "heel to toe".
(While considerably "scraped-up" after several round-trips OCONUS, the ML firearms therein have returned to CONUS unscathed.)

yours, satx

 

[Silex]

IIRC Peli makes extra long cases to order.
I used a extendable rod case for saltwater gear, put the 42" barreled smoothbore in the blanket sleeve into the tube and then stuffed the rod case with old newspaper. That worked fine but I've only traveled once with "the Lady" - to bring her home over the pond.

The rod tube was about $80 - it's airline approved and doesn't scream gun...
This is what it looks like:

That's the case I used.
Pretty much a PVC-pipe with handle and locks...


Silex

 

[BillinOregon]

Thanks guys!

 

[Patocazador]

satx: How do you fashion a lockable access on the end cap?

 

[dave524]

just a thought, people fly to skiing destinations all the time with snow skis, would a longrifle fit in a rigid case for a pair of skis???

 

[nkbj]

Makes me think about when I was moving back to Houston from Salt lake in 1981. A friend that worked for the same company and was flying back carried some things to Houston for me. When the guy at the ticket counter asked him how to demonstrate the flintlock was unloaded he laughed and told him beats me fella, rock the hammer back and squeeze the trigger. :haha:

 

[Billnpatti]

I'll let SATX tell how he fashions his. Several years ago, before I bought a commercial rod case, I fashioned one from a piece of 4 inch PVC pipe and two end caps that I happened to have on hand left from a previous project. I glued one cap on one end of the piece of PVC pipe. I puzzled over how to make the other end lockable and removable. A hinge was out, it wouldn't work. I decided to just put a hasp on one side. The problem was that the hasp bolts would keep the cap from sliding onto the PVC pipe. So, I pop riveted it in place and filed a clearance flat on one side of the PVC pipe to let the pop rivet heads pass. I also had to do a bit of hammering on the pop rivets to flatten them just enough to make them work. One hasp and one lock did the trick. Depending on the hasp and the pop rivets that you use, you may have to do a bit of "adjustmemt" to the rivets and to the hasp but you can make it work. One hasp and one lock and the cap won't come off without removing the lock or tearing up the hasp. But, if two hasps and two locks make you feel more secure, go for it. It's not a difficult project at all.

 

[satx78247]

Unlike the "rather fancy" method that "Billnpatti" told you about, my "simplified method" (and cheap/crude method!) is nothing more than fitting the end caps to the piece of 10-inch ID pipe, gluing one cap on (after filling both end caps with a "glued-in" scrap of 2" thick foam rubber for PADDING) and drilling a suitable hole through the cap/pie at an acute angle that will accept a bicycle lock (with a long, detachable, shackle. - The padlock that I usually buy has about an 8" shackle.)

Note: I wish that I was "artistic" (or even owned a camera) such that that I could draw/post a "sketch", as making/drilling/locking my "el cheapo rifle case" is easier to DO than it is to explain, in writing.

COMMENT: Fwiw, my "biggest problem" with using one of these home-brewed cases is that in every country, to which I transported my ML, is that "that long case" has "drawn the immediate/rapt attention of" customs agents/police officers/administrators/"curious people".
The "usual conversation", OCONUS, at airports/train stations/bus terminals usually goes something like this:
OFFICER: "Sir, what is in that long case?"
Response: "Two muzzle-loading, black-powder rifles. Here's the ownership & import papers."
OFFICER: "REALLY? What do they look like?" (pause) "Would you show them to me? I've never seen one of those."
(Often, the officer then calls his/her superiors to "Come see what I've found." AND a crowd of "onlookers" gathers to LOOK.")
ImVho, the "secret" of traveling abroad, especially in Latin America with muzzle-loaders and/or "modern firearms", the lands of "Manana", is to NOT be "impatient", "less than absolutely cooperative and polite" and/or "in a rush to leave" the facility.
(I've made numerous LONG-TERM, fast "friends in high authority" OCONUS by simply being "friendly" in answering questions & "doing show & tell" BUT be sure to allow plenty of time at airports/stations/terminals, as you will NOT "depart quickly.)

just my OPINION/experiences, satx

 

[Greebe]

Several folks here, who fly to hunt with ML, have made rifle-cases out of:
1. a length of 10" ID PVC irrigation pipe,
2. two PVC end-caps,
3. some glue, that is specially made for PVC,
4. a suitable padlock
AND
5. a piece of "foam rubber" or other material for "padding".

The total cost of materials: less than 10.oo per case plus whatever a piece of foam rubber, to wrap/pad the firearm, costs.
(I, so far, have not paid for any foam, as I got mine FREE "as scrap" from an auto upholstery shop's "trash pile".)

Fwiw, the "PVC case" that I last made will carry two ML rifles "heel to toe".
(While considerably "scraped-up" after several round-trips OCONUS, the ML firearms therein have returned to CONUS unscathed.)

yours, satx

I would love to know where you can get a length of 10" pvc and caps for $10. One 10" PVC cap alone is $46.

 

[Mickc01]

FYI, also.....Crazy Crow sells a nice, lockable hardcase that will hold 2 long guns for about $200...Mick C

 

[satx78247]

I've bought mine for years as "odd-lot" or "rejected by inspectors" irrigation pipe from our local Farmer's Co-op. = "Your results may vary."
("Reject pipe" is cheap enough that NeTX farmers sometimes use it for fence posts.)

yours, satx