Gun cart/seat

This was my first major project. I built it back in 1998 in a garage stall in an aparment complex with a router & straightedge, a jigsaw, a drill and one chisel (not even a workbench – I used the floor. I don’t think my knees could handle that again). It’s made from 1/2” and 3/4” cheap big box ply. I don’t even remember what I used for finishing, but I’m sure it was Minwax from the big box store. It’s a dark walnut stain, and probably the “tung oil finish”. I lived on the second floor of the complex, and did the finishing out on the balcony.

It’s put together with rabbets and dadoes, cut with the router & straighedge. The rack part separates from the base for transport in a hatchback or big trunk. It’s held together with 4 sash locks, plus there are mating cleats at the lower front of the rack part that help take the push/pull forces off the locks. The upper and lower cradles slip into loose dadoes and are held in place with screws. I can take them out in case I ever decide to change the rack layout. The guns are secured to the upper cradle with leather boot laces.

The box is 18” high, and doubles as a seat. This is critical since, as anyone who’s ever been to any shooting match knows, the majority of the time is spent waiting for your turn.

I got lucky with the way it balances. It can be pushed or pulled on all 4 wheels on smooth ground, or tipped back like a hand truck when it’s rough.

-- Measure twice, then try to figure out which one was right.