| Project by Charles Maxwell | posted 248 days ago | 1632 views | 8 times favorited | 25 comments | ![]() |
I started this project months before I retired. It was supposed to be a retirement gift to another retiring naval officer. Let’s just say he didn’t earn my respect so, I kept the box and made it my own! It’s Walnut and has Maple trim that I salvaged from Ike’s HQ in London (I was stationed at NAVEUR in London for three years). The flag was flown over the new U.S. Embassy in Kabal after the Taliban went away! The eagle carving on the case lid is a design taken from a John Bellamy eagle. The eagle is carved from Holly.
-- Max the janitor at www.hardwoodskeletonclocks.com
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

























25 comments so far
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5352 posts in 509 days
posted 248 days ago
Well Cmdr. Max (at least it looks like the 3 bars) your box is 4.0 I really appreciate the detail and craftsmanship. I would like to see a little bigger picture though. Congratulations on retiring from the USN. I was a HM2 from 1964-1970. I would have stayed in and made it a career – but they would not agree to making me an Admiral.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rpmurphy509
home | projects | blog
285 posts in 297 days
posted 247 days ago
Congratulations on your retirement, and thank you for your service!
Great looking box.
-- Still learning everything
mrtrim
home | projects | blog
1511 posts in 323 days
posted 247 days ago
great work max i like the story as well !
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
rikkor
home | projects | blog
7112 posts in 317 days
posted 247 days ago
Congrats on your retirement, Sir. (ADJ2 65 – 69) Beautiful box!
-- Maplewood, MN
TomFran
home | projects | blog
2340 posts in 437 days
posted 247 days ago
Nice work! Glad you got to keep it.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
TreeBones
home | projects | blog
1378 posts in 466 days
posted 247 days ago
Wow, very special and beautiful too. Nice work. Thanks.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
FlWoodRat
home | projects | blog
237 posts in 352 days
posted 247 days ago
Beautiful work and THANK YOU for your years of decated service to our nation. God Bless and enjoy your reitrement.
-- Even the best of men relish a little spice every now and then... HG Somers, circa 1905
Betsy
home | projects | blog
1760 posts in 339 days
posted 247 days ago
Congratulations on your retirement!
The box looks great. Glad you kept it for yourself.
-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!
mot
home | projects | blog
4837 posts in 479 days
posted 247 days ago
It’s quite nice. I like the contrast in the joinery.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
4804 posts in 294 days
posted 247 days ago
Congratulations Charles. Beautiful job on the box. A great momento with a few nostalgic pieces as well.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
SWODADDY
home | projects | blog
31 posts in 284 days
posted 238 days ago
Very nice job sir. I am also getting ready to “think” about retirement from the Navy. I have 20 years in now and hopefully picking up LCDR soon. I was 14 years (seniorchief) enlisted. If the SWO community keeps me then I will just have to stay in for a bit longer. I love this job!! This is my new hobby now and I will put this in my favorites for future retirement gifts. Very nice job. I see the finger joints, but do you have any info on the demensions and anything on the inside as well? Again a nice piece and congrats on your retirement!!
-- The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals, the tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.
Charles Maxwell
home | projects | blog
41 posts in 250 days
posted 238 days ago
SWODADDY:
First, congrats on your very successful Navy career and thanks for your service to country. I’ve been retired one year now and I’m taking two years to find a way to build a small business doing what I love – woodwork. I’ve built a few wooden clocks that seem to be a big hit and have potential for demand in the timber frame homes market. We’ll see how that goes! I’d be happy to share the details of my retirement box with you – always ready to help out a fellow SWO Dog. I’ll snap a few more pics and draw up the design. I’ll post the pics on my Google Picasa site and send you the link. My email is cmaxnavy@yahoo.com (also my picasa user name). Let’s stay in touch. Max
-- Max the janitor at www.hardwoodskeletonclocks.com
Blake
home | projects | blog
1874 posts in 317 days
posted 237 days ago
Beautiful work. That will be in the family for generations.
-- Dust collectors suck.
GaryK
home | projects | blog
8404 posts in 431 days
posted 237 days ago
Very nice looking box. Thank you for your service to our country!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Napaman
home | projects | blog
1600 posts in 520 days
posted 236 days ago
great box…great reason to keep it…may your retirement bring you happiness…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...177 days to sanity...
Karson
home | projects | blog
12618 posts in 843 days
posted 236 days ago
Congratulations on your retirement.
Payback is hell isn’t it. Does the navel officer know what he missed.
A great job. Hope the pictures were bigger.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
SteveV
home | projects | blog
67 posts in 542 days
posted 226 days ago
Very nice!! Not bad for a Navy guy! ;-) I would love to see more detailed pics and design sketches. I would love to make something like this for my dad. He is former Army as I am and worked as a civilian for the Army for the rest of his career making it to SES. Actually did a lot of medical research for the Navy too. So a case like this would be great!
I have seen a lot of these display cases and this really caught my eye. You seem to have a good eye for design. Hope the business works out too.
shaun
home | projects | blog
360 posts in 348 days
posted 222 days ago
Holy smokes. The detail here is fantastic, and maple from Ike’s HQ! off the charts! Congrats on your retirement, thank you for your service and this is one killer box.
-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!
Don
home | projects | blog
2586 posts in 620 days
posted 217 days ago
Uniquely American! I don’t think I’ve seen this style of box other than made for the purpose of displaying US military regalia.
You may not know this, but I just love small wooden boxes, this is a beauty!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
Dick Cain
home | projects | blog
4809 posts in 742 days
posted 213 days ago
Beautiful craftsmanship!
I’m proud of your service to our country.
I think you deserved to keep this for yourself.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Popintraining
home | projects | blog
109 posts in 281 days
posted 209 days ago
Hey Max,
I missed this box when you first posted it. It’s beautiful! I love everything about it, good luck
-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
8494 posts in 265 days
posted 209 days ago
Hi Max,
I missed this box as well. It is stunning. I really like the contrast that maple and walnut have with each other. And your carving skills are wonderful as well.
Sorry about missing it when it was first posted. But better late than never.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Andy
home | projects | blog
296 posts in 351 days
posted 209 days ago
This shows some real skill,very nicely done Max!
-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY
Brad_Nailor
home | projects | blog
697 posts in 400 days
posted 191 days ago
Wow just caught this one on the rotation. Stunning piece. I really like your design and choice of material’s. Great workmanship too. I love the whole shirt presentation in the lid…that is really well done. The Maple corner details are great. Gives the piece a box joint look. I think I will use that idea on the memorial case I am building. Congratulations on a great project and thanks for your service.
-- Women love me.....trees fear me
kevinw
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 182 days
posted 95 days ago
Very nice. Beautiful in fact. My son is in the Navy as a Nuke. If he makes it as a career and I live long enough maybe I will make him one like this when he retires! Thanks for serving our country.
-- Kevin, Blue Springs, MO