How do I mount my knives in a Display Case?

Laredo7mm

Laredo7mm

Joined
Jul 8, 2002
Messages
1,240
Hey all, I was hoping you could help me figure out a good way to mount some knives in a display case. I promised back in January, that I would have a display case full of knives finished by summer for a local restaurant owner. Well, I have the knives done (thanks to my future wife letting me put hers in the case) except for the letter opener I want to make for the owner as a thank you gift.

So what I have is a Persian/Turkish twist dagger, the Cable Jade Fighter, a single twist letter opener with stone handle, and the Bama Special all ready to go in the case. The case is meant to be set on a table top not hung from a wall, but that is not a big deal. I bought some rope lighting to put on the inside of the case which will hopefully be enough to show the knives well.

My biggest problem is trying to decide on how to mount the knives in the case. I also want to put a small write up about Damascus in the case so people understand what they are looking at and they would know how to contact me if they were interested. Here are the few ways I have come up with on how to mount the knives in the case:

1. Dowels and fishing line
2. Insert a piece of fabric covered sheet metal in the bottom of the case and use rare earth magnets to hold the knives.
3. Velcro
4. Brass Hooks

The case is 18 x 24 and about 6 inches deep with brass hinges and a lock. The restaurant is really nice so I want to get the case to be as professional looking as possible. I would like the mounting system to be versatile so I have the ability change knives around. Also, should I put the descriptive write up in there or just make business cards available so people can contact me to find out more information?

Any help/insight you can give will be greatly appreciated.

TIA
 
One thing to think of...
Me being a cynical bastid, you should make sure that this case is theft proof too. I hate to think of the anguish you would feel it someone broke in and stole your hard work.
Mongo
 
I kinda like your idea of the magnets under fabric. That would be a fairly clean and classy presentation, and could be made fairly versitle with a series of holes and magnets too.
Concerning the cards, I would maybe have a card box on the outside of the case, and front and back of card displayed inside the case, in so when cards were gone someone could still write down the needed info.
Sounds like a good place for such, and could possibly bring the right clientele.
 
I think I'd try (OK, make that find someone who can...) sew them in with fishing line. Just a loop across the knife here and there, close enough together to make it secure. That way there is nothing to obstuct the view of the knives.

That or make wooden dividers so its kind of like a shadow box, has individual compartments to fit each knife. That could kind of obstruct the view if your looking from an angle depending on how deep the knives sit in the box.
 
Laredo7mm...

I wish someone would post a photo of something like you are looking to make, for I too would love to make such a display.

Is there any sunshine striking the display case?..that could effect the information card you talked about. I had a brochure in a store's main display case one time. I went by the store about a month later and noticed that my brochure had faded and was shriveled due to the humidity.

I like your idea of magnets, that would hold things in the right position when the display case is moved around.
 
DaQo'tah-

Here is where I got mine. It is a very nice case, I was suprised when I got it. It is definitely heavy and not too bad of a price.

Display Case

I am still trying to decide if I want to go to the expense of buying the magnets and stuff. It would probably be the best way, but I am leaning toward using thos little brass screw in hooks and then suspending the knives from them with fishing line.

I will post a pic when I get her done.
 
I woud go with tie-wraps. The clear ones if you can find them.

n2s
 
Laredo7mm...

I saw your display case you linked to,,,

in your post you talk about the fact that the case is not ment to hang on the wall, but I take it that you will be putting it on the wall correct?



I have been very interested in doing something like this as well to a few of my blades that I will give away as a christmas gift to my brother.

I saw a similar display case in a local store here in town, but I would need to stain it. I was thinking of haveing it set up so it could be mounted on the wall with the glass lid opening up as if it were a door. I was thinking of placeing these magnets under fabric to hold the 2 or 3 knives in place.

The look Im shooting for is one where my brother can't figure out how the knives stay suspended in mid-air inside the case. also I know my brother will want to unlock the display case from time to time to show off my knives to his Father-in-law, and so I didnt want him struggling with wires and or fishing line....Just open the case and pull the knife away from the case, and when he is done looking at it, just open the case and place the knife back against the back wall where it will just hang without any visible restraints...
 
Well I decided to go with the magnets. Got some of of eBay today. What the heck, it was the right way to go. Now I need to get a piece of sheet metal, cut it to press fit in the bottom of the case and then cover that with satin or velvit.

The Rare Earth magnets I got are 3/4 diameter by 3/4 high cyliners. They should be plenty strong to hold the knives and also alow them to be removed like DaQo'tah said.

So before long, she should be haning in its new home.
 
Now you got to post a few photos so we can learn from your attempt at this project!

whats the tin for?

How do you think you will secure the display box to the wall?

I just dont think I can use any stuff sold to hang paintings with due to the way I expect the display case to want to get pulled off the hooks when my brother pulls a blade away from one of the mounting magnets...

Perhaps I need to actually convince my brother that he will be better off screwing it into a wall stud?

I too have been thinking of a light rope to illuminate the interior of my future display box, however the thought of an ugly extension cord hanging down...well...thats not part of the look I'm going for.

I hope to make a display case that has the 2 or 3 knives standing away from what appears to be the background, as if the knives were hovering in mid-air. I want a bit of depth behind the blade so I will need to somehow hide the matching fabric covered magnets...

Man, I wish I could see a photo of this already done, so I would have a clue how to do it...LOL
 
I am using the tin to allow me to put the magnets anywhere I want. That way the magnet will be sticking the magnet to the fabric covered tin and then the blade to the magnet.

Yeah, it is going to be hanging on the wall. I am going to get some brass eyelets that I can screw into the top of the case and the owner will have to hit studs to hold this guy up. It is going to be stout especially after adding the sheet metal and knives.

I haven't figured out a way to hide the cord for the rope lights, but the cord is white and so is the wall it is going on, so hopefully it won't be to ugly.

My blades should have that "levitating" effect too. It should look knida cool.
 
I would say same thing about light fading the cards. there are laminations specifically for this, though I am sory to admit I don't remember where I"ve seen them. Search Archival and lamination. Or something along those lines. You'd be looking for something that blocks UV rays, is still clear as possible, and doesn't catch too much glare(and hard as a diamond and free. ok, that's just what you can wish for. ;)
 
Here is a picture of the completed case, with rope lighting, and rare earth magnets holding up the knives. Let me know what you think.

display2.jpg
 
looks great!

say,,,as I see you have a very interesting knife top center,,,with the green handle.

could you tell me about it?
 
DaQo'tah-

Instead of posting pictures here, check out my little HTML I put together a couple months ago. It will give more info on all the knives in the case. If you still need more info, let me know, I will be more than happy to answer them.

Thanks for the reply.


My Stuff
 
I think that I'll need to see it in person before I make a final decision. My mailing address is ...:D. That looks pretty cool. I hope you have some good luck drumming up business.
 
Hi I was going to post this to the open forum,,,but when I clicked onto your site and looked at the blades, then read the text, I knew I was dealing with the right guy to ask this question...

"Power Hammer?..where do I get a Power hammer?"
 
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