Pen & Pen boxes

[bmac]

I have been working on these for a very good friend of mine. His father passed away in November. As his Father was an Army veteran he was given a gun salute. My friend asked if I could make him and his brother a pen out of the spent cartridges. This is what I came up with. His Father was a life long Texan so I wanted to use a native Texas wood, mesquite.

I had their Fathers name and his birth and death dates laser engraved in the pen and in the top of the box I inlayed a Texas concho.

Bobby
Louisiana

 

[wdcav1952]

Bobby,

Excellent work and a beautiful sentiment. Obviously you created a family heirloom!

 

[twoofakind]

That is a wonderful tribute. I'm sure they will be very pleased.
Andy

 

[Woodlvr]

Great work. I had forgotten about the rounds from my fathers 21 gun salute at his funeral, guess that I could make pens out of them for his grandsons, as I am an only child. I hope you dont mind my using your great idea?

Mike

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

Originally posted by wdcav1952
<br />Bobby,

Excellent work and a beautiful sentiment. Obviously you created a family heirloom!

Agree on both, the family must be very gratified with your though process in the making of this fine remembrance.

 

[bob393]

Bravo, well done!

 

[OSCAR15]

Beautiful work...Something to treasure for generations....

 

[reef12]

nice workmanship and good theme.

I bet the family is happy in a sad way

 

[guts]

Bobby,outstanding tribute to one of our Vets,very well done.

 

[TBone]

Excellent work, they will be treasured

 

[Kemosabe62]

Wonderful work. If I may ask, how was the building of the pen box done? I sometimes will want to build a box similar to that of yours, of the same woods that my pens are made of. I see a glue line on the inside of the box, but can't imagine the reason for it, as I don't see the same line on the outside of the box. Also you've hidden the hinge plates (for lack of the correct word), again, how'd you do this.

 

[NavyDiver]

That's really great! I'm sure they will love it.

 

[bmac]

Thanks for the comments fellows, they are appreciated.

Anthony, the pen boxes presented the greatest challenge. While they came out OK, they had to be modified at the last minute. I started out trying to make it using the small barrel hinges and forty-fiving the edge. But I never could get the lid to open properly. I had never made a box using those type of hinges and I wasn't 100% sure how much 45 I needed. Anyway, I ended up cutting out the 45 and glueing in a filler as I did not want to waste the work I had already done. I tried to match the grain as best as I could. Also you are correct about hiding the hinges. I recessed the plate of the hinge enough that I could glue a thin piece of mesquite over it, again trying to match the grain as close as possible, and sand it smooth.

Bobby
Louisiana