goody154 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 This is a little off topic, but I came across a Swetnam shotgun case, which I have been told was an FBI case that was used to hold the Remington 31 shotgun. In order to fit the shotgun, the barrel had to be removed and it was stored along side the shotgun. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture. The shells were held by metal clips. I have read that Swetnam made some of the original FBI Thompson cases, but can't find any info on any shotgun cases. Any help/information/history would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 This is a little off topic, but I came across a Swetnam shotgun case, which I have been told was an FBI case that was used to hold the Remington 31 shotgun. In order to fit the shotgun, the barrel had to be removed and it was stored along side the shotgun. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture. The shells were held by metal clips. I have read that Swetnam made some of the original FBI Thompson cases, but can't find any info on any shotgun cases. Any help/information/history would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! goody154, I have a Remington 31 shotgun, if it helps for any measurements involving the Swetnam case. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goody154 Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks for the help. The 31 riot/police 12 ga. will fit it perfectly. Should have included that info. Just wanting to if anyone out there had any info on these particular cases (types, years used, history, value, etc.). Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 goody154, Tracie Hill saw your post, and thought you might be interested in the picture below, which shows a shotgun case such as you describe, along with some other cases. http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/ShotgunCase.jpg David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 goody154, Tracie Hill saw your post, and thought you might be interested in the picture below, which shows a shotgun case such as you describe, along with some other cases. http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/MGBoards/ShotgunCase.jpg David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com David, Thanks to you and Tracie for sharing. I don't have a model 31, but if Bob starts to reproduce these cases, I may have to add one to my collection. What a cool case!! - Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Ron, In looking at the picture further, I'm not certain it is a Model 31 in the case. It's kind of hard to tell from the angle. It looks like it might be a semi-auto, possibly a Model 11. The one on the table in front of the case looks like a Model 31. My Model 31 is a family gun that I inherited from my grandfather. I've always enjoyed shooting it, as it has a really smooth action, but I need to replace the buttplate...it's turned hard as a rock from age. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inertord Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 I believe that you are correct on the shotgun in the case being a Model 11. Also the Federal Laboratories 37MM Gas Gun is of early manufacture (Mid 1930's), as it does not have a sight on the receiver for "Long Range Projectiles". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goody154 Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Thanks for the pic! That looks similar to the case. I have seen two. One requires you to remove the barrel, and the other will fit the shotgun without breaking it down. I believe the FBI started using the 31 in 1938 or 1939, followed by the 870 a decade or so later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Ron, In looking at the picture further, I'm not certain it is a Model 31 in the case. It's kind of hard to tell from the angle. It looks like it might be a semi-auto, possibly a Model 11. The one on the table in front of the case looks like a Model 31. My Model 31 is a family gun that I inherited from my grandfather. I've always enjoyed shooting it, as it has a really smooth action, but I need to replace the buttplate...it's turned hard as a rock from age. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com David, I think you are right. I saw the pump action on the table and did not look too closely at the gun in the case. Plus I was drowning my sorrows in our pitiful Red Wings last night!! (Oh well, there's always game 7 at home now). If I happen to come across a nice buttplate, I'll let you know. - Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
October1971 Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Ron, In looking at the picture further, I'm not certain it is a Model 31 in the case. It's kind of hard to tell from the angle. It looks like it might be a semi-auto, possibly a Model 11. The one on the table in front of the case looks like a Model 31. My Model 31 is a family gun that I inherited from my grandfather. I've always enjoyed shooting it, as it has a really smooth action, but I need to replace the buttplate...it's turned hard as a rock from age. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com David, I think you are right. I saw the pump action on the table and did not look too closely at the gun in the case. Plus I was drowning my sorrows in our pitiful Red Wings last night!! (Oh well, there's always game 7 at home now). If I happen to come across a nice buttplate, I'll let you know. - Ron I had a retired FBI agent trade me a shotgun hard case and I already owned another similar one. One of them has been modified to hold the Winchester 1907 .351 caliber and had several small compartments placed in it to hold the detachable .351 caliber mags. He also told me they sometimes carried the Remington 870 shotguns in the cases modified for same. Some day somebody will probably do a book just on law enforcement hard cases. It would be a fascinating reference on these most necessary accessories to the tools used by the good guys. Bill Douglas Executive Director National Armed Services & Law Enforcement Memorial Museum www.naslemm.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aut-ord-co Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 I thought that I would post a few pictures of a Swetnam shotgun case that I recently acquired. It looks similar to the one pictured in the photo (supplied by Tracie Hill) that David posted earlier. The top lid on the one that I have doesn’t have all of the cleaning rods, kit, shells, etc. that the pictured one has. It has nothing in the top lid at all but, simply, has 20 bored holes in a narrow wooden block fitted in the bottom of the case that hold a box of shells. The case seems to be in rather excellent shape. There is tiny bit of rust if you look closely in a few areas around the hinges. The leather handle ends are somewhat worn as the metal on each side is evident. But it still seems to be quite strong to carry the case since it goes all the way through as one piece. The look and build quality of the case overall seem similar to the Swetnam Thompson case that I have. The gentleman that I purchased it from said that it held a Winchester Model 12. I have a Winchester Model 97 riot gun (Model 12 fore end) that is pictured. It fits fine lengthwise but doesn’t quite fit the two fitment blocks. I don’t have a Model 12 to test. Could be the drop is slightly different. But it will still work for display purposes. The C. O. Swetnam label attached to the top lid looks to be an embossed piece of light metal. This is in contrast to the Swetnam decals that are placed in the Thompson cases. Vintage paper shotshells generously supplied by Chuck Klein. http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q125/rw50/SW1.jpg http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q125/rw50/SW2.jpg http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q125/rw50/SW3.jpg http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q125/rw50/SW4.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Bill, I like the Swetnam shotgun case a lot! I also like the Model 97 in it. Thanks for posting the pictures. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 The C. O. Swetnam label attached to the top lid looks to be an embossed piece of light metal. This is in contrast to the Swetnam decals that are placed in the Thompson cases. Reproduction... http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/mbsennett1/Picture907.jpg Real(?)... http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/mbsennett1/2enp89k.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aut-ord-co Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 David, I purchased the Model 97 from Roger Cox while waiting for my Form 4 back in 1979. If I recall, the gun came from the Nassau County, NY prison system. Bargain priced, even then, at $115. All, Apologies for perpetuating this slightly off topic thread. The Swetnam case tie-in I thought was worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 David, I purchased the Model 97 from Roger Cox while waiting for my Form 4 back in 1979. If I recall, the gun came from the Nassau County, NY prison system. Bargain priced, even then, at $115. All, Apologies for perpetuating this slightly off topic thread. The Swetnam case tie-in I thought was worth it. Bill, Nice provenance! I like the property tag on it. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brick Davis Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 I thought that I would post a few pictures of a Swetnam shotgun case that I recently acquired. It looks similar to the one pictured in the photo (supplied by Tracie Hill) that David posted earlier. The top lid on the one that I have doesn’t have all of the cleaning rods, kit, shells, etc. that the pictured one has. It has nothing in the top lid at all but, simply, has 20 bored holes in a narrow wooden block fitted in the bottom of the case that hold a box of shells. The case seems to be in rather excellent shape. There is tiny bit of rust if you look closely in a few areas around the hinges. The leather handle ends are somewhat worn as the metal on each side is evident. But it still seems to be quite strong to carry the case since it goes all the way through as one piece. The look and build quality of the case overall seem similar to the Swetnam Thompson case that I have. The gentleman that I purchased it from said that it held a Winchester Model 12. I have a Winchester Model 97 riot gun (Model 12 fore end) that is pictured. It fits fine lengthwise but doesn’t quite fit the two fitment blocks. I don’t have a Model 12 to test. Could be the drop is slightly different. But it will still work for display purposes. The C. O. Swetnam label attached to the top lid looks to be an embossed piece of light metal. This is in contrast to the Swetnam decals that are placed in the Thompson cases. Vintage paper shotshells generously supplied by Chuck Klein. aut-ord-co, That's a very beautiful case. I don't suppose I could get the dimensions of the case and of the wooden shell-holder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Sergeant Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 David, My Navy came from Nassau County PD and has a similar metal tag on it's butt stock. Again "off topic" sorry. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcrowhunter Posted June 4, 2018 Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 Anyone notice the resemblance of the Swetnam decals and the ones on Gordon's spare parts box container? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jl7422 Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Any idea what an original decent condition Swetnam FBI-style shotgun case is worth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Chopper Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Last one I bought,"Swetnam" style, several years ago cost me around $350. If memory serves me right. Haven't seen one in a long while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aut-ord-co Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 There are a couple of different styles of these shotgun cases and some are less often seen. Condition is always in the eye of the beholder. I would say $600 - $1000+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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