The Care and Feeding of Your New Plaque

I get lots of comments, compliments, and questions when a customer receives their first display plaque.  How should I mount this to the wall?  My plaque is getting dusty. What do I

clean it with?  And my least favorite question … What if my gun falls off the plaque and fires?

Last question first… No, No, NO!  Do not EVER hang a loaded firearm on one of these display plaques!  That may seem like a ridiculous question.  Stupid even.  But let’s face it, it takes all kinds to make the world go round.  And some of them own guns!  Common sense should

dictate basic firearm safety.  It’s not just that it could fall and discharge.  Someone unaware could remove it from the plaque and not realize it was loaded.  A million deadly scenarios can be dreamed up.  So, just don’t!

Loaded or not, you do not want your precious pistol (or rifle) to fall to the floor.  The first step to preventing this is to mount the plaque to the wall securely.  Free-standing models just place them somewhere safely, preferably out of reach of curious hands. 

Wall mounting

Along with your wall-mounted display plaque, I provide wall anchors and sawtooth picture hangers.  The wall anchors are rated at 35 pounds each, and I have never heard of one

coming loose.  Still, some customers opt for screwing directly into wall studs.  That’s a great

idea except that these plaques are 16 inches wide, so it’s not possible to hit two wall studs in most cases.  I have used dozens of these anchors and never had one come loose.  Just drill a 1/4” hole, tap the anchor in, and the screw will expand it when inserted.  Not coming loose.  No way.

The sawtooth picture hangers are screwed to the back of the plaque with 3/8” screws.

Again, I have used dozens of these and never had a problem.  Still, there are always possibilities, such as a slamming door rattling the wall and countless other scenarios.  Some customers opt for actually drilling holes through the plaque (hidden behind the gun) and

screwing directly into the anchors or studs.  I cringe at the thought of drilling a hole through a plaque, but if it’s invisible, it is the most secure method and definitely will never fall off.

There is one other possible way for a gun to fall off a plane.  If a peg comes loose, it will drop the gun.  Let me say first of all that this is very rare.  In nearly 900 plaques (over 1800

pegs), this has happened 3 times to my knowledge.  All 3 times were after years of hanging

and with especially heavy guns resting on them.  Still, that is 3 times too many.  Today, when a heavy gun is to be displayed, I take steps to reinforce the pegs.  However, I highly

recommend occasional inspection.  Perhaps whenever you clean the display.  If you notice

any problems, contact me immediately so we can fix the problem before catastrophic failure occurs. 

One other thing I will mention is that some customers are concerned that the pistol could fall off the pegs.  Again, I have never heard of this happening, but if you are not

comfortable, don’t do it.  Customers have devised various methods for securing the firearm to the plaque.  From zip-ties to wire to fishing line.  I have never done this myself, but if I

were to, I would go with a fishing line called Spider Wire.  It is super thin, nearly invisible, and unbreakable.

Periodic inspection and cleaning

As with any home furnishing,  your display plaque will get dusty.  Since your gun is not stored in a climate-controlled environment like a gun safe, it too will be subject to the

elements.  Remove the gun and clean it.  Inspect it for any signs of rust or corrosion and take steps to address it.  Make sure to inspect the bore also.  The plaque itself should be pretty carefree, but remove it from the wall or shelf.  Inspect the pegs, wall hangers, and back rests.

Remove the dust with a slightly damp cloth.  Do NOT use any kind of chemicals.  The finish is acrylic, and while extremely durable once cured, harsh cleaners could damage the surface.

Perhaps the comment I receive most is after a customer receives his/her first plaque in the mail.  They say, your pictures don’t do the plaques justice.  Many times, a customer will order one plaque and, after they receive it, order more.  Testing the waters, I guess.  I have worn

many hats during my years in the workforce, but photographer was not one of them.  I have even taken advice from actual photographers, but I can not get the pictures to look as good

as the plaque in real life.  Order one.  Try it out.  If you are not happy with it, let me know, and as long as it’s not damaged or altered in any way, I will buy it back.

Your purchase of a display plaque is an investment in home furnishing/décor.  With a little care, it will last you for many years and could be a hand-me-down for a family heirloom.  Buy with confidence that I stand behind every display I build.  I’m a firm believer in customer satisfaction and always go the extra mile for a customer’s smile.