Just made the final decision to do it last week. Want to acquire as many of the tools as I can before beginning constructing the chest. So far I've been more successful that I had initially hoped. About half of the tools will be findable, about 1/4 I'll make myself, (such as the set of 4 ebony & brass marking gauges, the rosewood handled brad awls, the matching chisel handles, and the brass-bound mallet). And the last 1/4 of the tools will be very difficult. That Stanley #1 plane never sells for less than $1500 when you find one. I expect the ebony and brass bow drill and the ebony handled Archimedian screwdriver to be a real pain. The combination lock mortised into the case side could be impossible, but I have a thread to follow thanks to some lock experts on another message board. I also have a vise collector who may be willing to part with his Prentiss 2" Machinists & Jeweler's vise. (fingers crossed)
So - I anticipate beginning the fabrication of the case itself in a year or two, and spending one very long time fitting the tools in their ebony with mother-of-pearl inlaid cradles. It will be a very long project, but I'm fond of saying a woodworker must exercise his patience as diligently as he sharpens his tools.
-Nick
