Frequently Asked Questions
Section A - Gun Case Locks & TSA Travel
How do I declare a firearm at the airport?
Under 49 CFR §1540.111, you must declare any firearm - including handguns, rifles, and shotguns - to the airline at check-in. Tell the counter agent you are checking a firearm. They will ask you to verify the firearm is unloaded and will provide a declaration tag to place inside the locked case (not on the outside). The agent then processes the case as oversized or specialty checked baggage depending on the airline. You keep the key - TSA does not hold it. Do not place firearms in carry-on baggage; they must travel as checked baggage only.
What locks are TSA-approved for gun cases?
A common misconception: TSA does not have an "approved" list for gun case locks the way they do for luggage locks. Luggage locks use a TSA master key system - gun case locks do not and must not. Federal law (49 CFR §1540.111) requires that only the passenger - not TSA - may hold the key to a locked firearm case. Any padlock or keyed lock that the passenger controls qualifies. The Cedar Mill MonoShaft™ Gun Case Lock is a keyed lock designed specifically for this application: the passenger holds the key, and TSA cannot and should not open the case without your presence.
Can I use a combination lock instead of a keyed lock?
Yes. The regulation requires that the firearm container be locked - it does not specify keyed versus combination. A combination lock that only the passenger knows the combination to satisfies the requirement. Cedar Mill Fine Firearms offers the TSA-Approved 3-Digit Combination Zipper Luggage Lock ($14.95) for travelers who prefer combination locks. For gun cases with locking lugs (as opposed to zipper cases), the Cedar Mill MonoShaft™ keyed lock is the purpose-built solution. Zipper-based gun cases are uncommon for air travel; most airline-accepted gun cases use lug-style locks.
What is the MonoShaft™ design and why does it matter?
The MonoShaft™ is our proprietary lock body design that eliminates the U-shackle found on conventional padlocks. A standard padlock uses a curved metal bar (the shackle) that loops out from the body - this bar can be cut with bolt cutters in seconds. The MonoShaft™ replaces that exposed loop with a single integrated shaft that inserts directly into the gun case's lock lug. There is no external bar to cut. This design directly addresses the most common attack point on conventional gun case locks. It also makes the lock faster to operate: the shaft drops straight in with no shackle to orient, and releases clean with no catching.
How many locks do I need per gun case?
Most hard-sided airline gun cases have two lock lug points, and most airlines require all lock points to be secured. United, Delta, and American each require the case to be fully locked - which in practice means two locks for a standard dual-lug case. Some cases have four lock points and require four locks. The Cedar Mill MonoShaft™ 2-pack ($29.99) covers the minimum requirement for most cases. The 4-pack ($44.95) covers a four-lug case or two dual-lug cases. If you are unsure how many lock points your case has, count the lug holes on the exterior of the case when the latches are in the open position.
Section B - Guitar Rifle Case
What rifles fit in the guitar case?
The Cedar Mill Discreet Concealment Guitar Rifle Case fits standard AR-15 and AK-pattern carbines, bolt-action rifles, and suppressor-equipped rifles. NFA-registered short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) transport legally the same as any registered firearm under 49 CFR §1540.111 - this case meets the hard-sided lockable requirement for those configurations. Interior dimensions are 42 inches long × 13 inches wide × 17 inches deep. This accommodates most standard carbine-length AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles with fixed or folding stocks collapsed. Rifles with extended suppressors should be measured against the 42-inch interior length before purchasing.
Is the guitar case TSA-approved for air travel?
The guitar case is hard-sided and lockable - the two requirements for checked baggage firearm transport under 49 CFR §1540.111. The exterior appearance (guitar silhouette) does not affect TSA compliance; the regulation cares about construction (hard-sided) and security (lockable), not the case's visual design. When you declare the firearm at the airline counter, the agent will verify the case is locked and hard-sided - both of which this case satisfies. The firearm travels as checked baggage only; this case is not carry-on compatible by regulation.
How does the discreet design work in apartment buildings?
The guitar case exterior presents as a musical instrument case to any observer - neighbors, building staff, delivery personnel, or anyone who sees you carrying it through a lobby, hallway, or parking area. There is no visual signal that you are carrying a firearm. This applies the Grey Man principle: the case blends into the environment by presenting an object that belongs there. A guitar in an apartment building is unremarkable. A rifle case in the same context draws immediate attention. The firearm inside is legal, unloaded, and secured - the discretion is visual, not regulatory.
What is the interior foam configuration?
The case ships with pick-and-pluck foam installed. Pick-and-pluck foam allows you to remove foam segments in any configuration to fit your specific rifle, optic, suppressor, and accessories without cutting tools. The foam fills the full interior cavity (42" × 13" × 17") and can be customized to your exact loadout.
Section C - Tactical Tape
What surfaces does the tape stick to?
Cedar Mill Tactical Tape has a gooey adhesive that sticks on contact and bonds to polymer, aluminum, and steel surfaces commonly found on rifles and magazines. This includes polymer magazine bodies (PMAG and similar), aluminum magazine bodies, Picatinny rail sections (aluminum), rifle handguards (polymer or aluminum free-float), and barrel profiles. The tape is designed for use on firearms accessories and holds through temperature variation and handling. For best adhesion, apply to clean, dry surfaces free of oil or solvent.
Will it damage my Picatinny rail finish?
The tape leaves no residue on anodized aluminum Picatinny rails or any firearm surface. The adhesive is designed to bond cleanly and remove cleanly - no sticky film, no finish damage. The tape is intended as semi-permanent: it stays in place through extended use and temperature cycling, but can be removed and repositioned without surface damage.
What colors are available?
Cedar Mill Tactical Tape is currently available in Black. All three variants - 2-Pack, 4-Pack, and Super Sticky - are Black. Black is the most practical color for firearm applications: it matches the finish of most rifles and magazines and does not create a visible signature in the field.
How do I use it for magazine identification?
Select a distinct tape color for each caliber or magazine type you want to identify. Apply a band of tape around the base of every magazine of that type - typically around the lower third of the magazine body, avoiding the feed lips and follower area. Apply consistently to every magazine in that category. A single color per caliber (e.g., red = .300 Blackout, no tape = 5.56) provides a fast visual check before loading. Apply with the tape's full 1-inch width for maximum visibility, or use narrower partial-width strips for more subtle identification. One roll (21.87 yards) marks a large magazine inventory in a single session.
How do I wrap a Picatinny forend rail?
Clean the rail section with a dry cloth to remove oil and debris. Starting at one end of the section you want to cover, press the tape end firmly onto the rail surface and begin wrapping, overlapping each pass by approximately 25–30% for durability. The tape stretches as you apply it - maintain light tension to keep the wrap tight against the rail surface. Continue until the desired section is covered. For a single-layer application over sharp rail serrations, two to three overlapping passes provide enough thickness to cushion the support hand during extended firing sessions. Tear by hand to finish. No scissors or tools required.