3/16" oak ply inlaid in a frame cut from 1X3 (nominal) poplar, routed to fit. Brass hardware, leather bumper straps attached with copper tacks. The corners are glued and dowelled. I highly recommend a 90deg. clamp for this operation. The ply top and bottom are glued and screwed with brass screws.
Handles slotted to lay flat when not in use.
interior padding cut from dense foam mat designed for work station floor mat and a couple pieces of thin styrofoam house wrap where the thick parts of the wood are, glued with contact cement and covered in fabric.
The box is 36" long, 7.5 wide, 2.5" thick, to accomodate the 16.25" marlin.
The project didn't cost a whole lot, and could have been done for less if steel hardware was used.
I think of doing something like that, them immediately realize the talent doesn't co-exist w/the desire! 
nice work 
