There are two trees here Thom (and Andrew) - the giant redwood 
(sequoiadendron giganteum) and the coast redwood (sequoia sempervirens) 
The first has the bark you can happily punch (though the tree may 
object) and wood that is only used for the roughest sorts of 
construction, and is not highly regarded.
The coast redwood (less massive but actually a bit taller) is highly 
regarded as a general purpose coniferous wood, and i am sure you could 
use it for thinwalled italian cases. But why bother when you are in a 
region where there is plentiful italian cypress? - at least down in the 
plain of the Rhone.
The other thing is that you do not need is that franklin product!(!) 
All the glues you need hot and cold (fish) can be had from the Kremer 
rep in Roussillon. They are called OKHRA, and their number is 04-9005 
666 9.
ffondly yours