As long as we have Dusty there's no need to waste brain cells trying to be PC. He'll always beat you to the punch (with a club!).

Bump...

I'm in the market and have decided that it's easier to buy a house or a car than to select a gun safe. (somebody mentioned that earlier here)

I've looked across the recommendations and wanted to see if anyone had gone through a larger retail/big box vendor. The price disparity is considerable but is most likely due to the bulk buying of safes from the manufacturers with specifications that are different from normal production lines.

Online sales are, for the most part, out..since the shipping costs for most of the ones I have looked at are worth another 10 guns worth of storage :D

Although the fire rating is something I would consider, I think that is mitigated through firearm insurance...so the extra cost for 1 - 2 hours of fire resistance is probably a trade off where I would go with something below 1 hour (30 - 45 minutes)

Also noting how some manufacturers have the hinges exposed... that seems to be a vulnerability in my mind.

As an example of the disparity in price...an inexpensive Cannon or Winchester through Tractor Supply is close to 50% less than direct from the manufacturer...although the options on the models do not fully align. I've also found some of the big-box stores that have free shipping to the curb....(or ship to store)

Appreciate any updates on experiences or feedback from those making recent purchases.

R10

Most of the big box safes are made for the absolute lowest price point possible, and all security measures are compromised, from thinkness of steel, quality of steel, body thickness, size and number of bolts, etc., etc.

I think I would rather just hide the guns throughout the house than to leave them all in one place in a crappy metal box that a junior high dropout could open with a hammer or an axe in less than ten minutes.

Seriously, spend the money on a good quality safe, like a Fort Knox. And get the fire protection.

Buy once, cry once.

TR

Centurion by Liberty
 

I think mine ran in the $300-$500 dollar range at Gander Mountain in NewYorkistan when I was at Drum...I got them to knock a good bit off the price since it was the floor model, had some chips in paint and the shelves inside were missing (they replaced them for free). All I had to do was haggle with the manager, I think I got an hour of free gunsmithing as well :D.

It works for what I need, and kept my guns from getting stolen when my apartment was broken into...they knocked it onto it's face, so I have since bolted it to the floor. They sell floor bolting kits at Gander Mountain. I think it weighs about 200-300lbs empty.

I look at the purpose of the safe as to delay and deter a burglar from making off with my guns in a hasty manner. I have insurance for fire.

The time that it would take someone to break into a safe without damaging the guns inside would be mitigated by having a security system.

Better Safe
 

Buy the better safe that will include fire protection. This usually matches increased wall and door thickness. Exterior hinges are not a big deal, as long as the locking lugs of the door are on all sides of the door - that is FOUR sides. The hinges should play no part in the security or integrity of the safe; they just hold the door and allow it to swing open to get your RPG out.

Have a place to anchor the safe. The better safes will have the ability to mount to the floor - safe on top of rebar or bolted to the cement floor. A real cool safe will look even cooler as the thieves take it out on a hand truck.

Also consider the weight of the safe, as the heavier (with fire protection) is more difficult for a common burglar to move- see mention above concerning floor mounting.

Big Box Store - Home Depot has Cannon H4 safes at a decent price, which are small enough to place in a closet if you live in an apartment.

Tractor Supply Company has quite a bunch and in the NY NJ area, have the lowest prices. Be prepared to bring your own muscle to load it onto your pickup truck, as they only bring it outside/ curbside.

As far as NYC, move to another place and commute. All those permissions and forms about firearms ownership and spouse permission smell of 0430 health & welfare checks by the NYPD or child services.

In NYC, contact various safe and lock companies, as they come across used commercial safes when businesses close or move. We picked up an outstanding weapons safe for our NYC midtown office that was refurbished from a local locksmith at a third the price of a brand new unit. Krylon saved the day and it was anchored into a closet space, out of view.

Please take the time to watch this video before you jeopardize your money and your guns in a cheap Chinese made safe you bought from a big box store.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltK-bDbADa8

Same guy, shorter, less detailed video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qasqZXdQKpg

TR

Thats a good video, he covers a lot of good points but its still obvious he has an agenda and is pushing his preferred brands as he doesn't carry some of the other manufacturers products that have similar characteristics. None the less, it is good information in what has to be one of the most convoluted markets when it comes to doing research and comparison of the products out there.

He carries more brands and models than any other dealer I have seen bar one who is also a wholesaler in SC.

The facts he gives are correct and accurate. The door thickness claims and failure to have the body armored in relation to the door are good examples.

I have never bought from the guy in the video or visited him. I did work in a gun shop that also sold a lot of brands, and through SHOT attendance, got to meet the manufacturers and hear some of their advice.

You do not have to spend $5,000 to get a good safe. OTOH, a safe that can be popped by a kid with hand tools in less than ten minutes is really not much security either.

I have personally owned four safes and a vault from four different manufacturers. At work, I have worked with as many as 20 safes in a TS SCIF before. I have helped locksmiths open safes at home and at work.

Here are my tips:

1. Buy more safe than you think you need. One that will hold twice as many guns as you have is not bad advice, especially if they are scoped. You will run out of space before you think you will.

2. Get the thickest door steel that you can afford (not composite thickness, steel plate thickness).

3. Get a body half the thickness of the door or more, with continuous welds.

4. Get at least the double fire liner.

5. You want as many bolts and the largest diameter you can get.

6. You need a rated combination lock. Get at least an S&G or a comparable one, with the glass relockers. If you are not concerned about EMP, get an electronic lock.

7. Bolt the safe securely to the floor, and with the least outside access to the body (sides, back, top, floor) you can manage.

8. Add additional storage features, good lighting, and a dehumidifier as you can, but run the power into the safe before you bolt it down.

9. Avoid any safe made in China and look for a US made safe. Makes with a UL rating are better. If you think all you need is a steel storage cabinet, don't store anything in it you cannot afford to replace.

10. Do not store prybars, sledgehammers, cut off saws, pinch bars, or torch sets near the safe.

11. Use your alarm and security cameras, etc. to help protect your safe's contents.

12. Better to pay more for the best than to lose your guns or have to sell one to upgrade to another larger or better model.

Just my .02, YMMV.

TR

Thanks for the feedback thus far guys... T.R., nice summary.

I've come to the realization that this is a more complex effort than initially thought. I believe the concept of this being an "investment" vice a "purchase" warrants due diligence. I find it annoying that many of the write-ups and specs appear almost intentionally misleading.

The video was a help, especially having visual on the various characteristics. U.S.-made goes without saying, but even then I have found that there is that "Assembled in the USA" and "Made in the USA" nuance.

More reading and some phone calls are in the queue.

Looking forward to any others who would weigh in. Also interested in anyone who has experience with any of the lesser-known U.S. manufacturers.

I've seen a lot from Fort Knox, Rhino (certain models), AMSEC, Superior. Liberty, Patriot...acknowledging that they represent a variety of quality and features.

R10

I own a safe by "Sturdy"...love it.

Impressive line...

From a customer service perspective, I'm getting a lot of love from Patriot Safe right now.... Still pulling in research and crunching numbers. A slow process.

Small Handgun/Personal Papers Safe
 

OK, I know that this thread has A LOT of suggestions, it’s kind of mind boggling. I do have a question; I need a small handgun safe, for 1 handgun & some important paperwork. All the information I read on this tread tends to be for "larger" safes, and "cough, cough" are a bit too expensive for me. I just moved and I took my handgun w/me (someone wouldn't keep it for me in the old safe until I bought one) so I need one kind of quickly. I can't spend an arm and a leg; heck I can only spend a "hand" at this point. I looked at a Liberty Hand Gun Vault HD 300, which looks big enough for the gun & some paperwork. The small AMSEC’s are nice, but I am sure they are kind of too pricey.

So, any thoughts or opinions on smaller safes that are good quality and won’t drain my bank account? I don't want to act like a "girly-girl" but there is so much out there, and I'm not sure what would be the best for me. Oh and thanks, I’ve always valued every ones help and suggestions, as always it is very much appreciated. :o

Asking about a "small" gun safe quickly skews the conversation in a different direction.

A "small" safe doesn't exactly keep your gun "safe" if someone can pickup the safe and walk out with it. If you only have one or two pistols and one is a carry gun, then you can absolutely meet your needs with a small bedside safe. I have a variety but a Sentry or other small fire safe would serve someone well if they only had a few handguns, a will, and a pirates treasure map to lock up.

I agree with others - always buy ore than you need - but there are times when all you need is "xxx" - a huge 64 long-gun sized gun safe for a subcompact 9mm pistol MIGHT just be a bit overkill.

Agreed, If I needed a small safe, I put serious energy into the type the fits between the wall studs or embedded in the floor.

Here is one retailer's list (I have no relation to this business)

https://www.globalindustrial.com/g/s...SAAEgKg-fD_BwE

I can still bolt a small safe to the floor. I think I just need an XXX as long as it can be bolted, fire safe, have room for my "pirate map" a bottle of Grand Marnier Cuvee 1880, and one I can afford now. Buying a house kind of takes away additional funds...LOL.....

Thanks....:D

.


If you look back in this thread there are a couple of spots where "Buy more safe than you think you'll need" is brought up.

It is a truism..

Also, purchasing something that safeguards your valuables as opposed to simply providing a "to go bag" for a would-be thief is important.


R10

I can make room in my safe for that Grand Marnier....:D

We have a "small" SentrySafe S0500 (discontinued), thing weighs quite a bit for its size. You may want to check the SentrySafe line to see if there is a product that fits your needs and budget.
https://www.sentrysafe.com/safe-selector

Thanks for the suggestion on the Sentry Safes. There is a lot to consider before I make a rational decision. I will take a look at a few and do some comparisons. Much appreciated.....

LOL, and the Grand Marnier is for a special remembrance. My father would always have an Aperitif of Grand Marnier after the evening meal. I will have one tonight in his honor; it's 20 years to the day that he passed away; here's to you dad....:o

Salud!

IMHO,
Keep in mind, Locks Keep Honest People Honest.
Small and affordable = easier to just take home to pry open while watching how to videos and drinking cheap beer.
- Is keeping documents and pistol locked up more to get a "check in the box" for security? anything with a lock that makes you happy will do this.
- Or are you looking to prevent smash and grab? Get something that is big enough for your needs and make it more difficult to find and haul away. Bolt or cable to a secure object. Hide in plain sight might also help. Most criminals want to be out quickly so won't dig too deep past the obvious places. And if they can't grab and go will probably leave it.
- Fire and water protection? file folder style document safe with key lock. bolt it to the floor in an inconvenient place to access to reduce the ease of prying to remove. Knowing that bolts through the chassis may(operative word) reduce the effectiveness of fire and water ratings. These types of safes are available at big box stores and can be had for under $100.
- Easy/"quick" access for handgun needed/wanted? Generally not fire or water rated and you need them to be conveniently located typically will be easier to find. Security varies as does price.
- With all of these the location, out of sight, out of mind, can contribute greatly to security.
- I like the between wall studs safes, but they require some skills or a friend with skills to install. Then cover with a picture/hanging rug/fake treasure map(real one is in safe).

I have several smallish pistol safes with electric and key backup. I like the Hornady RFID systems for quick easy access and they come with hardware to cable connect them.
I use a file storage fire and water rated safe with a key lock for business documents. But it's large enough for several pistols, a bunch of paperwork and the Grand Marnier Cuvee 1880.

If you do a search for safe cracking you'll find a couple locking systems that you might want to steer away from. Sentry Electronic locks get a lot of bad reviews, but they may have "fixed the glitch" since that flaw was discovered and plastered all over the web. Keep in mind though, a little bit of research and a few tools and criminals will be criminals.
Good Luck!

G2