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