[ak47builder]

I have out grown my first safe and looking for a second one or a very large one. Anyone info would be great. They all say the make the worlds best and I know there are some goodones. I would like to hear what some of you have ran into and may be able ro steer me clear of some bad ones. I need another 30 gun or a 100 gun safe, or some threatment for my addiction. I know what my wife thinks need.

 

[hotchkissmtrifle]

I collect safes as a hobby, have several dozen. Most of these modern gun safes are little more than a good child proof box and a marginal firebox. I don't care how good their lock is, if you can split it open with an axe on the back side its not very theif proof. The same tinny construction makes the fire liner moot because if it falls through a floor or something falls on it and spits the box open you have extra crispy guns. I know its a pain in the rear but go buy a heavy antique safe, a Mosler, a Diabold or any old heavy safes. I just had one given to me out of a church that has an inside of probably 42x36x5ft and 5 inch thick walls with 3/8 outside plate. (BIG MAMMA) This will take a hot fire for several hours and fall a couple storys without ruining your stuff. The key is you got to go get them and remove them w/o ruining the building but its worth it. If you buy a modern one put it only in the basement in a corner where nothing is likely to land on it. Hotch

 

[xdevildog]

If you have a Costco close at hand check out their safe inventory. I picked up a 27 gun made by Cannon for less than seven hundred bucks a couple of years ago. Has a crinkle finish, but all the security features of the fancy safes are there. You might check their website, too. Sometimes they have specials that include free shipping to the curb in front of your house.

 

[xdevildog]

Well, now I know how Hotch would feel about the safe in the corner of my second story den. . .

 

[TiredIron]

Gun Safes

I see a lot of used Gun Cabinets on Craig List. If it doesn't weigh at least
#3000lbs...its a gun cabinet.
TiredIron

 

[hotchkissmtrifle]

Well, now I know how Hotch would feel about the safe in the corner of my second story den. . .

If I can find it I will post a picture of a two story drop of one of these, as TiredIron so correctly stated, "gun cabinets". Better be careful with them candles xdevildog Hotch

 

[Diesel45]

Ak47 I needed a better safe just recently I need a gun safe and a safe at my Pawn shop I ended up w/2 of them one at the shop one at the house.Along the way I learned the so called gun safes did not even have a residental class B rating and the fire rating is tested by who knows???? Look for TL rating TL 15 is UL techs have blueprints and tools and 15 minutes to breech safe TL 30 they have the same tools and some extras and cannot get in in 30 min. pretty secure IMHO. So I started looking on Craigs list.Hotch is right look for a big some times older safe you will be glad you did.The two I found one was at the Pheniox zoo HUDGE 82.5 tall 42 wide 36 deep HEAVY it has a TL30 rating from UL so I feel the Gold and Cash at the shop are secure.The second is a old Data safe that has a 2 hour fire rating buy UL !! and is a HUDGE MONSTER agian located on Craigs list for 700.00 in Dallas TX it cost me about 800.00 to ship it from the fright broker I deal with it is 82.5 tall 62.5 wide 38 deep intierior is nothing I need to build to suit but thats not a bad thing I had to remove the front door and some of the frame to get it inside BIG...I love this Safe I live right on the Boarder Of Mex so Illegals kicking in my door is nothing new but now I know none will be waiting for me with my guns. The last break in was a month ago they only ate food and drank milk and water (my duaghters pop-tarts) she was pissed...Damn what they tell you on TV ya'll need to come see what the Boarder really looks like it is a joke! Best of luck in your safe hunt, Hotch was on the money I hope what I added helps.
Derek

 

[smee78]

Look at fort knox or liberty brand.

 

[2ndamndmnt]

don't know where your located, but this looks like it would do the job http://cgi.ebay.com/Very-Large-2-do...ryZ11906QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jdmcomp]

The advice about gunsafes is probably right but you do not really need the commercial safe nor can you get it upstairs in your house (or place one anywhere but on a concrete floor most likely). If you ever move to another home you have to accommodate that monster. You will need to remodel the insides of the safe also.

Fire ratings are almost always not an issue as I would never feel safe shooting a gun that had been through a serious fire nor would that be a priority to me if my house burned down. And that does not happen very often. If I ran a pawn shop I would be looking for a commercial safe but I don't. However, if you can live with a big old safe in your garage and want to keep your guns there by all means go ahead.

Check out Rhino safes ( http://www.rhinosafe.com/bh6039.htm ), available at Tractor Supply (if they operate stores near you) at a very good price. Extra thick sides and good fire rating. I find that safe makers often hide or refuse to give details about the materials used in construction of the safe. Stackon is the worst.

Think about what this safe is going to do for you and what you need. I figure it keeps the smash and grab thief at bay and the guns out of the hands of those who should not handle guns. If a thief really knows you have valuable guns and wants them he can just haul away the entire safe, after all, you hauled it in.

One last item, your homeowners insurance most likely has a $1500 dollar limit on firearms so don't count on collecting much from them.

 

[dartit]

Whatever you do, stay away from Pentagon/Sportsman Steel Safe Co. I had a horrible experience with them- customer service and their quality.

 

[jmann]

I recently added a second safe to hold some more stuff. My first one was a national security with a 1 inch thick steel plate on the door. Thats fine if the burgler tries to go through the door, but the other sides are still easy to get in.
My busines was just broken into and they got into a commercial diebold safe by sawing the top off of it, and it was a hell of a lot thicker than any gun safe made.
The second safe I just added was a mosler double door made in the 50's or 60's. Its fire rating is through the roof and it is made quite well. It is 78" tall 30"deep and 42" wide. Got it from a local safe dealer for less than a new gun safe comprable to my other one would have cost.
Seriously though a safe of any kind needs to be your last line of defense. mine sit in a room with 12" thick steel reinforced concrete walls, ceiling, and floor. A steel fire door with commercial lockset and 2 2000 lb locknetics magnetic locks holds the door shut and it is monitored by a real alarm (not adt) with a cellular backup incase the phone lines are cut. It also doubles as a storm room which is where my family and I spent some quality time about midnight on tuesday.

 

[dogbone]

jmann,

you must be in the Trousdale/Macon co. area. You guys got hit pretty hard, hope you came out ok. Got some friends up there, they were lucky, most of them. I'm in Wilson co., watched the gas fire from by back porch, amazing sight.

We built this house about 2 years ago and made sure to include a storm room in the basement that's 90% underground with steel reinforced concrete ceiling and walls. Hope we don't have another night like that one, ever.

 

[hotchkissmtrifle]

The advice about gunsafes is probably right but you do not really need the commercial safe nor can you get it upstairs in your house (or place one anywhere but on a concrete floor most likely). If you ever move to another home you have to accommodate that monster. You will need to remodel the insides of the safe also.

I am not trying to start a fight with you but I have taken a good many safes out and put into houses with wood floors. I usually put one and sometimes two or three layers of 3/4 inch plywood down and roll them on it to keep from falling through the floor. When at all possible I take out a window and take or put in the safes of 2nd and 3rd story floors that way, most areas have rental companys that can get you the machinery pretty cheap. If you buy or build a new house by all means build around your gun room or safes. I got a really nice walk in bank door safe with time lock I am saving for the next time I pour concrete. I certianly know many more poeple who have lost their homes to fire than have had all their guns stolen. I look at safes like hand guns, if someone is breaking in you house at 3am are you going to pick up the .22 or the .45? I think overkill is always best HOtch

 

[Rory]

the stack on cigarette proof gun cabinets are great for what they are. to the unskilled, they are over the top. they look far heavier than they are. i have 2 safes. if i had a larger one it would have absolutely not fit down the stairs. this one took some crisco to get it down. to rest of the room will be built around it to hide the sides and back from easier penetration but really they are more for show. most will look at them and think that their mischievous thoughts are a pipe dream.


r

 

[TbcSEOD]

I see a lot of used Gun Cabinets on Craig List. If it doesn't weigh at least
#3000lbs...its a gun cabinet.
TiredIron

Bought my 3rd one from a local craiglister - 6 foot tall, 3.5 foot deep, 5 foot wide and weighs in at 1700 lbs - cost me a whopping 300 bucks.

~T

 

[rugman59]

Just a quick reminder to folks building around their stuff and bolting to the walls and floors.A few sticks of rebar in the studs goes a long way against a chainsaw.I have a wealth of info on deterrents when using concrete but they are illegal and immoral.Sticky and smelly too!

 

[Diesel45]

Guys when you do pour concrete diamond tipped saw blades will cut through it like butter or hole saws w/ diamond tips but if you put just a small amount of wood in your form it will clog the diamond bit and it has to be dug out buy hand buying you time I learned this from a man who saws concrete for a living. Very cheap too.

 

[jdmcomp]

hotchkissmtrifle, I agree that any safe can be put anywhere you have money to put it with. And I also agree that fires do occur. My point is simply that the risk involved is usually not high enough to warrant use of a commercial (and over 1,000 lb) safe. There are exceptions, such as high end collectors or anyone who builds in high risk areas, such as California hills. It is really a matter of risk assessment and assigning appropriate resources based on the assessment. Gross overkill is not appropriate. There are many fine residential gun safes that provide more then adequate security from both fire and theft for the majority of gun owners. They just have to be researched.

 

[carbineSC]

some experience

I have a Liberty 34 (not a realistic number when you include 1919's) gun safe and have been most pleased with it. My home was burglarized 3 times in less than 2 weeks (Aug- Sept 2006) and they did a lot of damage to my safe but didnt get in. The combination dial was sheared off completely, the lock control handles were bent and one broke off. They tried pounding the door open with a hammer and tried to pry it open with a crow bar but got no where. The cool thing was that Liberty replaced it free of charge except the cost of delivery. The dealers I bought it from traded the delivery and locksmithing for the old safe. I was happy. This was a case of local lowlife gangbanger type "democrats" with even less than the famous SC public education but I still got my guns and a new safe. And I got to speak at one punks plea bargain hearing, putting a stop to him getting a reduced sentence to a reduced charge. LAWYERS SUCK!