Gun Safe Questions ???

[GN ERGY]

Those of you who own a gun or regular safe. What kind do you have and why did you buy that particular brand? Any problems with it or know of any friends that had any good or bad experiences with safes. Anybody ever try to break into your safe, did they "F" it all up or did they get inside? I'm looking to buy a safe and am looking at this www.Pentagonsafes.com They offer a 1/4 inch body option for an extra $200.
I asked the salesman when somebody tries to break into a safe what do they do, he said they dont mess with the lock cause it takes too long. He said they usually take a sledge hammer to the corner and try to split it where it is welded together. He said their safes are bent into shape and not just welded pieces. And they have extra steel welded around the doors so they are stronger in that area.
So lets hear what you have to say, thanks.
Tarey D.

 

[EMcNeice]

Check out www.fsguns.com There out of Woburn, MA, not sure if they ship stuff but they only sell high quality stuff. I bought my Sig Sauer there and i was very impressed with their service. You could always email or call and they can make a reccomendation.

 

[Gary Wells]

I bought a National Safe and Security safe years ago and I am quite happy with it. I think that there a lot of scams going on in the safe industry. Just like anything else, I would not buy sight unseen, regardless of the promises. Generally, I have found that the gun shows that go on through out the country are a good place to learn some of the ins and outs regarding safes. I have always heard that the backs of most safes are not as thick nor as sturdy as the sides and fronts of the safes. I have also heard in general that the back of the safe is where entry is generally gained via a cutting torch. I have never had a problem with mine. I did buy mine at a gun show after reviewing every safe that I could find for a couple of months, and got free delivery and set up on a 650 lb empty safe after all of the wheeling and dealing was done. If you don't belong to any gun forums, this would be a good reason to join a few and see what they have to say.
Good luck on whatever brand that you choose to buy. I wpuld definitely look around a lot before I make any offers, or accept any offers/contracts. Most safes are made locally to avoid a lot of shipping charges. FWIW & IMHO: Nobody would try to sledgehammer the corner of anything but the smallest safes to try and gain entry, whether it be welded or not. Torch the rear, sledgehammer/drill the lock, or steal it and break it open later.
That would be my guess. Gun forums have a lot of good law enforcement personnel that would be experts on this question.

 

[tom h]

I ended up using a heavy-duty job site chest, by Knaack, for storage. Closed cell foam pads can be used to cushion the bottom of the chest.

http://portal.knaack.com/cgi-bin/ph...hests&T_ASSYPARTNO=KNAACK&t_comppartno=WEB100


It may not be as strong as a purpose-built safe, but I bet it's plenty strong. It can also be fastened to a slab if desired, as the bolt holes are enclosed. Even the strongest/heaviest jobsite chests are relatively cheap,in the $300 range.

 

[salvageV6]

Gun safes are very expensive.

Best place moneywise to buy them is at an estate sale used or at an auction where you pay pennies on the dollar.

Rarely do they go for too high a price since not everyone wants one and is willing or able to transport one.

Check the local auctions or papers for ads.

Hard to wreck a good gun safe too, gotta make sure they still have the combination and it works too.

I've seen mint safes, all types, at auctions built in the 1800's that were still fully functional, although a bit heavy.

Just my .02.

 

[GN ERGY]

I plan on bolting it to the floor against a wall so rear entry will be a little difficult. But the back of the safe is the same thickness as the rest of the body with fire proofing and then another layer of steel on the inside.
Shipping from Cal. to Az. is less than $200
For the price they make a pretty inpenetrable safe.
You figure if anybody breaks into your home they aren't gonna spend a lot of time breaking into something not knowing what could be in there, unless they know you.
Torching a hole in it could burn up all the contents cause the inside is carpeted.
I'll try to check some gun sites.
Tarey D.

 

[Gary Wells]

Oh-oh: I was going to mention in my first response that I know of a few gun safe companies to avoid, but when I saw that name I was not familiar with it. Pentagon safes are built by a company dba "Sportsmen Steel Safe Company. I am very familiar with that name. It is not a good familiarity, either. There is a reason that they do not generally take those safes and put them on display at the gun shows. I will send you an e-mail with my phone no on it. Your nickel.

 

[Gary Wells]

You have an e-mail.

 

[1badTTA]

Just remember, Locks only keep Honest people Honest. If someone wants something bad enough they will get it.

 

[Gary Wells]

www.glocktalk.com
www.1911forum.com
www.pistolsmith.com

wwwcrossroadsofthewest.com
I think

 

[GN ERGY]

No body else owns a gun safe???
Tarey D.

 

[Vector]

I have a regular safe - not a gun safe.
You need to get in touch with Blown&Injected, he can answer a gun safe question for you.

 

[Lee_Burough]

You'll find a gun safe good enough to "keep honest people honest" and keep kids away from the guns at Wal-Mart.

Sam's has some nice gun safes at good prices too.

I bought the Wal Mart safe. Cheap, yes. Adequate for MY purposes, yes. Mounted it against a cement wall. Too much effort required to get at the guns in my opinion.

At the same time, I've given a prowler or burgler plenty of reason for pause as he approaches my house: Outside Lights, Thorny bushes, fence, Inside lights on timers, security screen doors, peep hole in outside doors, each window and door is electronically monitored....easy stuff like that My house looks the same outside whether I'm home or not. Of course, we cannot leave out my personal body guards....Smith and Wesson....and Colt....and Mossberg

Buy at Wal-Mart, people in China need to raise their standard of living

 

[Blown&Injected]

As mentioned, a safe will keep honest and ignorant people out. Most gun safes are just sheet metal skins with 30 minutes of fire protection.

If people do not know about your safe it is not likely that an intruder will be prepared to deal with a safe - even a cheap safe.

Most that attempt to break into a safe just break the dial and handle - like the door will swing open if those items are busted off

In addition to the other places mentioned to get a safe, you may wish to contact a safe maintenance business in your area. These people often have high quality safes that they have charged money to a business just to haul away. They often sell these safes for cheap.

IMO, the $200 option for an extra 1/4" is a good deal - just the extra weight will make the safe difficult to deal with by bad people

 

[Reaper]

Tarey,


we will look for a safe while your hear..... no need to have one shipped we have lots of competition here in the phoenix area and there are some great deals to be had when it comes ot safes local here.

also there are a few manufactures also that sell direct.


make a list of what your looking for and bring it with ya so we can compare

Dathan

 

[Gokou]

If cost is no object: go with Fort Knox. They have the best bolt mechanism (rack and pinion) out there and also have the highest fire ratings. Most manufacturer's rate at 1200F. Real fires are much hotter, Fort Knox rates their at 1680F, a much truer number. However, they do not come cheap, and at the time I needed one I couldn't afford one. I ended up buying a Liberty. A pretty nice safe, although the fire rating isn't as good as the Fort Knox, and at 1300lbs emtpy it's probably not going anywhere. The interior fit and finish isn't as good as the Fort Knox either. Does it get the job done? Certainly.

Troy

 

[Blown&Injected]

Of course you can spend the money for nylon bolt lock gears - bolts will default to the locked position if one attempts to burn their way into the safe.

Lets not forget to add tear gas capsules that will rupture on forced entry.

The data processing enclosure for five hours of fire protection...can go on.

Does the Fort Knox have a TL 15 or higher rating?

 

[RBE17]

I've been looking for a safe as well. The one I like and can afford is a Champion. I believe their fire rating is 1600F, too. The last show I was at I spoke to the rep for some length. He recommended the Liberty or the National (I think). I'm putting the safe in the basement and my biggest concern is that is where the water will collect after a fire. No safe (or so I've been told) is waterproof. Everyone has told me to put it on a pallet, too.

What didn't make me happy was the rep told me he could break into any of the safes in less than minutes. That's something to think about.

Later,


Steve.

 

[Chris Wh1]

I bought a Remington brand safe. It is a really nice safe, worked good, but a little too good. I timed myself to see how fast I could get into it if someone broke into the house. I was WAY too slow and would have been dead if it was a real deal. So, I have defeated the poupose of buying the safe, and have a loaded .357 under my bed. But then again, I dont have a whole lot of worries of people playin with or stealing my guns. And hell, if someone wants to try to steal them when im home, Ill welcome them with a big smile.

 

[Gary Wells]

Previously posted by:
RBE17:
"He recommended the Liberty or the National (I think)."

="National Security and Safe Company"

Great safe.