I'm looking for a second safe and can't find what I'm looking for....

[gnostic]

I'm looking for another safe and can't find find anything other than 1/8'' thick fire safes. My old safe is 3/8'' with 1/4'' thick door and weighs 850 lbs. Has something changed? The fire safes look like a sawzall would make short work of them and I don't like the electric locks....

[lefty o]

gun safes arent safes, that is for sure.

[Winger Ed.]

Those 10 gage or 1/8" wall, 1/4" door ones are made to keep the High School kids out-- that's all.
If they have a 30 minute fire rating, its usually a layer of 1/2" sheetrock inside with cloth or carpet on the side you see.

99% of the people that have the will, or skill to tear into one of those falls into 2 groups:

1. They will use their skill to get into a safe with several thousand dollars of gold and jewels in it,
and they don't have the slightest interest in your Grandpa's .30-30.

2. The other group will get into it by holding a cheap handgun behind your ear.

The rest of the population either doesn't have such evil in their heart,
or they are too stupid to realize how easy it is to break into one.


I'm no fan of electric locks either.
I worked for a safe and lock company for 11 years.
We had 4-5 people in customer service,,,, and the phone never quit ringing.
I asked one of them one time how many calls they got on spin dial locks.

He told me he got 3 or 4 a month.
Someone lost the combination, or it had been in a fire, or flood, etc.


If ya want to spend the bucks, AMSEC out in Calif. makes and sell everything from a
pretty high school wall locker level of security, all the way up to the 5,000 pounders
about the size of a refrigerator with a 2 hour fire rating, and tool resistant 'TL-30s'.

[Misery-Whip]

With the improvement of cordless tools, nothing is safe. Hell milwaukee even makes a 18 volt, 7" disc grinder. Wish there was a background check for that!

Try lock smiths. The one near me always has a few safes of some sort on consignment.

[gnostic]

Thank for responding, I'm really surprised about the limited choices of safes. I recently looked at a Winchester safe at a local gun shop, that had a hole rusted at the bottom of the door. I'll check AMSEC...

[Winger Ed.]

Thank for responding, I'm really surprised about the limited choices of safes. I recently looked at a Winchester safe at a local gun shop, that had a hole rusted at the bottom of the door. I'll check AMSEC...

Those 1/4" door ones are actually pretty tough on the front side.
Thick enough to resist 'peeling' the door, and they take longer to cut through than a side or back.

One way to make them harder to get into is bolt them down in a corner next to built in shelves, or in a closet.
That way there isn't much 'elbow room' to get tools in there to cut on it.

Used ones turn up all the time on Craig's list or classifieds.
If you're not in the safe selling business, you can't get 20 cents on the dollar for what they are worth
because they are so heavy to move, and that just overwhelms most people.

It might cost $3-400 to have one moved, but if you can get a $5,000 safe for a few hundred, it works out.
Look at your old one, and you'll see how difficult it is to put a gunsafe interior in it...

[JimB..]

My next safe will be a Drake.

[gnostic]

I just looked at Drake, that's what I want. It's 1/4'' steel all the way around and has a combination lock with a key... I checked the price and they're just a little more than the brands that are 1/8'' thick. Thanks...

[rondog]

The tariffs with China have made Chinese steel harder to get and American steel pricier, which trickles down to manufacturers, like gun safes. I was just at a safe dealership today. He said their costs and wait times have went crazy.

[gnostic]

The tariffs with China have made Chinese steel harder to get and American steel pricier, which trickles down to manufacturers, like gun safes. I was just at a safe dealership today. He said their costs and wait times have went crazy.

Apparently, you order online from Drake direct and they just raised their price.

[JimB..]

Apparently, you order online from Drake direct and they just raised their price.

That would be a bummer. It’s a pretty small shop, wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t update their online pricing as often as they should. How big was the bump?

[gnostic]

That would be a bummer. It’s a pretty small shop, wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t update their online pricing as often as they should. How big was the bump?

I don't know how much the price went up, they're on facebook. Their smallest gun safe is about a 15 gun and weighs 750 lbs., the price is $1450.00 and I'm sure it'll be another $500.00 to my closet. The similar size 1/8'' thick safes are about $1k to $1250 depending on the lock and extras, delivered to my garage. So, yes more than a little bit more, I always tell myself it's a one time purchase...

[JimB..]

Probably should have included the usual disclaimer, I know these guys from satisfied customers and speaking with them at the local gun shows, but I have no financial interest in the company or in any potential purchase that anyone may choose to make.

[KCcactus]

Bear Safes in OK City uses1/4" sides in their larger safes. I bought one of their smaller ones in 1995. Their website says to call for prices.

[Chad5005]

look for a used big jewelry store safe,a friend had one the size of my big cannon safe,it weighed 3500 pounds,cast steel like a old bank safe

[georgerkahn]

I have been toying with the purchase of another, and for what it's worth, I have been leaning to one being purveyed at the local Tractor Supply Store. I totally agree with Winger Ed's comments/post; my main concerns being two-fold: the "plumber called to unplug the sewer line" cannot see, has no idea, or is able to take what may be in the safe; and, I have a warm and fuzzy feeling that they're (firearms) all together, safe from anyone else's eyes and hands. While some safes are fire resistance -- what's their water rating -- e.g., being in cellar filled with water from fire hoses? Probably, too, because NONE of my few firearms are of any significantly high worth or value (except ;) to me) -- mostly weather-beaten oldies -- e.g., who'd break into a safe for a forty years old plain-Jane .30-30 Marlin 336 with a Tasco scope on it? -- I again am personally not in need of something of true high security.
BEST!
geo

[Randy Bohannon]

+1 on American Security , at a minimum use their locks, easy to remove your old digital crappy S&G lock and put theirs in.

[BorderBrewer]

I have an Amsec safe and can recommend them highly. I have a manual lock as I don't like the electric lock either.

[winelover]

Brown Safe, out of California, can supply you anything you can dream of. Only your wallet will limit your purchase. If you don't like the track record of the electronic locks, put both on the door. Electronic for speed of opening and a manual for peace of mind. That's what I did. Mine is almost ten years old. Never use the manual..............in fact, I'd have to look up the combination. Not a hint of trouble from the electronic..............and I'm in it at least one a day.

Winelover

[pietro]

I always tell myself it's a one time purchase...




Until you need yet another safe to hold our common sickness...…… ;)

.

[Thundarstick]

Sturdy safe co. I've been more than pleased with mine! You can get as much steel as you are willing to pay for! I put all my money in steel and none in sheet rock!

I think we all know ANYTHING can be broken into given the tools and time!

[AggiePharmD]

I bought a Pony Express model from Sun Welding Co out of southern cali. Awesome safe. Base starting guage on walls BUT you can upgrade it whatever you wish. Mine came in at 1100 pounds.