Vaults and Safes

If you have guns at home you will need a gun safe to make sure that nobody else but you can have access to the guns.  And you also need to make sure that your guns will be safe in case fire breaks out in your home.  You will need to search among different models of fireproof gun safes to find the best safe for your guns.

You should consider the fire rating on the safe since it will protect your gun in a fire.  The longer it can withstand a fire, the better.  And you have to know the burglary rating as well.  This is very important because you don’t want anybody getting access to your gun, especially children.  And one more thing to consider is the locking mechanism of the safe.  There are mechanical key locks, combination locks and electronic keypad locks.

The Executive line of gun safes from Honeywell are made to Honeywell standards yet reasonably priced.  These gun safes provide security and protection for your guns at a price that won’t break the bank.  There are 5 models in the Honeywell Executive series.

The Model 6720 can hold up to 10 long guns, weighs 163 pounds, and measures 55″ x 17.5″ x 17.25″.  It features a removable 10-gun rack for added versatility.  The safe also features 3 1″ live locking bolts, 2 removable/adjustable shelves and a high-security keylock with a lever handle.  The safe incorporates concealed hinges with a 6mm recessed door, a Hunter Green powder finish and a fully carpeted interior.

Measuring 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″ and weighing 315 pounds, the Model 6740 incorporates a removable gun rack that can hold up to 12 long guns.  It also includes 2 removable/adjustable shelves for storage versatility.  The safe features 5 1″ active locking bolts, a Hunter Green powder finish and a fully carpeted interior.  The safe is California DOJ compliant and is fire tested in an 1100° F fire for a period of 15 minutes.

Weighing in at 323 pounds and measuring 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″, the Model 6741D features a removable gun rack that can hold up to 12 guns.  There’s a permanent shelf with a removable, lockable ammo box and 2 adjustable/removable shelves.  The safes is fire tested to 1100° F for 15 minutes and features 5 1″ live locking bolts.  It is California DOJ compliant, comes with a programmable digital lock with lever handle and has a fully carpeted interior.

The Model 2754DB measures 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″ and weighs 330 pounds.  It features heavy-duty steel construction, a removable/adjustable gun rack which can hold 14-18 guns and is fire tested for 30 minutes at 1550° F.  The safe also features 5 1″ solid steel active locking bolts, a programmable (from 3 to 8 digits) electronic digital lock and mounting hardware which can be used to attach the safe to the wall or floor.

The Model 6742D weighs 330 pounds and measures 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″.  The safe comes with a programmable digital lock with lever handle, 2 removable/adjustable shelves and a removable 12 gun rack.  It also features a fully carpeted interior, is California DOJ compliant, and has a permanent shelf with a  removable, lockable ammo box.  This safe is laboratory tested to withstand an 1100° F fire for a period of 15 minutes.

For more information on the Honeywell Executive line of safes, and information on where to buy, visit the Vault and Safe website.

There are a number of discount gun safes available from AMSEC and Sentry Safes.  Amsec has several chest-style discount safes that fit into the discount category.  They include the AMPB2-5BE, which measure 8″x12″x4″, has an electronic lock, and operates on a single 9-volt battery.  Designed primarily to restrict access to one or more pistols and ammunition, this safe can also be used for household papers and other valuables.

Another model by AMSEC, the ES412, measures 5-3/16″x11-7/8″x14-1/6″, features a state of the art electronic lock and is made of heavy 16-gauge solid steel.  The unit has two active locking bolts, a 10 gauge steel door, and a key override system in case you forget the combination.  The model SWVV1014 from AMSEC measures 14.2″x10″x3.75″, has a unique electronic lock with 65,000 possible combinations and features internal illumination, a tamper alarm and a low battery indicator.  This model has a mounting plate which can be used to secure the safe in place.

AMSEC also makes an upright long gun safe, the Model TF6032, which measures 59-1/4″x30″x21″ and features Mercury Class I fire protection of 1200° F for 30 minutes.  The unit also features a Palusol door seal which is designed to expand when subjected to high temperatures — this protects your valuable guns from water used to put out a fire.  In addition, this model features a Group II combination lock as standard equipment or an optional state-of-the-art electronic lock.  Both locks feature an internal relocke and are protected by drill-resistant hardened steel plate.  The interior arrangement is adjustable, with shelving and gun racks provided for rifles and shotguns.

AMSEC also features a chest-style long gun safe, the Model HC1854.  This safe measures 18″x54″x22″ and has an 8-gun capacity.  The unit has a 14-gauge steel body and a 3/4″ thick door.  The unit is tested in an independent lab for fire resistance at 1275° F for 30 minutes, without the temperature on the inside rising above 350° F.  The unit also features a group II combination lock protected by a drill-resistant steel hardplate.  It also features 5-1″ steel locking bolts, 4 precut anchor holes and two hydraulic gas pistons which assist the door in opening and closing smoothly.

For more information on discount gun safes, and information about where to buy, visit the Vault and Safe website.

Mutual makes an excellent line of fireproof stand-up burglary resistant gun safes that are reasonably priced.  All Mutual gun safes feature two-layers of sheetrock like insulating material and a UL approved heat-activated door seal.  They are tested to withstand a 1760° F fire for a period of 60 minutes.  Anti-burglary features include massive 1-inch bolts, with at least 4 dead bolts facing the hinge side, 1 active bolt at the top, and at leat 4 active bolts facing the opening side.

In addition, the lock is protected from punch-out attempts by a Manganese hardened drill resistant steel plate and a spring-loaded relocker. There are also two bolt-down holes drilled at the bottom of the safe which accomodate 1/2″ bolts.  They feature a 5-inch thick door, semi-gloss black exterior with tan interior, and a 10 gauge steel door and body.  There is a universal adjustable interior which can be arranged as gun racks and shelving or all shelving.  The handles and locks are brass-plated and the dial locks are UL listed.

Three models are available, with the main difference between models being their size.  The Model MS-5922 measures 59″ x 22″ x 16″ and weighs 350 pounds.  The safe can hold up to 16 long guns and can be ordered with an optional electronic keypad locking mechanism.

The Model MS-6030 measures 60″ x 30″ x 24″ and weighs 600 pounds.  It can hold up to 22 long guns and is also available with an optional electronic keypad locking mechanism.

The Model MS-6040 measures 60″ x 40″ x 24″ and weighs 800 pounds.  This model can hold up to 40 rifles or shotguns, and is also available with an electronic keypad locking mechanism.

For more information on Mutual gun safes, and information on where to buy, visit the Vault and Safe website.

Fireproof gun safes can provide protection for your valuable guns against the harmful effects of a fire or from burglars.  Fireproof gun safes carry a fireproof rating that ensures they have been tested under actual fire conditions.  For example, a 1-hour fireproof rating means that the safe has been subjected to a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, and that the temperature inside the safe did not rise above 350 degrees F.

This is a low enough temperature to protect your guns from permanent damage.  Fireproof safes are also tested for water resistance, to guard against the water used to put out the fire.  During the fire test, the humidity is tested to make certain that it does not rise above 80%.  For more information on fireproof gun safes.

These days, a good gun safe is a necessity if you are a gun owner.  Gun safes need to do two things - restrict access to the guns to only authorized persons, and protect your valuable guns from burglars.  An electronic gun safe is one of the most convenient types, because they are very secure yet easy to open when you need access.  Most electronic gun safes use an electronic keypad type locking mechanism.

This type of locking mechanism uses an electronic keypad similar to the ones found on ATM machines.  You simply enter the proper PIN number to gain access to the safe.   Some electronic gun safes have an audit feature, which allows you to assign multiple pin numbers to multiple people.  You can then tell when and by whom the safe was accessed.  So if you’re in the market for a good gun safe, consider getting one that uses an electronic locking mechanism.  For more information on the electronic gun safe.

You may have heard the generic term sentry safe.  Well Sentry safe is actually the brand name of a line of safes that are so popular that the term has become generic.  Sentry Safe has been a world-leader in the manufacture of safes for 75 years.  They manufacture safes is all sizes and shapes, for home and business use.   They have a full line of gun safes, as well as special media safes for protecting valuable computer backup data.  They offer fire and burglary proof safes in a broad price range.

If you are considering the purchase of a safe, you should definitely look at the Sentry lineup - it includes something for every budget and the quality and reputation of the company can’t be beat.  One of their most popular types of safes is a small chest-style safe that can easily slip underneath a bed.  It is primarily designed to protect valuable documents from fire and water damage.  These are the safes that the generic term sentry safe is most often applied to.  For more information on the sentry safe.

If you’re not keeping your guns in a gun safe, you probably should be.  Many states have passed laws that make it a criminal offense if someone (a child, for example) gets hurt with a gun that you are responsible for.  So a gun safe is necessary to restrict access to your guns to only authorized persons.  Don’t count on hiding them well - kids can find anything anywhere.  A gun safe can also protect your valuable guns from theft and damage due to fire.

Guns safes come in two basic types - pistol safes and gun safes.  Pistol safes are small chest-shaped safes that are primarily designed to restrict access to your pistols.  Gun safes are large, cabinet style safes designed to hold rifles and shotguns.  Some are available with racks for rifles and shotguns as well as shelves for pistols and ammunition.  For more information on gun safes.

Guns safes have 3 main uses.  First, they can be used to restrict access to your guns to only authorized persons.  This is more important now than ever, with many states having passed laws that make it a crime if someone (usually a child) gets accidentally hurt by a gun you are responsible for.  Second, they can be used to protect your guns and ammunition from the harmful effects of a fire (and the water used to put the fire out).  And third, they can protect your valuable guns from thieves.

There are a variety of styles and shapes of gun safes.  Pistol safes, which are small, chest-style safes that open from the top, are designed primarily to restrict access and protect your pistols from fire damage.  They are not really good against burglars because they can be carried off easily.  Rifle and shotgun safes are upright, cabinet style safes.  They open from the front and the interior can be arranged in a variety of ways.  The most common arrangement is to have upright storage for rifles and shotguns, with interior shelving for ammunition and pistols.  For more information on the gun safe.

Fireproof gun safes are specially-designed gun safes that are designed to protect your guns in the event of a fire.  There are two things you need to worry about - the  fire, and the water used to put it out.  Fireproof gun safes usually carry a rating that is specified in hours.  For example, a 1 hour fireproof rating means that the safe has been  subjected to a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, and the temperature inside the safe did not rise above 350 degrees F.  In addition, the humidity did not rise above 80%.  These are low enough levels to protect your guns and ammunition from permanent damage.

Fireproof gun safes are available in a wide range of sizes.  Most offer rack-type storage for rifles and shotguns and convenient shelves for storing pistols and ammunition.  They feature special insulating material designed to keep the temperature low during a fire, and heat-activated expanding door seals to keep out water.  The most common fire ratings available are 1 and 2 hour fireproof ratings.  A gun safe is a good idea under any circumstance, so why not invest in one that is fireproof?