G-ManBart Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 My old safe is beyond it's capacity....way beyond. I have to stack soft cases on the bottom and sides and it's beyond maxed out. Aside from not really being bing enough for my current inventory, there are three other big problems. One is that if I go out of town I don't have any space for my work guns, two I don't have room for expansion if I buy anything new and three I can't put other valuables in there (watches, jewelry etc). I'm looking at buying a long-term solution; something that's bigger than I need now and something that's good enough that in five years I won't wish I'd gotten something better. Yes, I know typical safes only keep out the neighbors kids, smash and grab thiefs etc. About two years ago we did a search warrant on a drug dealer's place and it turned out he had the exact same safe as one of our agents. The agent put a lot of time and research into it and spent quite a bit of cash. The bad guy wouldn't give us the combo so we called the locksmith who turned out to be the guy he bought it from. I timed him and even with a drill bit change he had it open in 15 minutes! Needless to say our agent was a little surprised...lol. So, I'm not looking for or expecting anything unrealistic, just a solid safe with good fire protection and some room to grow. Anybody have brand recommendations or good sources for info that will help me narrow it down a little? R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR Gunner Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'm fond of my Liberty safe. It's very heavy and has a good fireproof rating. They have several sizes available, and they don't cost as much as a Browning or Cannon. http://www.libertysafe.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downlow411 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Check out Zanotti Armor they are portable, but dont have great fire protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JQ- Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 The good news is you may be within delivery range of Pete the Safe guy. He's out of Troy OH - maybe...but drives all over the region...best $125 I ever spent. He's discrete and quick...ask around in local shops about delivery guy. Pete just does delivery...but for everyone it seems around here....bass pro - TWorld - Bud's in Lexington KY even. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRW Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I am very happy with my Patriot safe. http://www.patriotsafe.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Thanks guys. I was already looking at some Liberty models...mostly the Lincoln, but wasn't familiar with Patriot. As with everything else it seems like when you like a feature from one brand it's not offered on the others and vice-versa! The good thing is there are a couple of Liberty dealers that are within a reasonable drive so I can go look at most of their models. Now I'll have to see about the other brands. I've got a big enough trailer to haul it home, but I'd probably need some friends to help move it inside if I go that route. I've heard it's not too bad if you roll them on blocks and heavy dowels....I'm still deciding on the location. If it's tough I'll just pony up and pay someone to do it...that way if they drop it, they pay for it. Keep the ideas and feedback coming! R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mainus Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 http://ftknox.com/ My family has had good luck with Fort Knox. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddjob Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'm also looking for a bigger safe and decided on Sturdy Safes out of Fresno, California (at least good safes are made here in Calif). A friend of mine just got one and he loves it. I saw it & its built like a rock with 7 or 8 gauge walls. It ain't the prettiest safe, but its built well. He also bought it as a "second" for a substantial discount (although the owner of the safe company couldn't figure out why). Its the Model 3627. His is fire lined and he got it for about $1800 plus change (remember it was a second). I'm getting it fire lined too. My current Lincoln 35 is not. I know of two people who have had a structure fire and when the rounds started cooking off the fire department backed off and down to the ground she went. I'm lucky in that my wife understands why the two safes have to be in the house. My female co-workers told me there is no way in hell a gun safe let alone two would be inside their residence. They said gun safes belong in the garage and if their husbands don't like it they can join the safes in the garage!. I have another friend who bought a safe from a local department store when they went out of business. Its huge and works well for him. That thing stays in the garage though (its too big). He only paid about $500 for it. He tried to drill a hole in the bottom of the safe and broke three drill bits before he gave up. Craigslist has some deals too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prreed10 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I have been considering the same thing as well. I am tired of moving 5 rifles to get to one in the back. I am considering a second versus buying a larger one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boz1911 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Funny, 45DV8 and I were talking safes yesterday. I have a Cannon and love it. My only rec is whatever the biggest safe you think you'll ever need, buy the next size up. I now have a jam packed safe and still have a room full of long guns that won't fit...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) I'm fond of my Liberty safe. It's very heavy and has a good fireproof rating. They have several sizes available, and they don't cost as much as a Browning or Cannon. http://www.libertysafe.com/ +1, We have a Liberty Washington 40 cubic feet safe anchored to the floor. Their glossy paint is very nice looking and I have mine in the living room, next to the fire place. We have more documents, photos and such in it than guns, but it is comforting to have it. Edited August 6, 2009 by rangertrace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Norman Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 A closet and a vault door, several sheets of 1/4" steel, bolt the corners together in the closet, install a top and bottom. use two layers of steel with a layer or two of drywall between. Leave the closet door intact in front of the vault door. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I went with a Zanotti Armor safe. The nice thing about them is you can get a safe that won't fit through the door, when it's assembled. As Jim mentioned, fireproofing can be improved with sheetrock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I've heard it's not too bad if you roll them on blocks and heavy dowels....I'm still deciding on the location. If it's tough I'll just pony up and pay someone to do it...that way if they drop it, they pay for it.Keep the ideas and feedback coming! R, The safe movers took an hour to get the safe into my old house --- using a stair climbing dolly for the two steps up the porch and into the house. Then they wheeled it into place. The house movers who moved us out slid it across the carpet in the office, onto a padded blanket (one of the heavy moving kinds) in the tiled hallway, across the hall and across the hardwood in the living room, and transferred it to a handtruck in the living room doorway to get it onto the truck. It took them five minutes from start to finish on the truck..... If you're gonna bolt it in place, there might be something to be said for multiple smaller safes --- easier to move with you, versatile in that they can be scattered around the house, potentially easier to get into the next house..... I'd love one of the monsters --- but I'd probably just add a second/third safe as needed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 A closet and a vault door, several sheets of 1/4" steel, bolt the corners together in the closet, install a top and bottom. use two layers of steel with a layer or two of drywall between. Leave the closet door intact in front of the vault door.Jim That's a great idea, but not an option with the current house. We don't expect to be here too long so we're renting a place and I can't make any changes. Also, there isn't a closet where I'd like to put it, so I'm pretty much stuck with a safe one way or the other. When we get to someplace we'll be a while I'll likely build a false wall in the back of a closet and put the safe behind it....with steel and some drywall for added protection. They won't steal what they don't find! I'd probably leave my small safe somewhere visible with a few inexpensive guns in it as bait. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvb Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'd probably just add a second/third safe as needed.... This has always been my upgrade plan..... -rvb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Hello: I like the idea of multiple safes just like I have multiple toolboxes That way you can put the guns you use most often in one and the others in the cave safe. Just my thought. I do like the idea of a bolt togther safe. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
get2now Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Just remember, given the time and opportunity it doesn't take much to get into a gun locker. This is why I replaced my Cannon safe that was in the garage with a Sturdy safe. I was looking at the American Security too, but I was able to get Sturdy safe cheaper. Gary Edited August 6, 2009 by get2now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHolsted Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 I timed him and even with a drill bit change he had it open in 15 minutes! Needless to say our agent was a little surprised...lol. So, I'm not looking for or expecting anything unrealistic, just a solid safe with good fire protection and some room to grow.Anybody have brand recommendations or good sources for info that will help me narrow it down a little? R, Problems with most of all the common big brand name safes is the types of relockers they use. Most just use a small piece of steel that holds the relocker open so you really just have to be in a big hurry when drilling to knock it back enough to engage the relocker. So most any good safe cracker can drill one open in no time at all. If a good thief is going to break into your house it takes a really good safe to keep them out like in the $7 to $25K range. But most thieves will not waste their time on even a cheap safe unless they know they have lost of time. This is where a good alarm systems with a safe will work the best. And with a smaller safe it makes all the difference in the world to bolt it to a concert slab with at least 1/2" anchors of some type. placement has a lot to do with it also. Just my .02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xfactor Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Thanks guys. I was already looking at some Liberty models...mostly the Lincoln... +1 on the Liberty Lincoln, Bart... that's what I have. 50 cu-ft is pretty big. (My 2 year old thinks it's an elevator ; ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Invincible Safes Bart - Give Vinny a call. Guarantee you won't find a stronger safe. Tell him I sent you. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Invincible SafesBart - Give Vinny a call. Guarantee you won't find a stronger safe. Tell him I sent you. Rich Rich, I may just do that. They sure look nice, but nice usually adds up to a chunk of change. I hate that I don't like cheap stuff! R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
get2now Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Check this place http://www.ablesafe.com/ or this one http://www.bullockssafes.com/ . They might be in your area. Here's an interesting and informative link on safes too. http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 The good news is you may be within delivery range of Pete the Safe guy. He's out of Troy OH - maybe...but drives all over the region...best $125 I ever spent. ........ I would suggest this as well. Even If you can get several brawny types to help, they typically get in each others way ( I know I usually was in the way) someone who moves large heavy items for a living will amaze you at how easily they can move your safe anywhere in the house. fwiw dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney88pdc Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) This is the model I have. 45 long guns is BS because you can not fit that many stocks in it. But I have a feeling just about anyone who quotes X number of guns will fit is BS. Not if they have optics and such. Especiall if they are bolt actions where the bolt makes it even wider. I do not feel that it is a top of the line safe but I do feel much better than the Academy / Walmart safe. I guess I would say a good midrange security. And better than midrange fire rating. They do not totaly break the bank either at about $1600. http://stack-on.com/securityplus/total_def...ct/tds-545.html Edited August 7, 2009 by barney88pdc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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