Playing It Safe

philco · Post by **philco** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:21 pm

I know a lot of our members keep their collections locked away securely in a safe of some kind. I thought it might be interesting to launch a discussion of safes and see where that leads us.

Who has a great safe they can recommend ? Where can you get the best deals on one? If you have one, would you buy the same one again or something else ?

Phil

Gunstock Jack · Post by **Gunstock Jack** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:15 am

I have a Cannon, and I love it. I got lucky and found one on the used market. A guy had remodled and the safe didn't fit, so he bought another Cannon (same color, but bigger) that fit his new space. Mine weighs 850 lbs. empty, so no one is gonna walk off with it. I thought it would be too big when I bought it; NOT!

Cannon stands behind their product, but I've never had a problem with it. Real quick to open digital lock that's also easy to change the combo on, if you want.

philco · Post by **philco** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:23 am

I've got a Cannon safe too. Got mine from Tractor Supply a few years back and have been very pleased with it. Best buy I could find after a lot of looking. Mine has the standard combo lock. I have never regretted buying it. It gives me a lot of peace of mind.

sextonknifeworks · Post by **sextonknifeworks** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:30 am

Here is my tandem. I love them but I did have problems with one of the key pads. Both of them are rated as 36 gun safes. I need about 3 more of these but I am just going to have a concrete room poured and buy just the safe door so if anyone has any info on just the doors that would be great.

knifemaker3 · Post by **knifemaker3** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:15 am

philco wrote:I've got a Cannon safe too. Got mine from Tractor Supply a few years back and have been very pleased with it. Best buy I could find after a lot of looking. Mine has the standard combo lock. I have never regretted buying it. It gives me a lot of peace of mind.

Funny, I have a locksmith come into my store yesterday to have me order a .17hmr for him and we started talking safes.

He stated he could get a vault door for under $2000 if I wanted one and it would be as good as a bank vault door?

The concrete safe room is the way to go. Most of these so called fire resistant safes aren't what they say they are. You might be safe in a fire IF the fire department can get water to it and keep it cool. Most time you'd just as well kiss your stuff goodbye.

Keep your safe on an outside wall preferably in a closet to help protect it as much as possible. I would recommend if you are building something for it to build a closet complete with door, put safe inside said closet, and the line the left over space inside with sheet rock minimum or the insulation they put in the safe. The more protection you can give your safe the better chance you have of having something that doesn't turn to ashes when you open it up after a fire.

Just my thoughts on safes. Best to go concrete if you can.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:55 pm

philco wrote:I've got a Cannon safe too. Got mine from Tractor Supply a few years back and have been very pleased with it. Best buy I could find after a lot of looking. Mine has the standard combo lock. I have never regretted buying it. It gives me a lot of peace of mind.

Mine is an American Security and I was able to get a wholesale deal on it many years ago. It is rated for 21 guns but it has fewer guns these days and lotsa knives. At one point, I was gonna buy another one but never did. Had I actually bought another, I would have bought another of this same brand.
Like Phil, I have never regretted buying mine for even a second. Well, maybe for a second when I had to move it once.

Ray

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:58 pm

knifemaker3 wrote:
philco wrote:I've got a Cannon safe too. Got mine from Tractor Supply a few years back and have been very pleased with it. Best buy I could find after a lot of looking. Mine has the standard combo lock. I have never regretted buying it. It gives me a lot of peace of mind.
Funny, I have a locksmith come into my store yesterday to have me order a .17hmr for him and we started talking safes.

He stated he could get a vault door for under $2000 if I wanted one and it would be as good as a bank vault door?

The concrete safe room is the way to go. Most of these so called fire resistant safes aren't what they say they are. You might be safe in a fire IF the fire department can get water to it and keep it cool. Most time you'd just as well kiss your stuff goodbye.

Keep your safe on an outside wall preferably in a closet to help protect it as much as possible. I would recommend if you are building something for it to build a closet complete with door, put safe inside said closet, and the line the left over space inside with sheet rock minimum or the insulation they put in the safe. The more protection you can give your safe the better chance you have of having something that doesn't turn to ashes when you open it up after a fire.

Just my thoughts on safes. Best to go concrete if you can.

I researched this some time back and vault doors are much more reasonable than I had expected. Standard doors run $1500 - $2500 at this place (example only. No recommendation intended or implied), depending on options and not including shipping cost.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vault-Doors-Custom- ... 1c1cf2957b

KM3 - What wall thickness were you contemplating for your poured room? Poured ceiling and floor or just walls and floor. I can't imagine it being a true and secure vault with a framed ceiling. If you do this project, please keep us posted on how you do it, problems you encounter and the end result.

My first gun safe was an old upright freezer. I paneled the inside and added a hasp for a lock. I figured if it would keep cold in, it would keep some heat out. My current safe is just a Homesafe brand (Stack-On look alike) heavy gauge sheet metal, two door. I picked it up cheap at a scratch and dent sale at one of the local gun shops. I don't have enough guns and knives to justify a real one.

sextonknifeworks · Post by **sextonknifeworks** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:24 pm

I like these Stack-On because they come with plenty of shelves.

drzarkov1 · Post by **drzarkov1** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:29 pm

Safes are dangerous things to own unless they are kept well hidden, and unknown to anyone but people you would trust your life with. Once word spreads that you own a safe, speculation will arise in the minds of strangers as to what priceless objects you keep inside, and chances increase that some fool will decide that it would be worth the risk for him to invade your home and "apply pressure" on you (to put it nicely) to open up your safe. The danger here is not the loss of your valuables but the loss of your life---many people who would commit home invasions of this sort would not hesitate to eliminate any witnesses to their crime. So sure, buy a safe to prevent losses from ordinary burglaries, but for safety's sake keep it secret. My own strategy is to keep valuables hidden away from everyone, and present an appearance of frugality to the world.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:32 am

johnny twoshoes · Post by **johnny twoshoes** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:43 am

I'll be burying my knife collection that I no longer own, of which all the money I got from selling them was donated to a charitable organization.

So if you guys need me I'll be at the soup kitchen down in the burgh, if you really need to reach me though, try to get to, or under the Roberto Clemente bridge before dark. I'm sure I'll see at least Gino soon, maybe he can bring me another blanket.

P.S.
Pray that I stay safe through the night, we have some cray people around here.

HiPower · Post by **HiPower** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:33 am

drzarkov1 wrote:Safes are dangerous things to own unless they are kept well hidden, and unknown to anyone but people you would trust your life with. Once word spreads that you own a safe, speculation will arise in the minds of strangers as to what priceless objects you keep inside, and chances increase that some fool will decide that it would be worth the risk for him to invade your home and "apply pressure" on you (to put it nicely) to open up your safe. The danger here is not the loss of your valuables but the loss of your life---many people who would commit home invasions of this sort would not hesitate to eliminate any witnesses to their crime. So sure, buy a safe to prevent losses from ordinary burglaries, but for safety's sake keep it secret. My own strategy is to keep valuables hidden away from everyone, and present an appearance of frugality to the world.

this certainly makes a lot of sense. our present economic situation is'nt improving & even people that normally would work instead of steal have children to care for. in texas we have many great laborers from mexico but economic slumps has put them w/o labor & ask yourself exactly what means you might turn to if your family was getting hungry. add to this scenario the rats that try never to work but look only to live off pilfering from others & we have a serious scene. driving an older vehicle & living an unobtrusive style reduces your liability, but a 12 gauge in 3 rooms also is a good idea. i shot from the hip about 5 years back at some fleeing thieves trying to take some tools from my backyard. missed the intruders but certainly killed some big rose bushes. word gets around & it's usually quiet around here.---HiPower

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:35 pm

I would think that it would depend somewhat on where you live as far as how serious you might percieve the threat of home invasion or armed robbery to be. Such events are still relatively rare in my neck of the woods and seem to be primarily taking place with the dopers preying on one another.
"They" may get me before the day is out but I refuse to live my life in a state of fear and paranoia. I don't have a lot but what I do have is mine and I plan to keep it and defend it if necessary. I have a decent little knife collection stashed away in my safe. In my opinion, the threat of a breakin while I'm away is far greater than the threat of a home invasion, so it makes sense for me to have a safe to store my knives in.
I have, however, tried to prepare for either possibility. The safe is protection against a burgulary. I have taken other measures to protect against a robbery or home invasion, should it ever occur.

Phil

On Edge · Post by **On Edge** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:27 pm

philco wrote:" ..."They" may get me before the day is out but I refuse to live my life in a state of fear and paranoia. I don't have a lot but what I do have is mine and I plan to keep it and defend it if necessary ..." ... " ... The safe is protection against a burgulary. I have taken other measures to protect against a robbery or home invasion, should it ever occur.
Phil

+1

~ Edge

drzarkov1 · Post by **drzarkov1** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:52 am

Sorry about reading you guys a sermon...completely out of place.

Classic Case · Post by **Classic Case** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:03 am

I dont think you have anything to apologize for. I think you brought up some valid points. It's always good to see all sides of an issue,and you did it in a thread about safes.I think it was in exactly the right place.

johnny twoshoes · Post by **johnny twoshoes** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:13 am

Drzarkov1, now it's my turn to apologize. I was just kidding, it was a bad attempt at humor on my part, I was just trying to be funny. I failed in my attempt, and I hope I didn't hurt any feelings.

We are all free to share our opinions here, and I made a joke of yours.... my bad.

I look forward to your opinions being shared on this site further.

philco · Post by **philco** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:15 am

Classic Case wrote:I dont think you have anything to apologize for. I think you brought up some valid points. It's always good to see all sides of an issue,and you did it in a thread about safes.I think it was in exactly the right place.

I agree 100% with the statement above. I see things a bit differently perhaps, but I still respect and appreciate and welcome your input.

Phil

drzarkov1 · Post by **drzarkov1** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:20 am

Thanks for the kind words, but still...my bad.

johnnierotten · Post by **johnnierotten** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:01 pm

Sorry about reading you guys a sermon...completely out of place.

I think there is a lot of validity in what you said.....especially in my neck of the woods (desert) .

Thats one of the reasons that I don't show my collection of knives and guns to total strangers or People that I know who may have a drug or drinking problem...There has been a rash of home invasions in Tucson ....and I don't plan on being the next!!

....I always have a loaded gun on me or definitely near by.

bonehead · Post by **bonehead** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:24 pm

I don't know Fellas,

I would bet if you could diguise a safe reasonably well it would be an asset. If you were not home your in better shape than if you did not have a safe, one would have to find it first and chances are they would not stick around long enough to open it " If they Could". If you were home when an intruded came in they would have to find it first, if they did find it you open it for them to save your life

As long as one didn't advertise, I fail to see how this would be dangerous IMO. Not saying there are no exceptions but for the most part I don't believe we have reached that point yet...

BH

1967redrider · Post by **1967redrider** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:08 am

I don't have one of these and I don't sell them but saw their torture test vid on an AR rifle site and thought it was a pretty thorough test.

http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/benefits ... video.html

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