Gunsafes

[noharleyyet]

Coming out of a 14 gun Cabelas Sentry and looking to upgrade...considering a 40" Cannon in stock from a local farm implement box at about a grand. The Ft. Knox looks pretty tempting but more than twice the price & would have to be shipped. Opinions appreciated.

 

[Muleyfanatic]

I have had a cannon safe for 10 plus years and am more than happy with it. I have the dial combo not the key pad and like it (no batteries). No matter the safe maker they all seem to advertise about twice the guns that will fit in it compared to what it actually holds.

 

[npaden]

When I was looking I spent a lot of time looking at the fire ratings and the gauge of the steel that is used. Sometimes weight is just sheetrock added in between two layers of thin steel.

I don't even remember what I bought but it was a 1 hour fire rating. Even those are a little hard to compare as the different manufacturers rate at different temperatures, etc.

We actually have a small 1 hour waterproof fire safe inside the 1 hour gun safe that has our important papers and stuff in it.

When it is all said and done, almost all of the gun safes that you are going to find in the 1K range are really not true safes though. Someone who knows what they are doing can drill the door out in 15 minutes if they have the right tools.

That was one tip that I read, my safe is completely on the other side of the compound from any tools that someone could use to try to break into it with, sometimes you see safes in a workshop with all the tools someone would need to break into them.

Can't remember where I read it but there was a good post on one forum I post on that went over a lot of the pros and cons of some of the different options.

Mine is starting to get full but I can't fit a bigger one where I put it.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Just send 'em to me, I'll hold on to them for you.

 

[1_pointer]

When I was looking I spent a lot of time looking at the fire ratings and the gauge of the steel that is used. Sometimes weight is just sheetrock added in between two layers of thin steel.

I don't even remember what I bought but it was a 1 hour fire rating. Even those are a little hard to compare as the different manufacturers rate at different temperatures, etc.

We actually have a small 1 hour waterproof fire safe inside the 1 hour gun safe that has our important papers and stuff in it.

When it is all said and done, almost all of the gun safes that you are going to find in the 1K range are really not true safes though. Someone who knows what they are doing can drill the door out in 15 minutes if they have the right tools.

That was one tip that I read, my safe is completely on the other side of the compound from any tools that someone could use to try to break into it with, sometimes you see safes in a workshop with all the tools someone would need to break into them.

Can't remember where I read it but there was a good post on one forum I post on that went over a lot of the pros and cons of some of the different options.

Mine is starting to get full but I can't fit a bigger one where I put it.

If we are talking about the same thread, there was a good one on 24hour. One guy claimed to be an insurance investigator or some such. He claimed to have investigated over 50 instances of fires and over 50 of breakins on safes. IIRC, he claimed that in all the fire investigations that the firearms were ruined. Also, IIRC, he claimed that non of the breakins breached the safe, but I will admit that my memory is fuzzier on this part. The fire protection is one I'm more sure of. FWIW...

 

[npaden]

Yeah, even with the 1 hour fire rating I'm not expecting anything in the main safe to remain useable in the case of the fire. But I'm hoping that the stuff inside the 2nd 1 hour fire rated safe to be safe.

 

[MKotur325]

My Dad has a larger Canon safe. Has been a good purchase so far. The one thing I will say about having a gun safe delivered... When his was delivered they left it on a pallet in the garage. That was as far as the delivery crew were allowed to take it. We debated about options to get it where he wanted it in the house and ended up hiring a local moving company to send out 3 lads with backs stronger than mine to place the safe. I would absolutely recommend this option. It was $225 (an hour for each guy at $75/man hour) to have the moving company take the 700lb safe into the house up a flight of stairs and place it. To my mind, it was well worth the investment. If you are thinking about having a safe delivered, I would add this onto your budget. It's not worth moving it yourself...

As far as the safe goes... It is a well made safe with good fit and finish that looks good. Were I in the market for one, I would definitely consider a Canon.

 

[1_pointer]

Yeah, even with the 1 hour fire rating I'm not expecting anything in the main safe to remain useable in the case of the fire. But I'm hoping that the stuff inside the 2nd 1 hour fire rated safe to be safe.

I hope you never have to find out. IIRC, again, it wasn't the heat but the caustic nature of the smoke + moisture from putting it out that ruined them.

 

[ERSS]

+1 on it being worth the money to have someone "install" it for you, unless it is going on the ground level with easy access

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I have had a liberty for about 10 years and it is a good safe. I am not current on performance of the different brands, but at the time a LIberty was a pretty good safe. Mine is a 25 gun, but I would don't go by the number the maker says it will fit because 1. they seem a bit exaggerated 2. your wife will want to stick a bunch of other stuff in there, and it won't take long and you will be wishing you bought the next step up.

As for moving them. I did this once, and after that told myself that the safe is being sold with the house next time.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I have a Cannon and like the safe. I have the buttons. Yep, I replace the battery once a year.

I have easy access so I just left the safe on the pallet and moved it into the house that way.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[LopeHunter]

Do bolt the safe to the floor. Preferably use 1/2" diameter anchor bolts. Why? Tipping a safe over hakes it easier to breech.

 

[mdhunter]

I have the Cannon CA 23 model. The deminsions are 60"H x 30" W x 22"D. I don't have the biggest office so it works for me perfectly.

It fits the 18 or so guns I have fine (combination shotguns and rifles). This safe has the electronic and manual dial, sixty minute fire rated, etc. I recomend it for sure.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

I have a Liberty Fat Boy 64 and a Stack On 36 and a smaller Winchester and have been happy with them all. We sell the Cannon's at the store and everyone seems to love them. I, like other have said, bolted them both through the floor. . .they would be hard to move anyway, but, reaaalllyy hard to move now. Good luck and let us know what you decide. . . .spend the money because if a couple of guns get stolen. . .the safe would be paid for.

 

[Zach]

Ken, whatever you buy, sink it to the concrete floor with redheads.

 

[gwhunter]

Do bolt the safe to the floor. Preferably use 1/2" diameter anchor bolts. Why? Tipping a safe over hakes it easier to breech.

Also, someone with a pallet jack can easily load it into the back of a van and have endless time to work on breaking into it once it is far away from your house...

I have easy access so I just left the safe on the pallet and moved it into the house that way.

 

[Kaitum]

I talked quite a bit with a couple different security companies when I was safe shopping. They explained the fire ratings, I wish I could remember half of what they told me. One aspect they strongly recommended was a seal lining around the door that expands when heated, this seals your safe from smoke and water during a fire.

Also, they strongly recommended bolting your safe to the floor. Their biggest reason for safety. Approximately 1/3 the weight of a safe is in the door. If the door is open its not unreasonable for a safe to tip over if someone (a kid) were to hang on the door.

I recall Liberty safes having very good ratings and customer reviews. In the end I bought a Canon off my next door neighbor when he sold his house. My main concern was security from break-ins over fire protection.

 

[npaden]

I checked, I have a Liberty that is rebranded by Cabelas.

Link to Cabela's Signature Gun Safe

Looks like it actually has a 75 minute fire rating instead of 60.

I bought mine right before they started adding the pockets on the inside of the door for pistols and stuff and got a pretty good deal on it.

I actually had them load it into my pickup truck in Dallas and drove to Lubbock and unloaded and installed it in my garage by myself with the help of a friend called leverage. It only weighs 790lbs.

I drilled anchor holes into the cement and it is bolted to the floor. I think it would take more effort to move it now.

 

[brymoore]

Take a took at Rhino Safe's Ironworks series.

http://www.rhinosafe.com/rhino-ironworks-and-af-ironworks-safes/

 

[Ben Lamb]

The thing to remember about bolting the safe to your concrete floor is that when it floods, your guns are going to get pretty wet. If you can raise it up a bit, then secure, you would be better off. Keep a lot of desiccant in there as well, given the relative humidity you're in.

Or build a vault; your own secret lair. Then plot world domination. It's fun for the whole family!