I don't know much about brands or safes. I don't want one with a key, something that's bolted to the floor would be nice (how does that work? anchor bolts?), and something relatively small.

I'd like to keep some documents, checkbook, some electronics, and my pistol in there (when not carrying, etc).

suggestions?

[Edited on January 24, 2009 at 3:12 PM. Reason : .]

1/24/2009 2:59:00 PM

I don't know if they bolt to the ground but you can find some at Staples and Wal-mart.

1/24/2009 3:17:34 PM

I bought a Sentry safe at target for $200. It has a digital keypad entry.
The volume is 1.3 cu.ft, and it holds 2 of my guns, and some of my ammo, as well as my more secure documents.
It is 3 hour fire rated, and has points to bolt it to the floor or wall. The bolts go from the inside and can be attached to studs, or put in concrete with the supplied hardware.

Here is a higher model then mine:
http://www.target.com/GMT-Electronic-Safe-Gunmetal-Gray/dp/B000R4HHGE/sr=1-11/qid=1232829879/ref=sr_1_11/188-5549808-9316416?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Asafe&page=1

[Edited on January 24, 2009 at 3:46 PM. Reason : .]

1/24/2009 3:44:07 PM

dont bother getting a safe if you arent going to bolt it down

1/24/2009 4:20:55 PM

theres a safe place off of 401 near wake tech

1/24/2009 4:37:32 PM

usually you run some really big anchor bolts down to the underside of the floor and put a nut on them in the crawlspace under the house. then someone has to go under the house with a wrench to get the safe.

a safe is useless unless it's bolted down.

1/24/2009 6:57:22 PM

How hard or easy is it to hack safe with a digital keypad? Would it be more complicated than removing its power source?

1/24/2009 7:41:00 PM

^
depends on who made it. the digital safes you find in cheaper hotel rooms can be bypassed with a paper clip.

with sentry safes, typically if you have rudimentary electronics skill you can pop off the front keypad, look at the two wires that go into the door, find and put power to the solenoid and open it that way.
a 9v or 4 AA batteries are all you need.

the combination dial safes are a bit better and it doesn't have any electrical parts. most entry level electronic safes use cheap ass chinese components and do not have a very high MTBF. which is bad.

the only thing that i find good about the digital keypad safes are the fact that the code can be any length AND you can open it in the dark b/c the keypad is backlit. the only downside other than it being made with shitty parts is that the solenoid makes noise when it is activated.

if you absolutely have to have a digital safe, honeywell makes a biometric one where it also has a backup key to open. with any of the electronic safes, the battery compartment is usually located either behind a separate door or behind the keypad.

the sentry safes DO NOT have a backup key, if if the solenoid fails, then you are SOL and have to call a locksmith and pay $300 for them to drill and open your safe.

[Edited on January 24, 2009 at 9:24 PM. Reason : f]

1/24/2009 9:21:50 PM

well I really only have one option and it can't involve going underneath it to do anything...

1/24/2009 9:22:02 PM

most safes will come with a bolt down kit. either you get lag bolts or big screws which go into wood flooring just fine.

you'll have to get masonry bolts yourself from lowes.

bolting your safe (drilling a hole through the case) reduces it's ability to insulate in a fire situation.

have you thought about the $20 gun safes at walmart? they bolt to damn near anything, fit two pistols (has a shelf) and even bolts to itself! then get a separate safe for your documents?

1/24/2009 9:30:46 PM

I'm not sure what having two safes would do for me though - just more damage to fix later.

I can't bolt to the floor - I'm renting and I'm not about to ruin the carpet. I could bolt to the wall and fix that easy enough... I have seen any wall mounts though

1/24/2009 10:50:07 PM

mount the feet to the wall with the door opening upward

1/25/2009 12:45:04 AM

Name: Drake Safe Company
Street: 747 Leasburg Road
Roxboro, nc 27573-5444
Phone: (336) 597-5059

Call Drake, he built me a good safe. He had the highest heat rating in a safe I could find. He also put bolts all the way around. So, if they cut the hinge off it won't come off.

1/25/2009 12:52:23 AM

lolz. thought about that. but then the keypad/combination lock would be backwards!

^how much do his safes run?

[Edited on January 25, 2009 at 12:52 AM. Reason : .]

1/25/2009 12:52:32 AM

they aren't going to notice some very small holes in the carpet in a closet or something from lag bolts..bolt that shit down or don't bother

1/25/2009 1:01:37 AM

I am planning on bolting it to something. I'd prefer a wall - I can fix that easy enough.

1/25/2009 1:11:42 AM

^^Depends on what you want. He builds them to order. Got a 52 gun, gun safe for about the same price as any I had seen. I shopped around for awhile.

1/25/2009 1:14:35 AM

Quote :

"they aren't going to notice some very small holes in the carpet in a closet or something from lag bolts..bolt that shit down or don't bother"

i agree, they won't notice holes in carpet. they aren't very big holes.

1/25/2009 8:25:15 AM

^
Cut a slit, not a hole...

Quote :

"bolting your safe (drilling a hole through the case) reduces it's ability to insulate in a fire situation"

Bolt your large safe, and then put your small fire-safe inside it.

1/25/2009 9:14:19 AM

ok, I'll look into bolting it to the floor

1/25/2009 10:33:40 AM

The senty safes do have models with a key backup. Specifically, the one I linked.
There are 4 wires going into the safe, not just 2, as well. I do agree that anyone with simple electronics knowledge will be able to open it though.

The $20 gun 'safes' at Walmart are cabinets with a simple lock, not a safe.

A good safe will have provisions to mount through the back to the wall, or through the bottom to the floor.

1/25/2009 1:04:22 PM

dude, seriously. that's not a key backup. it's an additional lock. so if you don't want anyone else to access it, even if they know the code, push the lock in and only the key will allow you to unlock the solenoid.

[Edited on January 25, 2009 at 1:11 PM. Reason : l]

1/25/2009 1:10:49 PM

In that case, it is just retarded.


I also have:


This is digital and/or key entry. It is not fire rated, but does lock everything up.
All of the electronic components are located internally.

1/25/2009 2:21:55 PM

no one said sentry safes were any good they look like bullshit.

any residential safe should have a key lock in addition to whatever else they want to tack on.

the only good thing about the keypads are the quick access. they will most likely fail far faster than the dial locks.

http://callitout.com/quotes/index.php/forget-about-it/55/sentry-fire-safe-wont-open-its-broken/

[Edited on January 25, 2009 at 2:39 PM. Reason : h]

1/25/2009 2:32:40 PM

Quote :

"theres a safe place off of 401 near wake tech "

Talton's. They're a great place to look for a used safe.

1/25/2009 5:47:37 PM

mechanical locks people, mechanical locks

they have worked for hundreds of years, no need to mess with a good thing

for ease of access on a dial safe when you lock it, dial in the first two numbers, then if you need to grab a gun quick, you turn it to the last number and open it, if you are gonna be gone for a while, just give it a couple full spins

[Edited on January 25, 2009 at 8:47 PM. Reason : a]

1/25/2009 8:44:31 PM

I have this...

http://www.gunvault.com/

The digital pad is really easy to use w/ practice. Also, the door pops open w/ force so you can get in quick. It has places to bolt it down but I don't see the need. I carry my piece 24/7 so I rarely put it in there. The only reason I got it is some dummy doesn't get my gun and kill themselves. Its big enough to hold my G22, 3 Mag and various sundries.

1/25/2009 8:51:19 PM

Well I agree with the others as for bolting it down. I'm going to be storing more than a pistol. Thus if someone takes off with the safe, what good was it?

1/25/2009 9:23:21 PM

Quote :

"for ease of access on a dial safe when you lock it, dial in the first two numbers, then if you need to grab a gun quick, you turn it to the last number and open it, if you are gonna be gone for a while, just give it a couple full spins "

what kind of safe only has a 3 number combination?

1/25/2009 9:26:31 PM

gunvaults are POS'. i am not down with it. i've owned two and they both broke within 6 mos.

this is exactly what happened to mine.

Quote :

"for ease of access on a dial safe when you lock it, dial in the first two numbers, then if you need to grab a gun quick, you turn it to the last number and open it, if you are gonna be gone for a while, just give it a couple full spins "

very good suggestion.

Quote :

" what kind of safe only has a 3 number combination?"

the good kind.

1/25/2009 9:53:29 PM

Finally got one from Talton's. I'd like to leave details out, but I was happy with the price and safe.

The install was a little tougher than I thought, though not too bad. It helps if you have the correct size anchor though

3/2/2009 5:51:44 PM

If you gave me a call, I'd help you out getting it in the place

3/2/2009 6:42:36 PM

I LOVE Talton's!

The big antique safes that look like furniture are to die for.

3/3/2009 1:10:01 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia

3/3/2009 1:27:32 AM

ah yes! paranoia is the only possibility. Crimes are never committed in college towns or in college apartments. No one locks their doors. No one locks up valuables. The 1950's are so sweet!

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 7:12 AM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 7:11:42 AM

I think the point he was getting at was all the worry that if you don't have the best safe money can buy, any random thug will be knowledgeable enough to crack your safe and steal your worthless crap that you keep in there.

unless you're keeping guns and irreplaceable documents etc for the purpose of keeping it away from kids and/or protecting it from fire and water damage, it's paranoia.

3/3/2009 7:35:46 AM

i have a safe, but it's more for fire and water protection of important documents than anything else. i don't keep anything of value in it.

3/3/2009 8:34:43 AM

^^and this coming from a guy that has dogs for home security.

Quote :

"Jesus H Christ. Private Pyle, why is your footlocker unlocked? If it wasn't for dickheads like you, there wouldn't be any thievery in this world, would there? "

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 8:38 AM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 8:37:36 AM

I guess i'm just not as afraid of everything as you are.

OH MY GOD BLACK PEOPLE ARE AROUND US!!!!!!

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 8:39 AM. Reason : asdf]

3/3/2009 8:39:08 AM

Fuck! Where are they!?

3/3/2009 8:46:47 AM

1. Water/Fire Protection
2. Keep certain documents & firearms away from those who should not have access to them
3. Eliminate chances for crimes of opportunity.

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 3:03 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 3:02:57 PM

I looked at a house that had an in-wall safe that was pretty sweet. I'm sure you can buy them pretty cheap as it wasn't the most solid looking thing in the world. It mounted flush with the wall, so you would basically just cut the sheetrock and bolt it to the house's frame. It would be easy to pry out of the wall with a couple of crowbars, but what thief is going to walk through your home looking behind all your paintings?

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 3:34 PM. Reason : l]

3/3/2009 3:32:31 PM

^ thats one of the advantages to those types

3/3/2009 6:43:50 PM

Quote :

"OH MY GOD BLACK PEOPLE ARE AROUND US!!!!!! "

Oh shit, I better get my guns OUT of the safe then.

3/3/2009 8:13:07 PM

Quote :

"It would be easy to pry out of the wall with a couple of crowbars, but what thief is going to walk through your home looking behind all your paintings?"

one of the old people my mother used to take care of was robbed in a home invasion, they tore down every picture checking for a safe--so it does happen

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 8:20 PM. Reason : but admittedly, prolly not very often]

3/3/2009 8:17:22 PM

Quote :

"but what thief is going to walk through your home looking behind all your paintings?"

Those who play far too many video games during their free time and are taught to do such things. NES Who Framed Roger Rabbit FTW.

wdprice3, what is your budget for such a safe? Once our house is built, we'll seriously consider a larger and heavier safe that will likely run a several hundred dollars and weigh several hundred pounds. For now, for practical purposes, we have a small $40 safe from Target that is fireproof and keeps essential documents in it.

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 8:24:05 PM

Quote :

"we'll seriously consider a larger and heavier safe that will likely run a several hundred dollars and weigh several hundred pounds"

if you want water and fire resistance, add another zero. if you want a dicks sporting goods special, then yeah, you get what you pay for.

Quote :

"we have a small $40 safe from Target that is fireproof and keeps essential documents in it."

remember, it's not fireproof. it's only rated for 30-60-90 minutes at some temperature (Say 1200degF) which does not represent a majority of structural fires. also the fire can last, much, much longer.

safe deposit box for the really irreplaceable items like birth certificates, baby pictures, heirlooms, etc...

firebox for passports, cash, watches, etc... typically not rated to store firearms.

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 10:00 PM. Reason : b]

3/3/2009 9:55:07 PM

Quote :

"safe deposit box for the really irreplaceable items like birth certificates, baby pictures, heirlooms, etc..."

yeah and people can rob the bank

3/3/2009 10:07:42 PM

i got one at walmart (found it over in the stationary section of all places) and it works great


i've been meaning to take pictures of it and load them up here

i mounted it in my truck underneath my bench seat in the back, and it fits perfectly. And it isn't going anywhere



i'm picking up my new digi camera tomorrow, so when i'm playing around with it, i'll take some pictures and post em up here



here is a link to the one I got and put in the truck:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8251470

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 10:37 PM. Reason : s]

3/3/2009 10:34:51 PM

set em up

3/3/2009 10:49:34 PM