Smith & Wesson Forum - View Single Post - Modular "Safes": Snapsafe, Zanotti, Dakota

g8rb8 · 03-27-2016, 08:18 PM

Thanks to bigolddave, Dashriprock, and Klondike. It doesn't surprise me all of you like your Zanotti "safes". They seem to be universally well regarded. Current wait time was quoted as 6.5 months last week. It's been as long as a year relatively recently. The wait time probably speaks to desirability.

Hopefully someone can chime in with experience with the Snapsafe, especially the larger models (Super Titan XL and Super Titan XXL)

For anyone reading this and curious about the difference in the Snapsafe and Zanotti:

The main benefits I can see for the Snapsafe are:
1. The claim of "2300 degrees F one-hour Fire Shield protection" versus the Zanotti claim of "withstands 1200 degrees for about 20 minutes." There is probably some validity to the Snapsafe claim given it is fully lined with ceramic fiber blankets retained with magnesium oxide panels which are highly fire resistant and it has heat activated door fire seals.
2. Shipping within a week versus 6.5 months for the Zanotti.
3. The Snapsafe is roughly 10-15% less expensive total cost comparing relatively similar sizes.

The main benefits I can see for the Zanotti are:
1. When considering the larger safes the Zanotti doors are full-size, full-width whereas the Snapsafe door width of 14-3/4" is the same for all sizes including their largest safe which is 46" wide (41" interior) which means blind corners on each side of the door.
2. Universally well regarded.
3. Made in U.S.A.
4. Can choose right or left door opening.

As best I can determine other factors are somewhat similar:
1. Mechanical Locks - both have a group 2 lock (Snapsafe says they use a La Gard).
2. Doors - both made with 7 gauge steel (Zanotti with an additional 3/8" hardened drill-resistant lock plate). Both use a mechanism to secure both sides of the door. Zanotti has locking bolts on both sides. Snapsafe has locking bolts on one side and long piece of steel on the inside of the other side of the door that overlaps the inside of the frameside.
3. Side walls - Zanotti are solid 1/8" (11 gauge). Snapsafe uses two layers (looks semi-bonded?) totaling 5/32" (9 gauge).