Replace Your GunVault Battery

[CB3]

Safe Gun

I just designed a safe gun. You put a 9 volt battery in the grip, and there are three finger print devices that will cause a small solenoid to engage a motor that will unlock the trigger.

It works (almost) every time.

That's only four additional failure-prone devices that make my gun much more safe, as long as you believe that when you need to fire the gun and it doesn't work you are safer.

And for the poster who believes that hiding a gun is better than putting it in a safe? Been there. Done that. Lost the gun to a thief. Never again. If it is so well hidden a thief won't find it, you won't be able to get at it quickly when you need to.

No electronic locks for me. Five-button mechanical Simplex locks have worked perfectly for me for over 35 years. Boxes are anchored in their positions. Simplex Kaba Ilco Online Store - Simplex Lock Available on many different gun boxes and safes from different manufacturers. Kids and nosy friends/neighbors/relatives cannot get in.

With enough time, a thief can get into anything, but the average smash and grab guy only deals with the easy stuff. Put a real decoy safe/box anchored somewhere he is likely to find it first. Keep nothing in it. If he spends the time to open it and get nothing, he will have probably wasted more time than he wants.

If you absolutely have to have an electronic opening device on a safe, do not have it on one you need to access for a life and death situation, and make sure the battery is replaceable from the outside.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I'm done with Gunvault or any other pistol box that relies on a solenoid to open it. I've recommended them for years until now but both of mine took a dump. One is 8 years old and the other two years. I will be buying two new pistol boxes from V-Line soon.

But yes, change your batteries.

 

[Magload]

Unsafe Gun Safes Can Be Opened By A Three-Year Old - Forbes This works I opened mine in 6 seconds.

 

[Bowserb]

Wow! I'm surprised--not by the mfr--but by a respected retail chain like Cabelas. In a lawsuit, everyone in the manufacturing and distribution chain could be named, in search of deep pockets. And considering this article being published in Forbes (in 2012), the information is widely disseminated...although this is the first I've heard of it. I tried the impact approach to my GunVault container, and it seems safe from that approach. It uses a button-combination or a barrel type alternate lock, but I just did a quick search and realized I have no idea where the key is, so I may be back to searching for a new case--definitely not Stack-On, though.

 

[BC38]

Unsafe Gun Safes Can Be Opened By A Three-Year Old - Forbes This works I opened mine in 6 seconds.

How old (or new) is the one you opened in 6 seconds Magload? Which method did you use to open it? I have a 2014 model gunvault and after watching some of the videos on U-Tube I tried the things they showed and they didn't work to get mine open. And no, I'm not mechanically inept either, FWIW I'm actually an engineer and I've been a hobbiest auto mechanic / fabricator for over 40 years.

I can see where there is a concern - especially with the older units that are out there still in service. Although I have no evidence to support this, I strongly suspect that a lot of these design flaws have already been addressed. After all, the article linked above is over 3 years old.

I just can't imagine these companies ignoring this for that long. Knowing about the issues and doing nothing would be considered willful disregard and they'd be crucified the first time they were taken to court over it. I haven't heard of that happening and with this info all over the internet I can't see how they could have avoided being put out of business by lawsuits by now if these problems were on-going.

 

[Cal44]

FWIW my Baska fingerprint safe also came with an extra external battery box and a connector to hook it to the safe.

So even if your internal battery goes dead, and you can't find the key, you can apply power by plugging the external battery box into the unit.

But that safe was a little more money than the low end gun vaults so the manufacturer could spend more on the design.

 

[FAS1]

Mechanical lock for me. This one also has a one of a kind feature that will deadbolt the push button lock when extra security is wanted and also works as a backup key entry if desired (it can be disabled w/stop washer).

 

[Kanewpadle]

Unsafe Gun Safes Can Be Opened By A Three-Year Old - Forbes This works I opened mine in 6 seconds.

This was debunked a few years ago. And if you bolt them down, it's not quite so easy.

 

[flat_topp]

... And if you bolt them down, it's not quite so easy.

I haven't been able to try the "drop test" since my GunVault is bolted down to a heavy piece of furniture. And I am too chicken to try sticking a paper clip down the key hole to test that method for fear of jamming up the works. I think I'll stick with using my pushbutton code and doing a better job of keeping the battery fresh.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

I never understood why anyone would bet there life on a battery working AND an electric motor operating in an emergency situation.

Firm believer in Murphy's law.

Being an old guy who generally hates electronics I love my old (too small) Browning safe with a combination dial. The battery/electronics have never failed one time. I must admit I lost a Sectional Chart out of an airplane window once but had a spare that was only a little older.

Someday I'll restore a pickup with points and a carburetor that nobody can shutdown with a satellite...jus' sayin'.

 

[Magload]

How old (or new) is the one you opened in 6 seconds Magload? Which method did you use to open it? I have a 2014 model gunvault and after watching some of the videos on U-Tube I tried the things they showed and they didn't work to get mine open. And no, I'm not mechanically inept either, FWIW I'm actually an engineer and I've been a hobbiest auto mechanic / fabricator for over 40 years.

I can see where there is a concern - especially with the older units that are out there still in service. Although I have no evidence to support this, I strongly suspect that a lot of these design flaws have already been addressed. After all, the article linked above is over 3 years old.

I just can't imagine these companies ignoring this for that long. Knowing about the issues and doing nothing would be considered willful disregard and they'd be crucified the first time they were taken to court over it. I haven't heard of that happening and with this info all over the internet I can't see how they could have avoided being put out of business by lawsuits by now if these problems were on-going.

I bought one of them about 3 years ago the other I bought this year. The new one came from Amazon. I used the paper clip on both and also cut a piece of old credit card both worked. After taking apart the insides they both have the same key lock.

 

[Magload]

This was debunked a few years ago. And if you bolt them down, it's not quite so easy.

They may have debunked the three year old doing it but this 68 year old had to do it or I wasn't getting in. Emailed Stack On and they would sell me new keys if I had the receipts and a notarized letter. If you don't think it can't be done then you sure didn't watch any of the many videos. Don

 

[Kanewpadle]

They may have debunked the three year old doing it but this 68 year old had to do it or I wasn't getting in. Emailed Stack On and they would sell me new keys if I had the receipts and a notarized letter. If you don't think it can't be done then you sure didn't watch any of the many videos. Don

If you're truly 68 years old, you should know not to believe everything you see or read on the net let alone assume anything.

I'm a locksmith. It's what I do and have done for a long time.

Many of these videos are staged.

 

[Magload]

If you're truly 68 years old, you should know not to believe everything you see or read on the net let alone assume anything.

I'm a locksmith. It's what I do and have done for a long time.

Many of these videos are staged.

I am 68 and I watched myself use the paper clip just like the guy in the video did. I don't think it would work with a good key lock but it sure does with these. You don't even have to pick at it just slide the bent over paper clip in and up against one side jiggle the clip wile turning. Once you get the feel for it it is easy and I did it a half dozen times. Don

 

[Kanewpadle]

I am 68 and I watched myself use the paper clip just like the guy in the video did. I don't think it would work with a good key lock but it sure does with these. You don't even have to pick at it just slide the bent over paper clip in and up against one side jiggle the clip wile turning. Once you get the feel for it it is easy and I did it a half dozen times. Don

Don't leave paper clips laying around your house and nobody will mess with it.

 

[Engineer1911]

What key ? ?

 

[BC38]

I am 68 and I watched myself use the paper clip just like the guy in the video did. I don't think it would work with a good key lock but it sure does with these. You don't even have to pick at it just slide the bent over paper clip in and up against one side jiggle the clip wile turning. Once you get the feel for it it is easy and I did it a half dozen times. Don

Which brand and model did you do this with? And what kind of lock? The type of lock that takes a flat key - or the type with a cylinder-shaped key?

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I change the 9v battery in my safe twice a year - daylight savings time in the spring, and then when we reset again in the fall. Cheap and simple - just like me.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Magload]

Which brand and model did you do this with? And what kind of lock? The type of lock that takes a flat key - or the type with a cylinder-shaped key?

It is the Stack On Mini Safe it has the digital keypad and a plastic cover that hides the key lock. The keys are those cheap flat ones. There is also another way into the safe by busting the lower right corner off the keypad and running a stiff wire through the slot where the ribbon wire from the keypad goes into the safe. You push down on the solenoid and that releases the lock. That is a destructive method so I didn't try it. The solenoid is why you could slam the safe down to release the lock as it is mounted vertical and has a petty weak spring. My safe is sitting on top of a 6 drawer heavy wood dressed bolted down to it and then the back of the safes are bolted to the wall studs. Both are now locked with heavy duty hasp and Master Lock mechanical digital paddocks. I am sure a good lock smith could open those to but then they can open most any safe. Don

 

[Magload]

I change the 9v battery in my safe twice a year - daylight savings time in the spring, and then when we reset again in the fall. Cheap and simple - just like me.

Regards,

Dave

Dave I change mine also but the older safe was loosing battery power with a new battery. A contact problem but every time I thought I had it fixed the next day it failed and I had to break out the paper clip that is how I got so good at it. Don