A cheap safe with a good door becomes a really good safe if you could lay concrete block around it. With rebar and concrete in the cavities it could deter all but the EXTREMELY determined thieves. The materials should only cost a couple of hundred bucks and you could probably find a mason with a cement mixer to provide the labor cheaply. Any handyman that can build a brick mail box could probably do the work.
Gun safes....are my guns really safe against burglary??
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About two years ago one of my friends relatives died and he became the executor. The deceased was a gun owner and had a gun safe bolted down to the closet floor in his bedroom. My friend asked me to help him open the safe to secure the firearms he knew were inside and so I did.
I honestly don't remember what brand of safe it was (NOT a high end one like a Liberty, Fort Knox or similar), but I can tell you than within two minutes we pried the safe up from the floor with two 6 foot pry bars. It was bolted down from the inside with 4 Lag Bolts that were about 3" long and 3/8" in diameter - really a piece of cake! Once we got the safe out of the closet so there was more room to work, I drilled four 1/2" holes (in each corner) through the top of the safe and used a Porter-Cable Tiger Saw to cut the top off. That took under 10 minutes and the safe was then emptied out. We both were shocked at how easy and effortless the entire process was and this was the first time I have ever done this!
No matter how good we think our gun safes are, most experienced thieves will not even attempt to open the front door but rather cut the top or sides opened. If the safe is NOT bolted down (a HUGE mistake) then all but the high end expensive models can be pried opened once it is on its back. All it would take is a few strong determined thieves with heavy duty and long pry bars.
A few suggestions would be:
Get the most secure and strongest safe you can afford - a Jewelry Store (used) safe is usually much much more secure than a "gun safe" is - and you could custom design and build the interior to suite your own needs. Get them used and save the money!
Lock the safe itself up in a secure closet with a Central Station alarm with a separate panel and different security code than the house code. Resist the temptation to have it on open display! AND if the safe is inside a secured closet you do NOT need to spend big bucks on a fancy, glossy paint job and pin stripes! Spend the savings on a more secure model instead.
Bolt the safe to the floor on all 4 corners and even to the beams if against the back wall.
When you take delivery of the safe, get an empty box from something like a refrigerator or large appliance and cover the safe box with it- no one pays attention to a "refrigerator' being delivered. Make sure the safe delivery truck is un-marked and that the employees are bonded and insured.
Again, there is no such thing as a 100% burglar proof safe, but by buying a good quality model and by following a few common sense practices like I've mentioned above, you can really minimize the risk.
I honestly don't remember what brand of safe it was (NOT a high end one like a Liberty, Fort Knox or similar), but I can tell you than within two minutes we pried the safe up from the floor with two 6 foot pry bars. It was bolted down from the inside with 4 Lag Bolts that were about 3" long and 3/8" in diameter - really a piece of cake! Once we got the safe out of the closet so there was more room to work, I drilled four 1/2" holes (in each corner) through the top of the safe and used a Porter-Cable Tiger Saw to cut the top off. That took under 10 minutes and the safe was then emptied out. We both were shocked at how easy and effortless the entire process was and this was the first time I have ever done this!
No matter how good we think our gun safes are, most experienced thieves will not even attempt to open the front door but rather cut the top or sides opened. If the safe is NOT bolted down (a HUGE mistake) then all but the high end expensive models can be pried opened once it is on its back. All it would take is a few strong determined thieves with heavy duty and long pry bars.
A few suggestions would be:
Get the most secure and strongest safe you can afford - a Jewelry Store (used) safe is usually much much more secure than a "gun safe" is - and you could custom design and build the interior to suite your own needs. Get them used and save the money!
Lock the safe itself up in a secure closet with a Central Station alarm with a separate panel and different security code than the house code. Resist the temptation to have it on open display! AND if the safe is inside a secured closet you do NOT need to spend big bucks on a fancy, glossy paint job and pin stripes! Spend the savings on a more secure model instead.
Bolt the safe to the floor on all 4 corners and even to the beams if against the back wall.
When you take delivery of the safe, get an empty box from something like a refrigerator or large appliance and cover the safe box with it- no one pays attention to a "refrigerator' being delivered. Make sure the safe delivery truck is un-marked and that the employees are bonded and insured.
Again, there is no such thing as a 100% burglar proof safe, but by buying a good quality model and by following a few common sense practices like I've mentioned above, you can really minimize the risk.
ky wonder
US Veteran
like already mentioned the safes are like any lock they deter the honest
if a crook wants in they will get in, most of the safes even mine are built to where it would take some time to pry open the door
but most like mine would be vulnerable to a good angle grinder, it would not be that hard to open them up on the sides with a good grinder and cutting wheel, they have a thin gauge skin and a plasterboard liner so I am confident that they only deter the honest folks and lazy thieves
in my community all my neighbors know I have guns, and they know I would use them to protect my property as well as theirs, and I know they are also armed and would reciprocate in the same manner
that's a benefit of living out in the sticks
if a crook wants in they will get in, most of the safes even mine are built to where it would take some time to pry open the door
but most like mine would be vulnerable to a good angle grinder, it would not be that hard to open them up on the sides with a good grinder and cutting wheel, they have a thin gauge skin and a plasterboard liner so I am confident that they only deter the honest folks and lazy thieves
in my community all my neighbors know I have guns, and they know I would use them to protect my property as well as theirs, and I know they are also armed and would reciprocate in the same manner
that's a benefit of living out in the sticks
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It is every gun owners responsibility to secure their guns. Buy the best you can afford.
But above all, secure the perimeter doors of your home.
A high percentage of petty thieves want nothing to do with a good quality gun safe. They know it won't be easy.
I've opened may safes. It takes time, special tools, and know how.
But above all, secure the perimeter doors of your home.
A high percentage of petty thieves want nothing to do with a good quality gun safe. They know it won't be easy.
I've opened may safes. It takes time, special tools, and know how.
YogiBear
Absent Comrade
Get More than one safe
Aloha,
Since the Wife has Her guns we have His & Hers safes.
Delivered and Installed by local gun guys.
Safes are bolted to the concrete slab in corner of closet.
One contractor I know turned his son's room into a vault,
complete with full size safe door.
Having a pack of dogs is a good deterrent too.
Aloha,
Since the Wife has Her guns we have His & Hers safes.
Delivered and Installed by local gun guys.
Safes are bolted to the concrete slab in corner of closet.
One contractor I know turned his son's room into a vault,
complete with full size safe door.
Having a pack of dogs is a good deterrent too.
If you take this thread to heart, you'd never own guns or a safe . . .
A gun safe buys time. And no doubt deters thief punks
like the kind that robbed you.
Let me relate a story from here.
A guy lives out in the country and while he's at work his home
is broken into. The thieves could not pry/cut open his gun safe
so they put a log chain around it and pulled it thru the wall/window
of his home.
He bought another safe. Same thing happened a few months later.
Pulled the safe right thru the wall.
The safes were both found dumped just off rural gravel roads.
On both safes the Police found that the thieves had simply cut
a hole right thru the top of the safe with an Acetylene torch and
all guns were removed.
When told this, guy bought a third gun safe. He welded a compartment
into the top of the safe and filled it with 10 pounds of Black powder.
Haven't heard if he was robbed a third time. Hope not.
Chuck
like the kind that robbed you.
Let me relate a story from here.
A guy lives out in the country and while he's at work his home
is broken into. The thieves could not pry/cut open his gun safe
so they put a log chain around it and pulled it thru the wall/window
of his home.
He bought another safe. Same thing happened a few months later.
Pulled the safe right thru the wall.
The safes were both found dumped just off rural gravel roads.
On both safes the Police found that the thieves had simply cut
a hole right thru the top of the safe with an Acetylene torch and
all guns were removed.
When told this, guy bought a third gun safe. He welded a compartment
into the top of the safe and filled it with 10 pounds of Black powder.
Haven't heard if he was robbed a third time. Hope not.
Chuck
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jag312
Member
I have a burglar alarm system for the house plus a Liberty safe. What I'm thinking of doing is buy a nice gun cabinet with a glass front and fill it with cheap junk single shot shotguns and junk .22 rifles, then remove the firing pins, and put the gun cabinet in the living room where any intruder can see it. If an intruder breaks in, the alarm will go off, and he'll grab the first things he sees which will be the junk guns.
ParadiseRoad
Member
...a guy with a chainsaw and a flatbed wrecker could have the safe out and gone in about 30 seconds...
OP
77blackcj5
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Wow that was some really good responses! Thanks to all who chimed in. I don't know what I'll do yet. I would like a better quality safe but I can't help but think the $500 unit did its job. I think my intruder was very fast and nervous. He tried to take the bigger tv in the living room but didn't have a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 4 screws that held it to the swivel. Can someone suggest a few better units for me to check out? One of my neighbors has a browning safe that looks stout. Thanks again guys.
A cheap safe beats no safe and a flush beats a straight.
bgrone
Member
Legality
I agree with the idea in theory, however as to legality refer to Katko v Briney 183 N.W.2nd 657 (Iowa 1971).
Very interesting reading about use of force to protect property vs life. Still quoted at University of Iowa Law School.
I aint going to attach a link to the advertisement, cause I am unsure about the legality.... But there is this neat little spring loaded device that holds a bulk can of pepper spray, and can be attached to a door, for example. Open the door without first disarming the hidden trip, and it will flood a room with OC very quickly. My reloading / safe room has one, and it works...
Larry
I agree with the idea in theory, however as to legality refer to Katko v Briney 183 N.W.2nd 657 (Iowa 1971).
Very interesting reading about use of force to protect property vs life. Still quoted at University of Iowa Law School.
rick1085
Member
Can highly recommend these guys
Nothing fancy, just a high quality safe at a fair price.
I've toured this plant and seen them built. No B.S. here
Gun Safes & Fire Safes by Sturdy Gun Safe Manufacturing
I have zero financial conection.
Nothing fancy, just a high quality safe at a fair price.
I've toured this plant and seen them built. No B.S. here
Gun Safes & Fire Safes by Sturdy Gun Safe Manufacturing
I have zero financial conection.
Agreed. Good stuff and no middle-man markup.
Fishinfool
Member
If I tried the pepper spray rig in post 20 with my memory I'd be the first one sprayed.
Yea, my ex wife set it off one day, that's how I know it works...
Larry
Cardboard_killer
Member
A friend of mine has one of these and it is so much more impressive than anything I've seen at any local store, and makes the one I have look like it's made of papermache.
I have a couple safes and a home surveillance system that will record anyone coming onto my property. But, the safes can be stolen or cracked and the video hard drive could be taken too. Haw far you want to go? As a metal fabricator I hsve thought of buying a some 1/4" plate and building a big solid safe and lining it with industrial hardboard insulation. My other thought which is better is we are going tto do an addition. Thinking of pouring some 6" thick steel reinforced walls for a small walk in fire proof safe. Build the door out of 1/4" steel and fill the voids in it with more concrete. Things besides guns, wife's legal files, etc.
If have 10 minutes to spend and want all your questions answered on gun safes go to Utube and enter Grifffin Enterprise Safes. A good old local boy who has forgotten more about safes than most safe salesmen will ever know. I spent 3 hours at his warehouse where he takes damaged safes to open them up. I got quite an education.
OP
77blackcj5
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As I read all of this I keep reflecting back on Muss Muggins comments about taking the this thread to heart would make you not want guns or a safe. Come to think of it I never had a theft until I started accumulating guns and shooting often behind my house.
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