Drawer Full of Smiths and Ammo

[KSDeputy]

If I ever feel the need to show my firearms etc. to anyone I open one of the safes. I do not wish to display them. We live in the country, but have busy roads on two sides of us, a good alarm system, a chocolate lab who doesn't like strangers, and I am home most of the time. I don't worry about it.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

A local guy who owned a good number of guns and small valuables bought a very large , heavy and supposedly totally secure safe . He installed it in his basement bolted to several inches of steel reinforced concrete floor . Loaded his guns and goodies in the safe and eventually went on vacation for a week . When he returned he found the safe and a considerable chunk of floor gone. They never caught the persons who stole it .

 

[Hamster65]

Just curious as to why there's a single shotgun shell in that drawer?

 

[DocB]

Because it's an old one and makes a good spacer.

 

[chud333]

Those are some beauties Doc.
I would be of the group to ask you get those wonderful
old Smiths in a safe.
With the various interiors you can get these days, it makes
it easy to show them off to family and friends in no time.

I'd hate to hear of a loss to some meth heads somewhere.


Chuck

 

[Pete from Perth]

In Australia you can not own Firearms until you have an approved safe bolted to floor & wall which is inspected by Police & quite often Police turn up to do a random security check of your safe & check contents!

 

[mrcvs]

...The good news is that some fine old safes can be had for not that much money. You can find one that matches the age of your favorite revolver...

Where can I find this? I have been looking for quite some time...

Also, would these be considered safes or residential security containers?

By the way, I like the vintage look. I am not one for anything new and shiny.

 

[mrcvs]

...some fine old safes can be had for not that much money...

How much money are we talking? I have been searching for several years for a used safe, ideally locally, that, hopefully, is a real safe, and not a RSC, and I have found nothing!!!

 

[6518John]

In Australia you can not own Firearms until you have an approved safe bolted to floor & wall which is inspected by Police & quite often Police turn up to do a random security check of your safe & check contents!

Pete--I have never met an Australian that was not a fun, open and honest person and I know your country is one of the world's most beautiful. I can't imagine your people's homes being subject to baseless and warrantless searches like this. I am generally not one to get in a twist over much I read on the internet, but your post above had anger welling up in me--I guess the revolutionary spirit is still kicking almost 250 years later. As I am sure you know general searches were one of the reason we colonies revolted from Great Britain and we passed the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution. May God bless you and your people and may he restore your freedoms.

Doc--Get a Liberty Safe. I promise you will say it was the best money you ever spent after you get it organized and you get use to using it.

 

[JSR III]

As I am sure you know general searches were one of the reason we colonies revolted from Great Britain and we passed the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution

If you are truly passionate about this, don't apply for a C&R license. Once obtained, the ATF has the right to "pop" in any time and inspect your collection.

I too have much of my collection displayed in a glass shelved old jewelers display case. My collection is for my enjoyment and some day, if its still here, will bring some financial gain for whomever survives me.

If thieves or fire beat my heirs to their loot, oh well. It's my collection and I choose to enjoy it my way.

 

[mrcvs]

How much money are we talking? I have been searching for several years for a used safe, ideally locally, that, hopefully, is a real safe, and not a RSC, and I have found nothing!!!

It's not just this forum, but others as well...and this is NOT criticism of this forum, as this IS an AMAZING forum...

BUT, I it is mentioned on more than one occasion that a safe (and hopefully not a RSC) can be had, possibly vintage, for not that much money. When I ask how to go about purchasing one...crickets!

 

[Old TexMex]

It's not just this forum, but others as well...and this is NOT criticism of this forum, as this IS an AMAZING forum...

BUT, I it is mentioned on more than one occasion that a safe (and hopefully not a RSC) can be had, possibly vintage, for not that much money. When I ask how to go about purchasing one...crickets!

Interestingly enough...I saw two combination safes, both measuring (inside) about 18x18x18". Probably close to a century old, in good working order in an antique shop in Goliad or Cuero, Texas asking around $350-400. Heavy, too. Over 100lbs each, the walls were 2"+ thick.

 

[JSR III]

Try Craigslist. I have seen old jewelers safes for sale however, the big catch is the cost of getting them from where they are to where they will go. IIRC, one of the ones I saw for sale was huge like 5' x 5' x6'. Unless you were building a new home and could get it in before all of the walls were erected, it would require some major renovation work to get it in your home.

I think that having a steel room built in your basement or first floor might be less hassle. Then all you need is to find a company that can install a vault door.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Doc, there are a couple of cool ways to have stuff available and fairly secure. There are some units that fit between wall studs and cover with mirrors and pictures. Kinda like what you are already doing. Outta sight , outta mind. Then there is a man less than an hour from here who installs safes from old banks and jewelry stores. They weigh 5,000 pounds and you can walk around in them. Installed for $3,600. One of my guys asked him if he was going to bolt it to his floor, he answered..Anybody that can pick up a 5,000 pound safe ain't worried about no bolts!

 

[teletech]

How much money are we talking? I have been searching for several years for a used safe, ideally locally, that, hopefully, is a real safe, and not a RSC, and I have found nothing!!!

If you shop hard, I've seen them for a few hundred, but usually $500-1500 gives you some real options.
Cl is your friend. A quick search right now shows:

CARY SAFE CO BUFFALO NY CLASSIC VINTAGE ANTIQUE VAULT COLLECTIBLE
Antique safe
Herring Hall Marvin Hamilton Safe
Large Antique Cary Safe
LARGE SAFE

Of course, this is what's near me right now, YMMV.