How many of you have actually used those cable locks on your guns?

[JOERM]

I've never used any of the cable locks that come with the hand gun, never. Oh...I take that back, I used one on my gate once. Those things are everywhere in my house it seems. Always thought I could use them in so many places but I only have so many things to lock up.

Mainly never used them for fear of loosing the keys or because there would be so many different locks with different keys how in the world could you keep them sorted? The only way you could is to keep the key in the box with the locked gun. Yea, that really makes sence.

Also have never locked any of my hand guns internal lock for the same reasons.

 

[fat tom]

Same here.
f.t.

 

[jaykellogg]

I gave one to a woman who said she needed a gun. I wanted to make sure her grandchildren did not have a accident.

I live alone and I either want the gun to be able to fire at a minute's notice or it is in the safe.

 

[marvin the martian]

My 870 shot gun came with the cheap LBS cable lock that I had actually put on. Big mistake. Went to shoot some skeet and the dang thing wouldn't unlock!! Luckily a buddy happen to have a bolt cutter in his truck!
I now have a nice little collection of them sitting on the bottom of the safe.

 

[Bib]

I have a nice one that I actually use.....to secure my full-face helmet to my motorcycle.

 

[USAF385]

I once used one as a lock out / tag out.

 

[Linejudgemick]

I've used a couple - like others here for stuff other than locking a gun. My firearms are in the safe, lock box, or with me.

 

[sipowicz]

I have a nice one that I actually use.....to secure my full-face helmet to my motorcycle.

same here...and if they tamper with it, and see "Springfield Armory" on it, they may move on to another bike...

 

[GKC]

Some guns (like Colt, Springfield, and Ruger) come with locks that are branded with their name...those I keep in the box. As for the rest, the generic no-name cheapies, I used to throw them away when I got home...now, I take them out of the box and hand them back as I leave the LGS. They have to supply them, and they are happy to re-use them. (I don't do this at Academy or Cabela's.)

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I save them and take them back to the LGS when I think of it. Some I leave in the box if they have the mfg logo on them.

 

[Stainless44]

This thread is actually a good reminder for me to round them all up and toss them out. I've never used one.

 

[GKC]

This thread is actually a good reminder for me to round them all up and toss them out. I've never used one.

If they are unused and still in the package, you might consider giving them to your local gun shop. They have to provide them on any guns that don't come with one, so I'm sure they would be glad to get them.

 

[Beemer-mark]

I have a nice one that I actually use.....to secure my full-face helmet to my motorcycle.

Now that is a great idea.

Now I have to go buy a new handgun to get the lock (I usually throw them away). Good excuse anyway.

 

[Rule3]

I put them on other peoples guns at the range when the go to change targets. Oh the fun!!

 

[Poodle Soup]

I have one sitting on my desk I play with all the time... used it to lock a gun? Nope

 

[paplinker]

I use them if taking a gun to a gun show. I hate the zip ties.

 

[leswad]

Does it detract from a guns value if you have the box, the manual but not the original lock?

 

[gregintenn]

They'll work in a pinch for locking a trailer tongue.

 

[Erich]

I use them every time I fly with a handgun in the luggage - I put the gun inside a locking hard case, and I lock it open and sometimes lock it to the hard case. My thought is that it's an additional layer of security, which I'm hopeful might dissuade a would-be thief.

This set-up was photographed a long time ago to show how one could do it on the cheap: I actually use a locking metal box, which has holes through which I thread the locking cable that's also threaded through the frame and barrel of the gun. TSA can request the lock for the box (actually, I can't remember SOP these days - no one's asked me since '04 or so), but not for the cable-lock.

I also have another one locked through the action of a rifle, holding it down to an anchor attached in the cargo area of my car.

 

[Zjnovak]

Does it detract from a guns value if you have the box, the manual but not the original lock?

I dont think so. Most people dont use them or care if they are with the gun.

My neighbor had once used a cable lock on the folded ladder of his swimming pool to keep the kids or dogs from getting in when he was not home. Turns out his dog jumped the side and clawed the vinyl on his way up. Tore a huge hole in the side of the pool.

Lesson learned. Never use those locks.