Temporary secure storage of gun collection

[Stonecove]

A friend is going on a 1 year temporary assignment and is looking to store his collection of long and handguns (probably a dozen of each). They are in a safe now but he doesn't want to leave them in his unoccupied home.
Can you suggest ways to do this. Bank deposit vaults? Do you have experience with that? Other options?
I'd appreciate your help.
Best Regards,
Stonecove

 

[chief38]

Depending on the legality of your State, a good friend who has extra room in his safe would be the most convenient way. A Bank safety deposit box might work for hand guns but not for long guns. Friends or relatives who are upstanding and responsible would be the way to go IMHO.

 

[NYlakesider]

Depending on the legality of your State, a good friend who has extra room in his safe would be the most convenient way. A Bank safety deposit box might work for hand guns but not for long guns. Friends or relatives who are upstanding and responsible would be the way to go IMHO.

I have seen large boxes that will handle most long guns in some large banks safety deposit area but there very expensive I think there for art work but might work.

FWIW talking to some bank personnel they say they do not allow firearms to be put in storage. Course if its only a couple handguns you could do it with no one the wiser. No way could long guns be sneaked in!

 

[arjay]

I’ve heard of pawning them and just making sure to pay that monthly fee

 

[Old TexMex]

If he knows a reputable gun shop, he could (as I’ve done) contract to store them there for a fee. The store insurance policy applied in my case, but there was no loss in my situation.

 

[Roller Delayed]

Climate controlled storage unit and autopay.

 

[Skeet 028]

At this time I do have a few handguns(all Colt's) which are very collectible stored in a safety deposit box at a bank back east. I had a Winchester 21(410) stored there for quite a few years in a large safety deposit box. I sold it some years ago. The bank knew it was a gun but the handguns were kinda under the radar...except to the branch manager. She is a friend I went to school with. Yes that was somewhat expensive at the time at about 150 dollars a year just for the long gun. I also stored a 50 cal ammo can full of silver coins and a 30 cal can with a gold ingot in the bank vault for a good period of time. Surprisingly it was very reasonable to store them. I once went into a bank with 2 50 cal ammo cans full of quarters. I was depositing then on my business account. You should have seen the reaction when I walked in. You would have thought I had an explosive device. Each can had a bit over 900 dollars in them. Talk to someone in an old established local bank. You may be surprised

 

[Rastoff]

If it were just a couple of handguns, I'd get a safe deposit box. However, in this situation, I'd find a friend and see if I could leave them in a safe at their house.

 

[JimBianchi]

Put the safe in a climate controlled storage unit, auto pay.

Carry insurance on it.

I stored all of my guns with a trusted friend in Seattle before being stationed in Greece in 1989. After a year, they stopped answering calls, they moved and I lost all my guns. I did track them to an army base Germany in 1992, No idea where they are now.

I wish I'd used a storage space.

 

[dmar]

Put the safe in a climate controlled storage unit, auto pay.

Carry insurance on it.

I stored all of my guns with a trusted friend in Seattle before being stationed in Greece in 1989. After a year, they stopped answering calls, they moved and I lost all my guns. I did track them to an army base Germany in 1992, No idea where they are now.

I wish I'd used a storage space.

Wow, that’s rough, sorry about your loss... Did you try to get the police involved...?

 

[hoc9sw]

I left a few guns with family when I was overseas. Over the years they got pushed into a corner in the basement. They were rust balls when I got home.

 

[Rastoff]

I stored all of my guns with a trusted friend in Seattle before being stationed in Greece in 1989. After a year, they stopped answering calls, they moved and I lost all my guns. I did track them to an army base Germany in 1992, No idea where they are now.

I wish I'd used a storage space.

Wow, just wow. I can't imagine what kind of person would do that to you or anyone, but they exist. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[federali]

The cost of moving a safe multiple times is very expensive, at least the cost of a handgun per move. I would not leave guns with dealers for safekeeping. If they get raided by BATFE for any reason, all the guns might get swept up.

One or two trusted friends or relatives might be the only way to go. But, the people you choose must be nothing short of saintly. If they live just inside the margin of the law, your guns are at risk.

Don't forget, in any states that registers guns, only the registrant may possess them. You may not hold or store guns not registered to you. In NJ you would face a million-year sentence if caught.

 

[Valmet]

Depending on the legality of your State, a good friend who has extra room in his safe would be the most convenient way. A Bank safety deposit box might work for hand guns but not for long guns. Friends or relatives who are upstanding and responsible would be the way to go IMHO.

+1 for this. No outside element like a storage company or own shop if he can avoid it.

 

[Stonecove]

Thanks for your input! What do you think of moving his safe to a friends house and putting the safe in the garage. I apparently its an up scale neighborhood away from high crime areas. I would be concerned about moisture. Would a golden rod keep the moisture at bay? Any other considerations storing in an unheated garage.
Stonecove.

 

[arjay]

Thanks for your input! What do you think of moving his safe to a friends house and putting the safe in the garage. I apparently its an up scale neighborhood away from high crime areas. I would be concerned about moisture. Would a golden rod keep the moisture at bay? Any other considerations storing in an unheated garage.
Stonecove.

A goldenrod and bolting the safe down should do it

 

[italiansport]

I would store them with a trusted and responsible relative as a first choice. If this isn't possible; I recommend a climate controlled storage facility. However; I'd also make sure you notify someone in your family that you have valuables stored in a specific facility while you're away as unfortunately, things do happen.
Another possibility is to store them with an estate sales company. R. Shattuck's Lugers, amounting to over 1000 examples, were stored with an estate** company after his death until they were eventually sold off.
** These companies generally have very secure storage facilities.
Jim

 

[rwsmith]

Probably the best idea, but expensive.......

I would store them with a trusted and responsible relative as a first choice. If this isn't possible; I recommend a climate controlled storage facility. However; I'd also make sure you notify someone in your family that you have valuables stored in a specific facility while you're away as unfortunately, things do happen.
Another possibility is to store them with an estate sales company. R. Shattuck's Lugers, amounting to over 1000 examples, were stored with an estate** company after his death until they were eventually sold off.
** These companies generally have very secure storage facilities.
Jim

When I needed to get my guns out of the house for a few years I looked into a 3x5 foot 'closet' at a local storage facility but when I found that it was going to cost $40/month, I bought a safe. But for a limited time that wouldn't be a bad deal.

 

[JimBianchi]

Wow, that’s rough, sorry about your loss... Did you try to get the police involved...?

I filed a report with the locals when I returned from overseas, 1994. Did a few follow ups. even contacted the army provo's in Germany with last known. I got nothing.

I moved on, bought better guns and have a backup plan now.

 

[Squarebutt]

Avoid commercial storage facilities. Many don't allow guns, and the two that I've used over the years both leaked. I like the idea of moving his safe to a friend's garage, bolted down with a golden rod. The Simplisafe system has a lot of options for cheap money.