The reality of getting rid of a gun safe?

[Camster]

I have a nice Browning safe, approx. 26" wide by 20" deep by 60 inches tall.
No longer needed and I'd like to use the closet that it's in, as a closet again.
When I bought it a few decades ago, I was able to bring it in the short distance from my garage with a hoist that I had, but that's gone, and I'm no longer the same young buck that I was.
I figure that a pro safe mover has to move it out of here, at least to the garage, but that leaves another move to be paid for later on, so I want it gone at one time, if it's to make any sense at all.(I don't want an amateur Craigslist type buyer tackling it)
I also figure that a new comp is about $750. Currently waiting to hear back from my LGS, who sells new Browning safes, if he has any interest in it.
Can any money be realized from such a thing or is the scenario that they want the safe as a payment for their effort? (or want loot and the safe?)
Thanks.

 

[6518John]

You need to PM our great forum member/locksmith extraordinaire Kanewpadle. He can tell you how to handle this the most economically.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

In the "for what it's worth" department I know of no one in my current shooting circles who would turn down another safe if the price was right.

Currently many of my associates are using 2nd and 3rd safes for ammunition as well as firearms, and nowadays they often have more of the former than the latter.

I'm no different - if someone advised me of a safe no longer needed, I would pay to have it relocated myself if that were the only cost involved. Getting a nice safe that way saves thousands over buying a new one.

Thus I suspect the answer to your issue lies in how much you'd like to get out of it. If you're looking to simply get rid of the safe, check around with your associates and/or the local gun club - tell them "pay to move it and it's yours" and it will be gone in no time.

On the other hand, if you'd like to make some money on the deal, that may take a bit longer, as (as you say) the safest way to move it - depending on how large and heavy it is - would likely be to pay a couple guys with a suitable truck and the right equipment to move it, particularly if there are flights of stairs involved. Guys may be less inclined to both pay for it as well as have it moved.

Just my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Contact your nearest safe company or locksmith that moves safes. They may or may not give you something for it. That’s about your only option since you don’t want amateurs to move it.

 

[Wyo]

I just had a local moving company move a safe for me. We don’t have “safe movers” around here but the regular moving company does it so you might check with your locals. Cost was $175 to move it from the store to the location of my choice in the house about 8 miles away. Way less than the doctor’s bills would have been if I tried to do it!

 

[Camster]

Thanks for the responses. I think it weighs about 375#. Heavy, but not excessive or gigantic.
I floated the idea of $200 with a clerk at the shop,(figuring that they might be able to get at least $550 for it) who would pass the info along to the boss.
I guess it all depends on who is moving it, a couple of their employees or a moving company that does a lot of safe moving.The shop has always been good to me-I consider them friends, so no biggie if I give it to them either. It located only a few miles from my house.
I dealt with heavy cash registers as my business,(that wrecked my back) so I can understand the margins that might be involved in dealing with big and used items.
The money is always in dealing with used stuff versus new stuff.

 

[Kanewpadle]

These days $200 isn’t bad. I wouldn’t pay any more if you give the safe to them. At least they are insured so the liability is on them. Not you.

I used to move safes. Never again.

 

[Sikiguya]

That size can be moved with a fridge dolly. I think you can put it up for $350 on a sale ad(Craigslist FB Marketplace, etc) with that the people move it out of the house. I think you’d sell it faster.

To move it out of the closet, walk the sides back and forth to give you some room. Then tip the top back and stick dowel rods or pvc pipes...roll it out. Then use the dolly and move it to the garage if you are worried about it. It’s something a pizza and a 6 pack of beer should buy you the manpower you need to have it moved to the garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Camster]

That size can be moved with a fridge dolly. I think you can put it up for $350 on a sale ad(Craigslist FB Marketplace, etc) with that the people move it out of the house. I think you’d sell it faster.

To move it out of the closet, walk the sides back and forth to give you some room. Then tip the top back and stick dowel rods or pvc pipes...roll it out. Then use the dolly and move it to the garage if you are worried about it. It’s something a pizza and a 6 pack of beer should buy you the manpower you need to have it moved to the garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, when I put it in the closet, I used that ancient Egyptian technique-Wood dowels to roll it back. . Reckon it will come out the same way. Now however, the room has new carpeting, unlike the worn out stuff that was there when I put it in, so a little more care is warranted. I bought a few partial sheets of plywood to help the cause.
I'll wait a few more days to see if my LGS contacts me, and then I'll proceed with another plan.

 

[Bladeswitcher]

Advertise it on Craigslist at an attractive price. Declare "You move it." It will be gone before the weekend is over.

 

[Onomea]

If ya go with Craig’s List, be sure your liability insurance is up to date.;

 

[Sikiguya]

Use those compressed sheets that are used for clipboard. Those will slide on that new carpet. Much less resistance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BillBond]

I don't know where you live
but in Phoenix there is a professional safe company that moves any and all safes for a decent price.
So I imagine you can find the same thing near you.

As mentioned by others, a used safe priced fairly (that does not mean a low price) will sell quickly.
You don't have to give it away.

The used safe I purchased,
I had to pay for the safe to be picked up at the seller's house and then delivered to my house.

 

[johngross]

On many safes, once the door is opened it can be lifted straight up and removed from the hinges. This can make it easier to move as you now have two medium heavy pieces instead of one very heavy piece.

Here's a video of what I'm talking about.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maslJfSrYXY[/ame]

 

[TTSH]

Used safes are cheap. It's moving them that's expensive.

That's my experience anyway.

Were it not for the insane cost of moving it, I'd have a nice, big, slightly-used TL-30 right now.

 

[DeathGrip]

I got a safe from one of our members. (Thanks again) No cost other than moving it. I called a regular moving company and paid the price. It was well worth the cost of moving it and I saved money not buying new. (the safe is like new)

You don't need a specialty mover, just one that can handle it. Two guys for mine. They only had to help when getting it in and out of the truck and a little more getting it over the threshold. Other than that one guy moved it on a heavy dolly.

 

[Sikiguya]

Used safes are cheap. It's moving them that's expensive.

That's my experience anyway.

Were it not for the insane cost of moving it, I'd have a nice, big, slightly-used TL-30 right now.

Those are pigs and extremely heavy...almost twice the gun safe twice it’s size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dmar]

I’d find a safe mover (they’re out there, ask around the gun shops, or safe retailer) and ask how much to take from your house and deliver within a certain mile radius of your house. Assume in your quote a flight of stairs. Then advertise the safe for sale at a price that includes the move. Maybe you agree on a cap on that cost to be safe, or say, “delivered to your garage,” and work that price with the mover... I’m thinking $200-$300 for the move and maybe you can put a few hundred dollars in your pocket.

It’s worth finding out, why not make a few hundred instead of giving it away. Lots of folks would jump all over a quality safe for $500-$600... That’s a deal, and it’s turnkey for the buyer.

 

[Camster]

Thanks again.
Well, I now have it out of the closet, sitting on plywood. I was able to walk/slide it without too much strain. (The trick was having the door of the safe open, and then turning the safe sideways. Otherwise, it was a tiny bit too wide for the opening(and I recalled that I did not remove the door stop trim when I put it in) or the handle/dial would hit.
I don't think it would be too hard to move it the next six feet to the door leading into the garage, or to create a little platform for the five inch step into the garage, but this is it for now.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Post your locale and someone on the forum might take it off your hands.