Gun Safes (Brands and features)

[another Todd]

Which are the good and the bad, solid or flimsey, well priced or overpriced?

Cosco has a Winchester (every one I have seen has a broken electronic keypad. The local fair has Cannon of which I was looking at the Cannon Patriot series (budget level).

Can I go wrong with any of them?

 

[heavyhitter]

I like Liberty safes.

 

[tom slick]

I have a cheaper Liberty and it's a nice basic safe. The Winchester safes at Costco are made in China as are most "economy" safes. Where would you get the lock repaired when your off brand Chinese made safe's lock quits?

Visalia Safe http://www.visaliasafes.com/ makes very nice safes in California but they are not cheap.

 

[dishdude]

Anything you buy at Costco, Sams, Walmart, etc is going to be [censored]. Find a local safe shop that carries Liberty, Amsec, Champion or Cannon safes. Get one with an S&G lock on it.

Last thing you want is something with a cheap lock that breaks 2-3 years down the road with all of your valuables locked inside.

 

[Boomer]

I have an upper level Cannon safe that holds about 30 rifles. I keep shelves on one side for handguns and family papers. I have had this safe for about 10 years or do and love it.It weighs just under 1000 pounds.

 

[Vesparado]

After extensive research I bought a Fort Knox. Nicely finished inside and out. Top-of-the-line S&G lockwork. Buy all the fire protection you can afford. Your safe is far more likely to be involved in a house fire than it is to have to resist burglary.

Also, pay for and get in writing a guaranteed delivery INSIDE your home if that is where you want it, specifying stairs if applicable. I paid for "home delivery" and ended up with the safe sitting on my driveway, which I don't consider my "home." Ended up paying safe movers $100 to move it inside.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
I have a cheaper Liberty and it's a nice basic safe. The Winchester safes at Costco are made in China as are most "economy" safes. Where would you get the lock repaired when your off brand Chinese made safe's lock quits?

Visalia Safe http://www.visaliasafes.com/ makes very nice safes in California but they are not cheap.
Quality is never cheap and usually quality turns out to be the best price paid in the long run. I have never been unhappy with the purchase of a quality produce. A quality safe can easily last a lifetime.

 

[Win]

The Liberty's are good value imho, I have three - one at each house, and a larger one at the office.

Mine are not really "safes", I think UL classifies them as residential security containers. Real safes with a UL burglary rating are pretty expensive.

Personally, I do trust the fire rating on any of them. I keep important paper in a bank safety deposit box, not my security container, and the one in my office sits underneath a sprinkler head.

 

[another Todd]

I saw the Cannons at the local fair. They look nice, but they too are made in china, with final assembly here. They do appear to have better locks than the Winchester at Costco.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Originally Posted By: tom slick
I have a cheaper Liberty and it's a nice basic safe. The Winchester safes at Costco are made in China as are most "economy" safes. Where would you get the lock repaired when your off brand Chinese made safe's lock quits?

Visalia Safe http://www.visaliasafes.com/ makes very nice safes in California but they are not cheap.
Quality is never cheap and usually quality turns out to be the best price paid in the long run. I have never been unhappy with the purchase of a quality product. A quality safe can easily last a lifetime.

 

[INMY01TA]

I have a Browning Theftgaurd safe with a dial lock. Had a nicer interior than the Winchesters had.

 

[joel95ex]

here is a good article on what to look for.... i had a fire 6 yrs ago so I am a big advocate of fire and water-proof safes---believe me, it can save you a lot of headaches if you were to have a disaster like a tornado or fire---also make sure it is bolted to the slab.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html

 

[Mr_Joe]

I'm partial to a dial lock over the electronic. I have a Zanotti(made in Iowa) and a Browning.