Value Safes

One of the most common questions I hear is “Should I bolt down my safe?”, my immediate response is always yes.  It doesn’t matter where you live - if you are going to store something in your safe that you consider valuable - do it!  A safe is really just there to by time - if the safe can be carried out of your home how much time is it really going to by you? None!

You can go to your local hardware store and get the bolts needed to bolt it down - such as a red headed toggle bolt.  Don’t bolt your safe down with a short bolt that won’t go down into the concrete very far- this makes it far to easy to pick up and walk off with.   If you use some common sense with the purchase of your safe - you will be set.

I realize that there are times when a theft will happen even if the safe is bolted down.  If this is the case - you have done everything you could to prevent the safe from going missing.  Although unfortunate, you can at least tell yourself you did everything you could to prevent it from happening.

This article”15,000 reward offered in memorial-area armed robberies” is a great example.  The safe was not bolted down and was wheeled down the stairs with a dolly.  While they were in the home for an hour stealing items - it might have provided a better chance of the safe staying in the home had it been bolted down.

Looking for a gun safe?  It takes a lot of research and work on your part to find a good gun safe that suits your needs.  Some of it relies on the information the manufacturer gives you and some of it relies on customer service and asking the right questions. This Hollon RG-16 Repulic Series gun safe is simply amazing.  I was very skeptical about these gun safes before I saw them.  I sure heard a lot of good stuff about them - but the amount of good information I hear about safes is always ongoing.  My jaw dropped when I saw these safes.  They are absolutely a beautiful safe.  They are made very well and they are very sturdy.  The tan interior goes very well with the black exterior and looks very sharp.

I would recommend this gun safe to anyone looking for a gun safe.  It has adjustable and removable shelving on the right hand side and gun racking on the left hand side with a shelf on top.  While this safe has an electronic lock it also has an override key which can not be duplicated - so breaking in via the key hole is a very hard thing to happen.  The overall steel gauge is 3 on the door and 9 on the body - how amazing!  You don’t find steel gauge this thick on most gun safes without paying a couple thousand dollars for these.

When we look at a safe we try to think of the weak points in a safe and figure whether it is worth our money.  Instant common sense tells us that concealed hinges are a safe bet and don’t think about the cons that this poses.  If you think about the structure of the safe, as the door closes there has to be room for the hinges to fold back into as the door closes.

This is very commonly the place in which many manufacturers don’t put any fireproofing.  My father in law has  Liberty Centurion Gun Safe with the concealed hinges.  I was doing some checking on the safe and found what I was afraid of, that he had no fireproofing on that side of the safe.  This little bit of area makes the entire safe non fireproof and a waste of money if you needed it for the fire protection.  I was looking at Lowes the other day also, and found the same safe, but a newer model, with the same problem.  The thin steel that the safe is made out of is easily penetrated into the area in which the hinges are located, which also makes it fairly easy to break into.Think twice about buying a gun safe with concealed hinges - they aren’t as safe as one might think!

Owning a gun is a major responsibility, and as such, it is imperative to lock your firearms properly. There are several options for securing your guns, but gun safes are arguably the most reliable. You can find everything from small single capacity units to 41-gun capacity safes. Once you have decided on the capacity for your safe, it is important to do some research into what specifications you’ll need.

The locking mechanism is arguably the most important aspect to consider; an electronic digital lock is standard in some models and optional in others. Models are also available with heat activated door seals and dehumidifier access holes. Fireproofing should be another top priority; some have a 30-minute fire protection and some have 1-hour of fire protection at 1250ｰF.

The TRTL-30×6 series of jewelry safes from Mutual Safes are some of the most secure jewelry safes manufactured.  You should only consider purchasing one if your insurance company requires it, or if you require protection from even the most determined attack.  These safes ARE the top of the line.  Each safe comes with a lifetime warranty from Mutual Safes against fire and attack.  If one of these units cannot be repaired after an attack or fire, it will be replaced with a new one by Mutual Safes.

The TRTL-30×6 series is constructed using a layer of concrete material sandwiched between inner and outer magnesium steel hardplates.  The concrete material incorporates a matrix of nuggets and carbon fiber which enhances its tensile strength.  The material has a density of 26,000 psi.  Reinforced armor plating is used to protect the door frame and each individaul bolt chamber, making the safe resistant to even the most sophisticated attack.  TRTL stands for “Tool and Torch Resistant”, and is a UL Standard, one of the highest available.  These safes are also fireproof, having been tested in a 1750 degree F fire for a period of 2 hours, without the temperature inside the safe rising above 350 degrees F.

The TRTL-30×6 series uses a multitude of relockers that are synchronized to ensure that the safe stays locked in the event of an attack.  Locking mechanisms available are UL listed Group 1 combination dial or electronic keypad.  The series is available in 4 sizes — 30″ x 30″ x 32″, 43″ x 30″ x 32″, 67″ x 30″ x 32″ and 69″ x 44″ x 36″.  The safes weigh 2000, 2600, 3800 and 5500 lbs. respectively!  The TRTL-30×6 series is available in like-new factory reconditioned versions, at about half the cost of new units, at the following link:  TRTL-30×6 Jewelry Safes by Mutual Safes.

Mutual makes a reasonably priced line of burglary resistant, fireproof, stand-up gun safes.  All models feature a UL approved heat-activated door seal and two layers of sheetrock like insulating material.  They are fireproof rated at 1760° F for a period of 60 minutes.  Burglary resistance features include at least 4 dead bolts facing the hinge side, 1 active bolt at the top and at least 4 active bolts facing the opening side.  In addition, they utilize massive 1-inch steel locking bolts.

The lock is protected from drill-out attempts by a spring-loaded relocker and a Manganese hardened drill resistant steel plate.  These gun safes also feature two bolt-down holes at the bottom of the safe which accomodate 1/2″ bolts.  They also feature a 10 gauge steel body and door, semi-gloss black exterior with tan interior and a 5-inch thick door.  The interior features universal adjustable gun racks and shelving that can be arrange as gun racks and shelving or all shelving.  The dial locks are UL listed and the handles and locks are brass-plated.

The main difference between models is their size, and their are three models available.  The Model MS-5922 weighs 350 pounds and measures 59″ x 22″ x 16″.  It can be ordered with an optional electronic keypad locking mechanism and can hold up to 16 long guns.

Measuring 60″ x 30″ x 24″ and weighing 600 pounds, the Model MS-6030 is also available with an optional electronic keypad locking mechanism and can hold up to 22 long guns.

The Model MS-6040 measures 60″ x 40″ x 24″, weighs 800 pounds and can hold up to 40 rifles or shotguns.  It is also available with an optional electronic keypad locking mechanism.

For more information on Mutual gun safes, and details about where to buy, visit the Value Safes website.

Stack-On makes an excellent line of gun safes called the TDS (Total Defense Select) line.  All of these gun safes feature UL rated locks, ETL tested fire protection up to 1400° F for 30 minutes and waterproof protection of up to 72 hours in 2 feet of water.  The TDS line also features plate steel construction and convertible interiors allowing for the storage of guns or valuables.  Gun racks are height adjustable to adjust to the length of your guns.  They also feature a handsome high gloss exterior finish and 5 spoke handles.

Locks are UL rated Type 1 electronic or Group 2 3-number combination dial.  They feature a re-locking mechanism which will keep the safes locked even if the lock is removed during a break-in attempt.  The locks are also protected by a hardened drill-resistant steel plate to protect against drilling attempts.

UL classified Gypsum wallboard and Palusol door seals are incorporated into these safes to provide fire and water protection.  They are laboratory tested to ensure compliance and are also California DOJ compliant.  The safes feature 7 large live locking bolts and 3 solid steel dead bolts on the hinge side to provide a total of 10 locking points.

These gun safes have a high-gloss protective finish with screen printing, which makes for an attractive appearance.  The patented gun barrel rests can be installed at different heights to allow for the different lengths of your guns, and the patented standoffs for scoped guns allow for scoped guns to stand upright in the safe without taking up extra space.  These gun safes also feature fully carpeted interiors with adjustable shelves which can be adjusted to meet your storage needs.

For more information on the Stack-On TDS line of safes, along with information on where to buy, visit the Value Safes website.

Honeywell makes an excellent line of gun safes called the Executive line.  Honeywell Executive gun safes are made to Honeywell standards yet reasonably priced.  There are 5 different models in the Honeywell Executive series.

The Model 6720 measures 55″ x 17.5″ x 17.25″, weighs 163 pounds and can hold up to 10 long guns.  The 10-gun rack is removable for even more versatility.  This safe features a high-security key lock with a lever handle, 3 1″ live locking door bolts, and 2 removable/adjustable shelves.  It also features concealed hinges with a 6mm recessed door, a fully carpeted interior and a hunter green powder coated finish.

The Model 6740 measures 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″, weighs 315 pounds and has a heavy-duty dial lock with a lever handle.  The removable gun rack can hold up to 12 long guns and the safe comes with 2 removable/adjustable shelves.  It has a fully carpeted interior, 5 1″ active locking bolts and a Hunter Green powder coated finish.  This safe is fire tested for 15 minutes at 1100° F  and is California DOJ compliant.

The Model 6741D measures 59″ x 21″ x 17 .5″ and weighs 323 pounds.  The removable gun rack can hold up to 12 guns.  There are 2 removable/adjustable shelves and a permanent shelf with locking ammo box.  The safe features 5 1″ live locking bolts and is fire tested for 15 minutes at 1100° F.  It also features a programmable digital lock with lever handle, a fully carpeted interior and is California DOJ compliant.

The Model 2754DB measures 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″ and weighs 330 pounds.  It includes an adjustable/removable gun rack which can hold 14-18 guns, heavy duty steel construction, is fire tested at 1550° F for 30 minutes and has 5 1″ solid steel active locking bolts.  It comes with a programmable (from 3 to 8 digits) digital lock and mounting hardware for attaching the safe to the wall or floor.

The Model 6742D measures 59″ x 21″ x 17.5″ and weighs 330 pounds.  It features a programmable digital lock with lever handle, a removable 12 gun rack and 2 removable/adjustable shelves.  It also features a permanent shelf with a lockable ammo box, a fully carpeted interior and is California DOJ compliant.  The unit is fire tested at 1100° F for 15 minutes.

For more information on Honeywell Executive gun safes, visit the Value Safes website.

Gun safes make sense.  They protect children by restricting access to your guns to only authorized persons.  And they can protect your valuable guns from theft and from damage due to fire.  Gun safes are available in two types - pistol safes and cabinet style gun safes for rifles and shotguns.  The pistol safes a really just designed to restrict access to the guns.   They are small chest-type safes which can be placed on a bedside table or under the bed.  But they can be carried of by burglars.

The cabinet-style gun safes can be used to protect your guns from fire and burglary as well as to restrict access to them.  Be sure and check and make sure that the gun safe you are looking at is burglary and fireproof rated.  Typical burglary ratings are UL TL 15 and UL TL 30.  Typical fire ratings are 1 hour fireproof and 2 hour fireproof.  Also, make sure the gun safe has enough room inside for all of your guns - don’t forget a shelf for your pistols and ammunition.  For more information on gun safes.

Recently, many states have passed laws making it a criminal offense if someone gets hurt with a gun that you are responsible for.  These laws are aimed at protecting children from playing with guns.  They make good sense, and can help keep more restrictive gun control laws from being passed.  So you should consider keeping all of your guns in a gun safe.  Gun safes range in size from small, chest-style pistol safes to large, cabinet-style safes for shotguns and rifles.

Gun safes are designed to restrict access to your guns to only authorized persons, and can help protect your valuable guns in the event of a burglary or fire as well.  Look for a gun safe that carries a burglary and fireproof rating.  Keep in mind that the small pistol safes are just designed to keep unauthorized persons from accessing your pistol(s) - they won’t help against burglars because they can be easily carried off.  For more information on the gun safe.