GUN SAFE

[gunsafehaven]

Hey guys,

First post here...sometimes I get a notification when a link is posted to my site (gunsafehaven.com). The notification brought me here, so I checked it out. Good thread.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about tractors, but I wanted to comment on the RSC chatter.

UL's RSC listing is definitely not the end-all-be-all for a gun safe...in fact, a lot of safe technicians who I've talked to find it laughable.

Personally, I find it to be a nice bonus. It's a certification from a trusted third party (UL) that says, "this gun safe isn't a total piece of junk"...and there are definitely lots of pieces of junk out there.

Unfortunately, there's no ground between a UL RSC listed "safe" and UL's TL-15 listing. Take Liberty's products for example; their Lincoln is significantly better than the Centurion (entry level), however they both have RSC listings...nothing more, nothing less.

The RSC listing gets you to a good place to start looking for a unit, but at a certain point, you have to do a little bit of homework to properly distinguish the average from the good.

Of course, there are exceptions--those gun safes that don't have RSC listings, but are still fine products--Sturdy and AMSEC were mentioned.

I have no doubt that any unit that's come out of Sturdy's manufacturing facility would pass a 5 minute RSC tool-test. The thing is, getting your units tested is a hassle, and it costs money. I'm not going to speak for Terry Pratt, but my guess is, he's thinking, "people already know I make a solid product...why pay more for another sticker?"...

As for AMSEC, from what I've learned, they're all over the board. They make some average units, and they make some of the best on the market...

In my opinion, an RSC listing is a decent indicator of the quality of a safe, but never should it be the only thing you consider when looking for one.

Just my $.02. Thanks for stopping by the site.


G'Night!

 

[two_bit_score]

Thanks for the info, gunsafe. Appreciate you taking time to look in.

 

[westbrooklawn]

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in, for what it's worth. I'm looking at a safe from Drake Safe Co., which is a locally owned and run safe manufacturing company in Roxboro, NC. Their safes are constructed of 1/4" steel, body and door. They are built with a "fireliner" which is fire rated sheetrock. All have LaGard group 2 key and lock dial, and have a non releasing re-locker. I am looking at a 65 3/4" x 35 3/4" x 25 1/4" safe with 16 door bolts that weighs 1250 lbs... can be configured for up to 27 long guns along with several shelves.... current price $2050. The owner has shown me several "name brand" safes in his shop that have been broken into... mostly lighter guage outside sheet metal that has been cut and pried open rather easily. They have had attempted break ins on several of their "Drake" safes, but none have been succesful. I asked about a UL listing and was told that as a small company, they were not willing to pay the exhorbitant fee to go through the listing process... they are busy as it is, and sell mostly by word of mouth from satisfied customers (in fact that is how I heard about them... through two friends who bought safes from them over 10 years ago).

I feel very comfortable with the quality and price of their safes, even though they don't carry any UL listing. My point is that there are probably other local companies that build quality safes at a good price, and those should be investigated. For anyone in the NC area, Drakes might be somewhere you would want to look.

 

[jmanatee2]

I think we all realize that no safe (gun or other) will keep a professional thief out of it. When I bought mine I came to the conclusion that any reasonably priced safe (less then $5000) is only a plasma torch away from being broken into. Simply cut out the side or top and you have all the contents.

Knowing that all you are really going to accomplish is to slow down pros (maybe by 5 min) and really slow down kids by a little longer (maybe 30-60 min) and protect from fire damage,...

I bought the best safe I could find for the money, It looks very impressive (nice paint, color, handle, interior, etc) and is heavy enough (about 700lb empty) that 2 guys wont just break it loose and walk out with it.

Hopefully my other security measures (alarm, video surveillance, etc) will deter the pros.

JMHO

 

[Carl Bert]

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in, for what it's worth. I'm looking at a safe from Drake Safe Co., which is a locally owned and run safe manufacturing company in Roxboro, NC. Their safes are constructed of 1/4" steel, body and door. They are built with a "fireliner" which is fire rated sheetrock. All have LaGard group 2 key and lock dial, and have a non releasing re-locker. I am looking at a 65 3/4" x 35 3/4" x 25 1/4" safe with 16 door bolts that weighs 1250 lbs... can be configured for up to 27 long guns along with several shelves.... current price $2050. The owner has shown me several "name brand" safes in his shop that have been broken into... mostly lighter guage outside sheet metal that has been cut and pried open rather easily. They have had attempted break ins on several of their "Drake" safes, but none have been succesful. I asked about a UL listing and was told that as a small company, they were not willing to pay the exhorbitant fee to go through the listing process... they are busy as it is, and sell mostly by word of mouth from satisfied customers (in fact that is how I heard about them... through two friends who bought safes from them over 10 years ago).

I feel very comfortable with the quality and price of their safes, even though they don't carry any UL listing. My point is that there are probably other local companies that build quality safes at a good price, and those should be investigated. For anyone in the NC area, Drakes might be somewhere you would want to look.

Ok you've got my attention, 1/4" steel all around, 16 bolts, 1250 lbs, holds 27 guns, and shelving, with a sticker price of only $2050. That sound just about perfect. Do they have a web site, or a number. It's well worth a road trip. I will try looking them up myself, but any additional info you have would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[jonyyuma]

That safe with all the ammo piled up to one side will make a nice fire...probably pop it self open and ruin several of those nice black rifles? Just saying that is a bit much, although "when the Gooks are in the wire", you need loaded mags...

 

[westbrooklawn]

Carl - I don't think they have a website, but they are on Facebook. Tel numbers and some pics are located there. Call and speak with the owner, Greg. Super nice guy to deal with.

Drake Safe Co. - Local Business - Roxboro, NC | Facebook

 

[sandman2234]

Here's a picture of the inside of mine!

Just kidding, I wish it was mine.

I've got some black guns myself, but man I think someone may have issues, taking that "stock up while you can" thing a bit far. :laughing:

I'm still jealous though.

JB

I am glad it isn't mine, as loading that many magazines and leaving them in the safe can't be good for the magazine spring. Spending all that time loading them, only to find out the mags aren't any good anymore due to spring failure would be enough to break anybody's heart!
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

We appreciate you stopping by to give us some good information on safes. Hang around and we will teach you a thing or two about tractors.
David from jax

Hey guys,

First post here...sometimes I get a notification when a link is posted to my site (gunsafehaven.com). The notification brought me here, so I checked it out. Good thread.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about tractors, but I wanted to comment on the RSC chatter.

UL's RSC listing is definitely not the end-all-be-all for a gun safe...in fact, a lot of safe technicians who I've talked to find it laughable.

Personally, I find it to be a nice bonus. It's a certification from a trusted third party (UL) that says, "this gun safe isn't a total piece of junk"...and there are definitely lots of pieces of junk out there.

Unfortunately, there's no ground between a UL RSC listed "safe" and UL's TL-15 listing. Take Liberty's products for example; their Lincoln is significantly better than the Centurion (entry level), however they both have RSC listings...nothing more, nothing less.

The RSC listing gets you to a good place to start looking for a unit, but at a certain point, you have to do a little bit of homework to properly distinguish the average from the good.

Of course, there are exceptions--those gun safes that don't have RSC listings, but are still fine products--Sturdy and AMSEC were mentioned.

I have no doubt that any unit that's come out of Sturdy's manufacturing facility would pass a 5 minute RSC tool-test. The thing is, getting your units tested is a hassle, and it costs money. I'm not going to speak for Terry Pratt, but my guess is, he's thinking, "people already know I make a solid product...why pay more for another sticker?"...

As for AMSEC, from what I've learned, they're all over the board. They make some average units, and they make some of the best on the market...

In my opinion, an RSC listing is a decent indicator of the quality of a safe, but never should it be the only thing you consider when looking for one.

Just my $.02. Thanks for stopping by the site.


G'Night!

 

[wrooster]

I am glad it isn't mine, as loading that many magazines and leaving them in the safe can't be good for the magazine spring. Spending all that time loading them, only to find out the mags aren't any good anymore due to spring failure would be enough to break anybody's heart!
David from jax

Leaving quality magazines loaded doesn't have any effect on the spring. Cyclic fatigue, not static loading, is the predominant failure mode in magazine springs -- or any type spring for that matter.

Wrooster