rippin kid Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 We have been looking at gun safes the last few weeks, and have seen a few videos on how easily they are broken into. Has anyone made their own safe? I have a lardge welder, plasma cutter and most tools I think I would need> Seems like few less than $1000 plus I could build something that would hold up well. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT. QUINCANNON, SASS #32999 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 We have been looking at gun safes the last few weeks, and have seen a few videos on how easily they are broken into. Has anyone made their own safe? I have a lardge welder, plasma cutter and most tools I think I would need> Seems like few less than $1000 plus I could build something that would hold up well. Any ideas? My brother-in-law's dad has a very very nice large gun safe built by one of his other sons. Doesn't look too pretty, buy it's big, strong and heavy. The lock is a combination lock built onto the door like a commercial safe. I'd have real reservations about a safe with just a hasp and padlock- too easy to bust open, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaky Gun Runner SASS 79775 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Talking to the shutting and locking point, we have a company here in OKCity called Bear Safes that makes a very (read that VERY) good safe. If you will scroll about halway down the page to the Model A7244 you will see they have a two recessed areas in the door where they have just evnough room for a pair of security padlocks. They advertise their safes as non pryable and to the best of my knowledge they are. So, this was just basically a post to give you some options on door construction . Also, many places will sell you just a door if you feel up to building the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 There are ways to engineer recesses that make prying or cutting a padlock essentially impossible. We had a work box on a carpenter crew I worked with that such a recessed lock area. Look at some on site job tool chests to get ideas on how to configure the locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 A well made Ft Knox, Cannon, Bear or Winchester safe is not an easy thing to break in to. The cheaper models are less secure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malpais Mike Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hello the camp! It's said the best lock slows down a dedicated crook. the biggest factor is having a safe--any safe--for the peace-of-mind factor, if no other. Neither of my safes have been cracked, but, then, I've not been burgled since I got them. One measure for even a run-of-the-mill safe (Stack-On, etc) is bolt it to floor and wall. Both of my safes are bolted--1/2" lag screws--and I feel they are going nowhere. My saddle pard, Jalapeno Harry, was receiving o/u shotguns his son was picking up in England as base gun clubs were closing down. A surplus elect panel box was given him; he installed it in his garage--bolted to floor and wall--and posted "DANGER--HIGH VOLTAGE" signs prominently, with a good lock. No problema. Don't know what they have going now, but I got my fire safe from Costco, on-line, for $600 del'd. It weights 900#. Had my gunroom reinforced to handle the two safes. Good luck. mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Phil Peeno #50923 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I met a gent who had a walk in safe in the barn. The gun closet is made of reinforced cinder block sides and heavy steel ceiling. To top it all off the safe door is a bank vault door with frame. I tell you what the safe was as impressive as what he has in his collection. By the way, the barn was fully rigged with electronic surveillance and alarm equipment. What is ironic is that his next door neighbor is 1/2 a mile away. Where do you buy a bank vault door with frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I met a gent who had a walk in safe in the barn. The gun closet is made of reinforced cinder block sides and heavy steel ceiling. To top it all off the safe door is a bank vault door with frame. I tell you what the safe was as impressive as what he has in his collection. By the way, the barn was fully rigged with electronic surveillance and alarm equipment. What is ironic is that his next door neighbor is 1/2 a mile away. Where do you buy a bank vault door with frame? Most safe companies also sell vault doors with frames. A quick search brought these up... Vault doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Nelson #19958 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 If you want to build your own, it isn't terribly hard. I did one 15 years ago, maybe more, but it isn't going to stop anyone with a torch. Nor did I insulate it for fireproofing, however it is very serviceable and considerably cheaper than purchasing anything of similar size and weight. I did line it with a removable wooden cabinet that holds everything. As I recall it was 1/8" steel panel and 1/4" x 1-1/2" angle iron. If I had to do it over again I'd wire it for lights on the inside(I lined it with black felt). I feel that there is no "smash and grab" thief that is going to get into it and no 4 men are going to move it anywhere. However if it is empty and the cabinet removed, I can put it on a hand-truck and move it, like a large refrigerator. Doc Nelson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 The best reasonable sized safe I have ever been around was the Top Secret that was issued to each artillery battalion S-2 in Europe. It had a 90 minute time of resistance from non explosive entry. All safes are openable. It just a matter of time. I had the safe open one morning doing the monthly change of combination required. My commander, Lt Col, walked into my office, saw the safe open and slammed it shut with no combination installed. I called the local CID agent. He was not allowed to see the interior of the safe an I was not allowed to see what he did to get into the safe. So he drrew his pistol and placed it on top of the safe and I drew mine and placed it on the desk. We stood back to back for the 2 minutes it took him to open the safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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