Handgun Security Products

BillCA · April 10, 2007, 08:25 PM

Some folks have asked how to hide or secure their guns without resorting to a big, expensive and heavy safe. Some live in apartments or other non-ground-floor arrangements where a safe is impractical.

Here's one idea I stumbled on today that might be useful for some.

https://www.plainsights.com/index.htm

If you like furniture...
http://www.innofab.com/prod.htm

nass · April 10, 2007, 10:20 PM

Those pants are cool. Neat idea, but maybe not for a handgun in all situations though....

skeeter1 · April 10, 2007, 10:39 PM

I wanted a safe I could get up into a second-story bedroom, so I got one of these:

http://www.stack-on.com/securityplus...y/gc-8rta.html

Not primo, and not fire-safe, but I could haul it up in pieces and put it together once I got it all up there. 36 bolts (all only accessible from the interior, best if you have a power-driver), but I think I paid just over $100 for it. Mine has has 7 longguns and 4 handguns in it. If I run out of room, I'll probably just buy another and bolt them together.

Guy B. Meredith · April 10, 2007, 10:56 PM

skeeter1,

I don't see any information on wall thickness, door construction, etc. Do you have that information?

Dave85 · April 11, 2007, 12:05 AM

I have a similar cabinet as the one skeeter1 has. I don't know what gauge it is exactly, but it is quite a bit heavier than your standard gym locker.

skeeter1 · April 11, 2007, 12:35 AM

Guy--

IIRC, it's 16-gauge steel, and the door has a three-bolt lock and a double-tumbler keylock.

I just went up and measured the steel thickness with my reloading calipers, and it read 0.060".

That's consistant with this chart:

http://www.coasteltools.com/tech_steel_gauge_chart.htm

I know it's not the best thing in the world, but it was affordable, and the only thing I could get upstairs.

I got it here:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...t_gun_saf_cabs

It's not the best safe in the world, but it's better than nothing. Anything larger, and I'd have to put it out in the garage, and I don't want my firearms out there.

--skeeter1

BillCA · April 11, 2007, 01:34 AM

Skeeter, Dave, Guy, et al,

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I'll give you my experience as a warning.

I had a similar unit made by Homak which was broken into. The weak link on these is the bolt fixing the locking plate to the door. A sturdy screwdriver and some work to find the plate, then some hammer blows will probably shear the bolt off and the locking plate with it. This was done on mine, with dual locks. I lost 12 handguns (*whimper*) when the thief broke in.

What I'd suggest is that you mark the area(s) where the locking plate engages the cabinet frame, then, reinforce the cabinet walls to prevent them from being bent to allow attacking the lock plate. If yours is like mine, the door edge is formed as a squared "S" shape. Some wood expoxied behind the edge and tight fitting against the outer wall should prevent/reduce a prying attack. (if you need an illustration, PM me).

Until I had funds to purchase a safe, I stored the replacement guns in a Stack-on "PS-520 Strong box safe" bolted to the wall. These have thicker metal and a 6-7mm thick door. The do need to be bolted to something however.
See: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=446022
These can be found or ordered through some local shops for around $100. They'll hold 6-8 handguns, depending on size and how tight you want to pack them in.

In fact, I have two PS-520's now, and use them to store the "loose" boxes of ammo.
(see attached)

April 10, 2007, 08:25 PM	#1
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,117	Handgun Security Products Some folks have asked how to hide or secure their guns without resorting to a big, expensive and heavy safe. Some live in apartments or other non-ground-floor arrangements where a safe is impractical. Here's one idea I stumbled on today that might be useful for some. https://www.plainsights.com/index.htm If you like furniture... http://www.innofab.com/prod.htm __________________ BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

April 10, 2007, 10:20 PM	#2
nass Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 281	Those pants are cool. Neat idea, but maybe not for a handgun in all situations though.... __________________ My $0.02

April 10, 2007, 10:56 PM	#4
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,581	skeeter1, I don't see any information on wall thickness, door construction, etc. Do you have that information? __________________ Smart Gun + 1 Battery + 3 Wires = Dumb Gun PC = Agenda driven groupthink filter on reality. Apostrophes denote ownership or missing letters NOT plurals!

April 11, 2007, 12:05 AM	#5
Dave85 Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,421	I have a similar cabinet as the one skeeter1 has. I don't know what gauge it is exactly, but it is quite a bit heavier than your standard gym locker. __________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" --commonly misattributed to, and most likely not, Benjamin Franklin

April 10, 2007, 10:39 PM	#3
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	I wanted a safe I could get up into a second-story bedroom, so I got one of these: http://www.stack-on.com/securityplus...y/gc-8rta.html Not primo, and not fire-safe, but I could haul it up in pieces and put it together once I got it all up there. 36 bolts (all only accessible from the interior, best if you have a power-driver), but I think I paid just over $100 for it. Mine has has 7 longguns and 4 handguns in it. If I run out of room, I'll probably just buy another and bolt them together.