By Gun_Safe_Sensei, on December 2nd, 2011% One of the biggest decisions you will make when purchasing a gun safe is whether to go with a standard dial lock or an electronic keypad.
Most of the major safe manufacturers now offer both options on their models, with the e-locks costing slightly more.
The choice of locking mechanism is mostly personal, as the security ratings of both types of lock are equal on the same model of safe.
It comes down to personal preference and what best suits your particular lifestyle. Most people seem to prefer the electronic lock for its convenience, while some stand by the unwavering reliability of the standard dial.
In an informal poll, 6 out of 16 responders preferred dial, while 10 preferred electronic.
Those who prefer manual locks like the old-fashioned looks and the fact that they are quiet. With a standard lock, the dial never shows serious signs of wear or reveals the combo as some keypads can. For the technologically challenged, a dial lock is preferable because there is no cooling off period after repeated failed entry attempts. Lock failure is nearly impossible with a dial lock, and there is less chance of manufacture defects. For those who are prepared for anything, there is the added security of knowing that electromagnetic pulses from solar flares or bombs will not cause a dial lock to malfunction. And for some, the option of closing the safe without necessarily having to lock it is an added bonus. There is no maintenance required with a mechanical lock, and the lifespan of even a modestly priced safe can be 100 years or more. Standard locks are also cheaper than electronic ones.
People who prefer electronic locks like the quicker access, and some mentioned that in certain states and localities, a safe is required by law. In these cases, keeping your home defense weapon in a quick-access safe is key. It’s easier to remember the combination on an electronic safe, and the grid pattern of the numbers means you can punch it in even in the dark. Keypads are also easier on older eyes that may have trouble seeing the tiny digits of a manual lock. E-safes secure as soon as you close the door, without requiring a spin of the dial-better for those who don’t want to remember that last step. It is also easy to change the combination on your safe without having to call a locksmith.
Manual locks have a few drawbacks, including slower access and the need for a lamp or flashlight if you’re accessing in the dark. You also can’t change the combo without a locksmith.
Drawbacks of the e-lock include that it makes noise, which can be a problem in some situations. Some safes have the option to turn this beep off. Keypads can also show wear on the buttons, which does not reveal the order of the code, but does show each of the numbers. And although it is very rare, and electronic keypad can experience failure due to flaws in manufacturing, or interference form an electromagnetic pulse. Repeated failed attempts to access the safe can result in a temporary lock-out for as long as half an hour-good in theft situations, but very inconvenient if it’s the homeowner who’s made the mistake. E-locks require maintenance, including annual battery changes if you don’t want the inconvenience of changing batteries at the time they die. Keypads also will not last as long as dials, simply because they are made of plastic and have more moving parts. They are also more expensive than dial locks, but the $50 to $100 difference doesn’t usually matter to people who are spending $1000 or more for a safe.
The following list should help you determine what features you can find in each type of safe:
|
Manual Dial Lock |
Electronic Keypad Lock |
Speed
of access |
Slower |
Faster |
Ease of
access |
Somewhat
difficult
- More digits
- Must remember pattern/direction
- Need light
|
Easiest
- Less digits
- Can access in dark (on some models)
- Easier for “older” eyes
- Grid pattern quicker than dial
|
| Security |
Must
spin lock to secure |
Secures
when door is closed |
Changing
combo |
Requires
locksmith |
Can do
at home |
| Noise |
Silent |
Makes
noise (some can be muted) |
Theft
issues |
Few |
Slightly
more
- Keypad can show wear pattern
|
Lock
Failure |
Nearly
impossible, may come out of adjustment |
Rare,
but possible
- Manufacturer defect
- Electromagnetic pulse
|
False
entry lockout |
No |
After
three to four unsuccessful attempts, safe locks |
| Maintenance |
None, unless in need of adjustment |
Annual
battery changes |
| Lifespan |
100
years or more |
10-15+
years |
| Cost |
Cheaper |
Slightly
more expensive than dial |
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on November 7th, 2011% Some safe companies specialize in fire ratings, others in technology. Some companies advertise luxury add-ons like plush, lighted interiors and e-capabilities. American Security specializes in, well, security.
AmSec was the first domestic safe company to obtain Underwriter Laboratory’s coveted TL15 and TL30 burglary ratings, and they continue to lead the competition with safety features like massive locking bolts, steel plate-covered mechanisms, and multiple fire-proofing elements.
American Security is also unique in that they still sell vault doors—the niche market where they got their start—so you can design and build your own safe or safe room.
AmSec also manufactures deposit safes, office safes, and floor safes. In fact, if I had to venture a guess, I would say that American Security offers more different types of safes in multiple configurations than any other safe company out there.
AmSec was first in safety, and it’s a legacy to which they still hold fast. We put our trust in their name, and we think you can, too.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on November 2nd, 2011% At GunSafes.com, we’re about trust. We’re not about making a quick buck. We’re in it for the long haul. That’s why we carefully research safe manufacturers and models, and only carry brands we—and you—can believe in.
Our selection of safes is the best anywhere, and because of that, you can find what you need. We have safes for small budgets, and safes for people who have no limits. We have safes for pistols, safes for rifles, and safes for whatever things are valuable in your life.
We can offer so many safes, at such great prices, because we do a lot of business with a lot of manufacturers. We can also offer you, our customer, these safes without sales tax (except in our home state of Idaho) and without shipping fees.
Sometimes we lose cash in a sale. Sometimes a company or a shipper makes a mistake that costs us money. Sometimes we have to bend over backwards to make sure you get what you need, when you need it. But that’s who we are.
A lot of companies claim to put their customers first, but at GunSafes, we really do.
There’s a reason we offer the most gun safes, in heavy-gauge steel, with the most price points and options. It’s because we want you to be satisfied with your purchase, keep it for a lifetime, and someday pass on not only your safe, but word of your great experience with us.
For us, it’s all about trust.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on October 18th, 2011% When people talk about “fingerprint” gun safes, they’re talking about biometrics—methods to recognize authority using the human body. Common biometrics include voice recognition, retinal scanning, and of course, fingerprints.
Long ago, technology like biometrics was new and unusual and beyond the price range of most people. Today you can have this technology in a gun safe for only a few hundred dollars—just a little more than you might pay for a standard combination or key-locking safe.
And once upon a time, fingerprint scanning was not entirely reliable, but today’s biometric vaults have been refined to the point where false readings are virtually unheard of.
Two of the most popular brands of fingerprint recognition safes are the Inprint and GunVault. Generally, these types of safe are only large enough for one or two pistols, or a pistol and a few other small valuables. There are also full-sized biometric safes, but the smaller sizes tend to be the most popular.
Generally, people like to keep a biometric-style safe near the bed for quick and easy access to their home protection weapon, and keep the bulk of their gun collection and other valuables in a standard-size safe.
GunSafes offers both the Inprint and GunVault brands, as well as many other brands of biometric safe, in a variety of styles and sizes. So if you’re looking for the convenience and speed of fingerprint gun safe access, look no further.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on September 28th, 2011% Asking the best type of dehumidifier is kind of like asking the best model of hunting rifle. Everyone has their preferences, and everyone finds a certain style fits them best.
In the case of dehumidifiers, it’s good to start by choosing either a desiccant or electric type.
If you don’t have a lot of moisture problems, and if an electrical connection is not available or too difficult to access, then the desiccant option might be the right choice for you.
The Browning Sacc Dry Zone is a vented box of moisture-absorbing material, much like the little packets you find in foods or medicine, but on a much larger scale. This is also similar to the RV and closet packs you can find at retail stores, with one important exception—the Browning pack can be recharged in the oven. That means that should the pack ever absorb to its capacity, you can place it in a warm oven to dry and reactivate it. You can repeat this process indefinitely. No electricity, no fuss, no problem. The Dry Zone protects up to 37 cubic feet of space, about the volume of a standard 30-inch-wide safe. This product retails for $34.95
For an even more convenient desiccant solution, try the Eva-Dry E-333 dehumidifier. With this product, the desiccant crystals are enclosed in a plastic body, and recharging is achieved by plugging the unit into an outlet. Convenient color-changing bars indicate when the crystals are spent and in need of reactivation. The lifespan of this product is up to 10 years. The Eva-Dry is rated for 333 cubic feet, and is eco-friendly and non-toxic. Retail price $34.95
If you have more challenging moisture problems, or changes in temperature extremes that come from keeping your safe in a non-climate controlled area such as a shop or garage, think about investing in an electric dehumidifier. They are only a few dollars more than desiccant-type units, but provide more aggressive moisture control.
The Browning EverDry electric dehumidifier is an 18-inch-long bar that plugs into a standard outlet. Most safes have a hole in the back or side to allow for the cord, which detaches from the unit for installation. This unit should be used on safes 30 inches wide or larger to avoid touching the sides of the safe. The EverDry retails for $39.95
Another option in electric dehumidifiers is the Browning Flexible EverDry. This unit is flat and flexible, and can be bent around the corners and contents of your safe. Like the bar unit, the cord on the Flexible is removable to help with installation. This products retails for $49.95
Ultimately, the decision on the best gun safe dehumidifier is an individual choice, but these suggestions should give you some idea of what’s on the market. These models are available at http://www.gunsafes.com/store/Search.aspx?SearchTerms=dehumidifiers
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on August 8th, 2011% Here at GunSafes, we don’t really endorse one brand of safe over another. There are so many models and styles of gun safe, in so many price points, that what works for you might not work for someone else.
We can say, though, that most of the time, you get what you pay for. Just look at this post from a public firearms forum:
“I live in a rural area where there are no neighbors to hear an alarm. Last year on May 19 my home was broken into. My Browning safe put up a good fight and won, but unfortunately my Cannon safe gave up 13 long guns, two pistols, and a laptop computer. Please don’t think just any old safe is really safe. I lost a lot of family history that day because ‘it would never happen to me,’ and I tried to save a dollar. I now know the meaning of priceless. Spend the money buy a quality gun safe.”
I’m not here to tell you that Browning is better that Cannon, or that a $3,000 safe is going to work better for you than a $1500 safe. I will say that there is a difference in manufacturers, and a difference in prices. You also can’t compare Cannon’s cheapest model with Browning’s most expensive.
What you can do, though, is research exactly what you need. Decide beforehand the amount of space you require. Are you more concerned with fire or theft? Does a standard dial lock suit you, or would you be better served with an electronic lock? Only you can decide the features and degree of protection you need.
Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, give us a call or open a chat window. Nobody knows more about gun safes than the reps at GunSafes.com
You tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll give you the straight dope. Whether your priority is saving money or saving your legacy, we’ll make sure you find exactly what you need.
Our goal is your satisfaction, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your valuables are protected. When security matters to you, give us a call.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on August 1st, 2011% Why is it that GunSafes.com has the best prices on gun safes?
To start, we are the top retailer of gun safes on the internet. Moving so many safes means we can narrow our margins, thereby offering our customers better prices.
In addition, we do not charge sales tax (unless you live in our home state, Idaho) and shipping is free.
We have a small team of dedicated and knowledgeable gun safes sales reps, who know the products inside and out, and who maintain close relationships with all our gun safes manufacturers. So not only do you get the benefit of their combined years of experience, you also have powerful advocates who can exert their influence should any issues arise.
We also have special relationships with our shippers, and because we do a lot of business with them, they can offer us the best possible prices on both curbside and white glove delivery.
Best of all, should you find a better price on a gun safe, GunSafes.com will do our best to price match it.
GunSafes has made a science of easy ordering, customer support, quick delivery, and simple returns. We also provide technical support throughout each step of the process.
At GunSafes, our goal is to make online shopping easy and pleasant. That’s why we offer the most brands and models, the most friendly and helpful sales reps, and, of course, the best prices on gun safes.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on July 29th, 2011% When I say “safe room,” one of two things probably comes to mind—a place to hide from home invasion, or a place to store a lot of guns.
Actually, you can have either or both with a little clever architecture. If you want a truly secure panic room, you will need to have reinforced walls, floor, and ceiling, and methods that go beyond the scope of this post. However, if all you need is a secure place to regroup and call for help, or store a large number of valuables, you can achieve this with an interior room and a vault door.
Whether you need a security door, fire door, or combination-locked vault door, check out our selection at http://www.gunsafes.com/Vault-Doors.html
Vault doors lock securely, and can be opened easily from the inside, but not the outside.
Styles of vault door vary, but most have thick steel plates filled with insulation. These doors feature from 10 to 20 locking bolts that penetrate into the doorframe, making the door virtually pry-proof. Higher-end doors also feature re-lockers, so if someone attempts to drill the lock from the outside, a re-locking mechanism will engage extra security bolts or lock existing ones into place.
If you have renovation and remodeling experience, you will be able to install one of these doors with some assistance. If you don’t, be sure to contract the job to a trustworthy source. It’s not only a matter of personal safety, these doors weigh several hundred pounds and need to be installed correctly in order to function properly.
So whether you need a retreat or a walk-in gun closet, look into making your own safe room with a vault door from GunSafes.com
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on July 20th, 2011% This week’s “Seriously?” news comes from Baltimore, where mayorial candidate Otis Rolley says he would institute a $1-per-bullet tax, with the hope the tax would cut down on the amount of ammunition people buy.
“This is not a revenue-enhancement tool,” Rolley said. “It’s a make-it-difficult-for-you-to-buy-bullets tool.”
Rolley believes that the tax would generate awareness and decrease random shootings.
One has to wonder if he took seriously Chris Rock’s standup routine of some years back, where Rock stated that gun control wasn’t necessary, all we had to do was make bullets $5,000 apiece. That way, he said, there will be no innocent bystanders. If a bullet costs $5,000, he reasoned, a person is going to be very careful who they shoot, and certainly the victim would have deserved it at that price.
While Rock’s routine is quite funny, and certainly makes sense in the context of random shootings in inner cities, Rolley is failing to take into account that, like most gun control legislation, criminals would simply find a way around it. It will only be honest, law-abiding gun owners, who would like to purchase large amounts of ammunition for range practice, who would suffer by passing such legislation.
Criminals care little for conscientious gun ownership, nor do they care about properly caring for and practicing with their weapons. The bad guys will find ways to get cheap bullets, or steal them, just like they find ways to get guns even when strict purchasing and ownership laws are in place.
The spirit of Rolley’s idea is actually quite clever, and makes sense from the point of view of someone caught in the crossfire of drive-bys and gang violence, but taken to its logical conclusion, this is a proposition that just doesn’t pass muster.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on July 18th, 2011% GunSafes.com has joined USACarry’s giveaway promotion, which includes a Ruger LC9 pistol, Crimson Trace laser sight, Crossbreed holster and belt, Console Vault vehicle safe, and GunVault GV1000 mini deluxe pistol safe from yours truly.
GunSafes is excited to partner with one of the best concealed carry forums out there, and now you not only get a ton of information and advice about carrying concealed weapons, you can also win one of our products just by being a forum member.
Check it out at USACarry!
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on July 15th, 2011% GunSafes.com is more than a website specializing in gun safes.
We’ve got all kinds of social media presence, as well.
You can chat with us on Facebook, get Tweets via Twitter, and sign up for exclusive e-mail promotions. Heck, you could even stop by our showroom for a face-to-face talk!
When you’re ordering a safe, you can purchase on our site, live chat with one of our reps, or call in.
The lines of communication are many and varied!
Here’s links to our various media:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/pNbeMQ (daily updates, exclusive promos, and shooting news)
Twitter: @GunSafesPR (sales and links to gun stuff)
E-mail sign-up: http://www.gunsafes.com/email-sign-up.html
Live chat: http://www.gunsafes.com/ (for questions about gun safes, just click the pretty lady in the upper left corner)
And of course, if you’re ever in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, stop by our store at 509 North Fifth Avenue and say hi. We love to keep in touch with our customers and find out what’s happening in their lives.
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on July 7th, 2011% Annie Oakley is known across the United States as not only an amazing sure-shot, but one who could out-gun even the most skilled men who dared challenge her.
Oakley was born Phoebe Ann Mosey in 1860 outside of present-day North Star, Ohio. She was the last of six children born to her parents. Her mother would marry and be widowed three times and have three more children.
Between the ages of 6 and 8, Annie hunted to feed her family as well as earn extra money from local restaurants and hotels. Accounts vary, but it seems she may have trapped small game, only shooting a rifle once, and getting into serious trouble from her mother after doing so.
Annie was put in the county poor farm for a time when she was 8 years old, then reunited with her mother and second stepfather at age 13. Her hunting skills, now aided by the rifle, helped pay off the farm’s mortgage a few years after that.
Oakley’s skill became well-known throughout the region.
During the spring of 1881, the Baughman and Butler shooting act visited nearby Cincinnati, and 21-year-old Annie responded to Frank Butler’s challenge that he could outshoot any local “fancy shooter.”
A local hotelier arranged a shooting match between Butler and Oakley. Oakley bested Butler, and he became enamored. The two married the next year and lived in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati, from where it is believed she took her stage name.
Butler and Oakley joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in 1885. At a mere 5 feet tall, Oakley was given the nickname of “Watanya Cicilla” by fellow performer Sitting Bull, rendered “Little Sure Shot” in the public advertisements.
Oakley became the star of the Wild West show, her most famous trick being splitting a playing card edge-on, then firing several holes into it before it hit the ground.
Annie performed for kings and queens and heads of state, and even volunteered her services and those of 50 other lady sharpshooters for the Spanish-American War effort.
Annie survived a train wreck and an auto crash. She dabbled in acting. She continued to set shooting records well into her 60s.
Throughout her career, it is believed that Oakley taught upwards of 15,000 women how to use a gun. Although she never believed in women’s suffrage, Oakley felt it was crucial for women to learn how to use firearms.
Annie died in 1926, but not before earning a reputation as the best shot in the country, a skill, it is said, that never diminished as she aged.
 Annie Oakley
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on June 30th, 2011% If you have been putting off buying a safe because it’s just not convenient to your lifestyle, you might want to give modular safes a look.
Modular safes are shipped in easy-to-assemble pieces, and require no special tools to put together. Each piece of a modular safe can be moved by a single person, and their light weight means you can transport and set up modular safes in places that conventional safes can’t go.
Modular safes assemble from the inside out, so a potential thief can’t simply disassemble your safe to get inside.
Once assembled, a modular safe is as sturdy and reliable as a traditional gun safe, and has many of the same safety features, including fire rating and theft deterrents.
If you live several floors up, have limited space, or tend to move a lot, check our modular safe selection at http://www.gunsafes.com/Modular-Safes.html
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on June 29th, 2011% Independence Day is just around the corner!
Though the popularity of the holiday seems to ebb and flow, the late 19th century saw the Fourth of July in its heyday. In the year 1870, July 4 become an official federal holiday, and one Miss Nettie Spencer, interviewed for the American Life Histories project, recalled that the Fourth was the biggest event of the year, drawing folks together from all parts of the countryside.
There would be floats in the morning and the one that got the [girls?] eye was the Goddess of Liberty. She was supposed to be the most wholesome and prettiest girl in the countryside — if she wasn’t she had friends who thought she was. But the rest of us weren’t always in agreement on that…Following the float would be the Oregon Agricultural College cadets, and some kind of a band. Sometimes there would be political effigies.
Just before lunch—and we’d always hold lunch up for an hour—some Senator or lawyer would speak. These speeches always had one pattern. First the speaker would challenge England to a fight and berate the King and say that he was a skunk. This was known as twisting the lion’s tail. Then the next theme was that any one could find freedom and liberty on our shores. The speaker would invite those who were heavy laden in other lands to come to us and find peace. The speeches were pretty fiery and by that time the men who drank got into fights and called each other Englishmen. In the afternoon we had what we called the ‘plug uglies’— funny floats and clowns who took off on the political subjects of the day…The Fourth was the day of the year that really counted then. Christmas wasn’t much; a Church tree or something, but no one twisted the lion’s tail.
How wonderful we can still twist the lion’s tail in our day and age! True, the political verbiage may no longer be directed at the King of England, but remember in the midst of your differences and debates, how very blessed we are to live in a country where we can argue to our hearts’ content.
quote: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul04.html
image: fanpop.com
By Gun-Safe-Guru, on June 23rd, 2011% Did you know that you can refuse a package delivery? Many people don’t realize that when a shipping company shows up at their door with a damaged item, they do not have to accept delivery of it.
Although it seems like a tough product, gun safes do get damaged on occasion. At GunSafes.com, we ask that our customers inspect their safes upon delivery. Should a customer find damage, they should call us immediately, while the delivery company is still there.
In many cases the damage is minor, and we can offer you free touch-up paint or a small refund as long as you note the damages on the bill of lading before signing for the item.
In rare cases where the safe is considered non-salvageable, you should not only contact us, but also refuse the delivery. The company will remove the product, and we will ship a replacement as soon as possible.
Each company has their own preferences for how you handle damaged merchandise, so check with them when you place your order so you will know how to handle your next dinged or dented package and get a replacement in the easiest, quickest way possible.
Now you know!
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