Getting a "Gun Safe"

B

Bubsy

New member
I'm a NYC resident with an NYC Premises permit that, in theory at least, allows me to own as many pistols / revolvers as I want under the permit. But if I chose to own 5 or more, I have to own a "Safe" to secure them.

Right now, I own 4 pistols ( S&W Models 14, 41, 67, and 617). I'm interested in getting at least two more (Ruger Mk III and Walther P22) so I'll need to get a "safe".

My home is extremely secure, so I don't need a super high security safe for the guns. I had been considering the Liberty CE12 gun case available from Lowes for around $400 plus delivery. But a local Liberty dealer suggested the Home 12 safe instead. He pointed out that I store my pistols /revolvers in cases and the Home 12 would better accommodate pistols and revolver cases that the CE12 gun case. But the Home 12 is $900.00 (with free shipping) considerably more than the CE12.

Anyone familiar with either or both?

thanks,

bubsy
 
not trying to circumvent the laws or anything, but do the guns actually have to be in the safe?

All joking aside...if your house is as secure as you're happy with, then a cheaper "safe" would do (at least to keep out the curious). And go with layers of security: put the safe in a closet or a seldom-used room (or in a closet in a seldom-used room), one that is lockable, and then use cable locks on the firearms themselves.

ETA: The CE12 is designed to hold long-guns, which should be more than adequate to hold your handguns. You could make your own internal shelving system out of cheap plywood, and you could store all of your ammo and whatnot in there, too.
 
I know you were joking but... considering I have a "premises permit" which is issued for protection of a residence, I don't think the guns actually have to be IN the safe.

I visited a Liberty Safe dealer today and Lowes. The safe dealer suggested I get the Liberty Home 12 or Liberty Home 8, priced $900 and $800, plus $200 for delivery and installation. Lowes has the CE12 for $379.00 plus $85 for curbside delivery. They told me they don't offer "installation" because of past experience with collapsing basement stairs.

The Liberty Safe dealer wants photos of the entrance, and stairway to the basement as well as measurements of each opening so they can make sure the safe is delivered and installed w/o any damage.

It's tempting to get the CE12 from Lowes then have a handyman and his helper bring it into the basement. But the Liberty Home Safe holds a lot more provided I'm not going to get any long guns anytime soon.

The $200 delivery and installation charge that the Liberty Safe Dealer gave me seems reasonable. But the safes seem overpriced. Maybe if I find a lower price from another dealer they'll bargain with me?

bubsy
 
Fire protection

Assuming similar price range, which safe affords better fire protection? In theory, more firearms are lost to home fires than thefts.

However, I was very happy that my firearms were in a 600lb safe over Christmas, when somebody kicked in the back door and burglarized the house while we were out of town visiting relatives.
 
the Liberty Home safe offers far superior fire protection to the CE12. But at $900 + $200 shipping, it cost as much as the next two guns I plan to get combined (the Ruger MK III Target and the Walther P22). Then again, I don't need to use it just for the guns.

Safes like guns have really gone up in price this past year.

bubsy
 
More so than fire protection is protection from humidity. I grew up in NYC, and I remember how humid and damp the basement was. Make sure you get a Goldenrod dehumidifier for the safe and maybe consider backing that up with the plain boxes of dessicant as well........
 
Look around. Do you have a home depot or tractor supply in your area? How about independent gun shop? I saw a big 36 gun safe at tractor supply for $1000. Once you own a good fire rated safe you'll find you store more than just guns in case of break in or fire. It's better to buy too big....
 
+1 not only for guns

In addition to rifles, shotgun, and handguns, it is also good for holding bloodline certificates for show horses, birth certificates, passports, etc. Given the right shelving setup, you can store a lot of stuff in there.
 
not me

I bought a Sentry fire-proof 'non-gun' safe, 'cause all I own are handguns.

For under $200 I got a safe sufficient to secure over seventeen handguns, with at least a bit of fire-proofing, and still heavy enough to need two (big strong) guys to hump. 'Course, it can be secured to the floor.


All safes, regardless of cost, type, or size, are deterrents ONLY. Ay?
Ask any bank....
 
If you check with local locksmiths (not like there aren't any in NYC), you might find a few that have some trade-ins as folks upgraded their safes. These can usually be had for a lot less than brand new and might fit your needs just fine.
 
I bought a Sentry fire-proof 'non-gun' safe, 'cause all I own are handguns.
Click to expand...
I have read not to use fire-proof safes that are meant for document storage for guns, because the insulation used in these types of safes causes the interior to be humid, and will lead to increase chances of rusting.
 
For the price of the Home 12 you can buy 3 CE 12's. If you feel the CE12 is sufficent then get it. You can always get a second one. Of course you know your spouse is going to want to put jewlery, birth certificates, passports, ect, ect..... in your gun safe. Might as well get one thats at least twice the size of what you think you need.
 
I have three gun safes now; two I bought, the third was given to me when a friend decided to move onto and live on a big sail boat. I think a gun safe with high protection from fire is the best investment a gun owner can make. If you consider the cost of firearms, and what can happen if your firearms fall into the wrong hands, a good safe is a good investment. My first safe is a 30 gun Browning that I have placed in a hall closet. I have a slab concrete floor, and the safe is bolted to the floor and the wall studs. I replaced the hollow core door with a solid core one with a dead bolt. Getting past the alarms, and trying to muscle the safe (which loaded weighs over 800 lbs) out of the closet is going to take time and make more noise than burglars usually want to make. Our local PD actually stopped two guys who had jacked a gun safe out of a house, and since they could not lift it into the back of their truck, were dragging it on a chain in the middle of the night, leaving a trail of sparks. The door is on the alarm system, and the hall is covered by a motion detector. I live less than 2 miles from a fire station, so chances are that the FD will get here before a fire overcomes the protection of the safe. I subsequently started shooting Kentucky flintlock rifles and Revolutionary War muskets which were very hard to store in the Browning safe. I bought a mammoth Champion safe that is 72" tall and has even more fire protection than the Browning. It also has a unloaded weight of almost 1100 lbs and took four men with hydraulic lifts to get it into my house. It is also bolted to the floor and wall and covered by a motion detector. The third safe is also a high fire protection model, but I do not keep firearms in it. I use this safe for my documents and non-firearms collectibles. A good safe can be bought for the price of two high quality firearms. I think the price of a safe money well spent.:)

Beauregard
 
I have read not to use fire-proof safes that are meant for document storage for guns, because the insulation used in these types of safes causes the interior to be humid, and will lead to increase chances of rusting.

Would be interesting to see that since documents would also not handle the humidity without becoming moldy etc. Would think a fireproof safe with fireproof fiberglass insulation and airtight seals would be as good as it gets???? IMO
 
I have read not to use fire-proof safes that are meant for document storage for guns, because the insulation used in these types of safes causes the interior to be humid, and will lead to increase chances of rusting.
Click to expand...

Would you rather clean off some possible rust, or try to fix warped steel and burnt wood?
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Some thoughts...

The CE12's internal configuration would make it difficult to store my handguns in their cases which are mostly 11 X 13 X 3 1/2 since the safe is divided in half by what seems to be a non-removable partition. Also, Lowes only delivers "Curbside" so I'd have to find a way to get that 300 lb safe into the basement.

I will check with some local locksmiths that advertise in the yellow pages as having safes. They might have what I need but I'd have to work with them around delivery and installation.

The Liberty Home 12 is more than I budgeted for a safe. $900 for the safe + tax and $200 for delivery. I'm curious though as to why Liberty Safes of Va has the safe for $700.00? I thought price was set by supply and demand. I would think the demand in Va would be far greater than in NY.

bubsy
 
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