The "Gun Safes Are Not Safes & Not Worth It" Argument

[ATXCardinal09]

I personally have a light-up, wooden gun cabinet, with a glass front.

It's completely useless at discouraging criminals, but it sure showcases my rifles nicely.

My older cabinet was a beautiful antique Mexican style cabinet. HUGE, thick wood, with metal bars on the glass and locks on the doors. A little more secure, but it was not able to defend itself against termites. Ended up in the trash....

 

[Rasputin]

I've got a Stackon safe that I bought from Dickhead's Sporting Goods several years ago. Nobody's ever tried to break into it. It gives me peace of mind, and maybe some security in knowing that if my guns are ever stolen and used in a crime, I can say that I had them properly stored. May keep me from getting sued.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I've got a Stackon safe that I bought from Dickhead's Sporting Goods several years ago. Nobody's ever tried to break into it. It gives me peace of mind, and maybe some security in knowing that if my guns are ever stolen and used in a crime, I can say that I had them properly stored. May keep me from getting sued.

Why would you get sued if your guns were stolen, and used in a crime?

 

[Dawico]

I've got a Stackon safe that I bought from Dickhead's Sporting Goods several years ago. Nobody's ever tried to break into it. It gives me peace of mind, and maybe some security in knowing that if my guns are ever stolen and used in a crime, I can say that I had them properly stored. May keep me from getting sued.

No.

 

[C. Stevens]

Umm.... <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/161037431" width="640" height="359" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
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[C. Stevens]

At least they had the balls to light it on fire and show you what happens
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[benenglish]

"After a safety check and refinishing" the guns were good to go. I hate the idea that the finish must be sacrificed; I don't consider that full protection from the fire. Re-bluing to original quality for some of my old guns would cost far more than I paid for them.

However, just getting them back in functional condition was impressive.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Would definitely not be enough protection for a gun whose monetary value comes from it's original finish.

 

[pronstar]

I'm surprised the finishes were sorta toast but the polymer furniture was intact.


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[benenglish]

Would definitely not be enough protection for a gun whose monetary value comes from it's original finish.

I see what you did there.

I like to think that the value of my guns comes from the way they function. But some of those old bluing jobs were art, the kind of art that most places don't seem willing to take the time to replicate. So if the finish of an old Colt revolver or one of my better S&W revolvers was ruined, I certainly could have it cleaned and cerakoted (or something) and it would be just as functional as it had ever been. Unfortunately, their monetary value would take a big hit.

Personally, my opinion of their value would be unchanged. If they work as smoothly and reliably, if they shoot as accurately, they're still worth, to me, whatever they were worth when I bought them. Or, stated another way, while I don't buy guns for their finish the marketplace doesn't feel the same way.

Hmmmm. I've got an old M10 S&W that's nothing special. I wonder if I should have it refinished in an interesting color scheme. What would a revolver look like with a fluorescent green cylinder and grips with electric yellow for the frame and barrel?

To put this back on an only mildly off-topic tangent, are there any gun finishes that stand up to high heat such that they might have survived that Youtube test without requiring refinishing? If so, what is it and what colors do they offer?

 

[avvidclif]

I have one of the older (over 20 yrs old) Winchester Gun Safes. Not the new 12ga wall model. The door is 1/4" steel plate. I'm not sure about the walls. It is a 24 gun safe and weighs over 600 lbs empty. Anyone that can haul it off can have it. With the guns and ammo (for ballast) in it it's probably around 800 lbs. If I could find another one I would buy it, the new "safes" just don't work for me. Mechanical lock so no electronics to mess up.

 

[TxStetson]

I have one of the older (over 20 yrs old) Winchester Gun Safes. Not the new 12ga wall model. The door is 1/4" steel plate. I'm not sure about the walls. It is a 24 gun safe and weighs over 600 lbs empty. Anyone that can haul it off can have it. With the guns and ammo (for ballast) in it it's probably around 800 lbs. If I could find another one I would buy it, the new "safes" just don't work for me. Mechanical lock so no electronics to mess up.

Welcome to the forum. Oh and I want it.

 

[C. Stevens]

I see what you did there.

I like to think that the value of my guns comes from the way they function. But some of those old bluing jobs were art, the kind of art that most places don't seem willing to take the time to replicate. So if the finish of an old Colt revolver or one of my better S&W revolvers was ruined, I certainly could have it cleaned and cerakoted (or something) and it would be just as functional as it had ever been. Unfortunately, their monetary value would take a big hit.

Personally, my opinion of their value would be unchanged. If they work as smoothly and reliably, if they shoot as accurately, they're still worth, to me, whatever they were worth when I bought them. Or, stated another way, while I don't buy guns for their finish the marketplace doesn't feel the same way.

Hmmmm. I've got an old M10 S&W that's nothing special. I wonder if I should have it refinished in an interesting color scheme. What would a revolver look like with a fluorescent green cylinder and grips with electric yellow for the frame and barrel?

To put this back on an only mildly off-topic tangent, are there any gun finishes that stand up to high heat such that they might have survived that Youtube test without requiring refinishing? If so, what is it and what colors do they offer?

Cerakote makes a high temp coating. They use it for headers, turbos, engine parts. Not sure how it does in a fire.

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[benenglish]

Cerakote makes a high temp coating.

I was not aware. Thanks for the info.

 

[Rasputin]

Seems to me that I've heard about people being sued because their firearms were not "properly secured", and were used in a crime after being stolen. I don't think its right, but given some of the screwy judges and juries of late, I'd rather not take a chance. It also reminds me of once I was talking to a lawyer about a potential lawsuit from a customer, and he said, "Anybody can sue anybody about anything any time." Doesn't mean their gonna win or get anything from me, but it does mean that I may have to hire a lawyer to defend myself. Just as soon not do that if I can avoid it.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Better put all your steak knives, and car keys in there as well.
Maybe your hammers and all your tools also...

 

[easy rider]

If I get to the point where I am worrying about how many ways I can get sued and locked up from someone else doing something wrong, just shoot me, for I have gone over the edge.

 

[TheDan]

To put this back on an only mildly off-topic tangent, are there any gun finishes that stand up to high heat such that they might have survived that Youtube test without requiring refinishing? If so, what is it and what colors do they offer?

I wish they had included a temp sensor inside the safe to see how hot it actually got, but several of the titanium nitride coatings should work...

For aluminum parts... anodizing comes in just about any color you can think of and can withstand very high temps, but if the temperature rises quickly it can crack as the anodizing expands slower than the metal below it.

 

[easy rider]

I wish they had included a temp sensor inside the safe to see how hot it actually got, but several of the titanium nitride coatings should work...

For aluminum parts... anodizing comes in just about any color you can think of and can withstand very high temps, but if the temperature rises quickly it can crack as the anodizing expands slower than the metal below it.

Some of these finishes (coatings) are used for machining bits and drills, not sure they would be available for gun finishes.

 

[avvidclif]

I wouldn't worry about the finish. If it got hot enough to damage that it could have changed the strength of the metal (IE: heat treatment)and that could cause problems.