Inprint Pistol Vault

[DWS1117]

Has anyone used one? Do they work? How do they compare with the Gun Vault?

I am concerned about my 3 year old being able to open the gun vault by accident. Anyone with kids know how they like to push buttons. With only 4 buttons it doesn't seem too far fetched to think that a kid push the buttons in just the right combination. I know this thinking may be irrational.

He is learning to not touch any of daddy's guns without daddy, and so far he has made me proud. I would just feel better keeping my bed gun in something.





http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0022175226013a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jhtml%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&QueryText=safe&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.20&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=safe&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml

 

[vwfool]

I'm with you, there are only so many combinations, and kids don't mind trying them all. That vault you pictured is really cool. It is about time someone came up with a better design; AC or DC, still has a backup lock in case of power failures, and recognizes multiple programed fingerprints.

My $.02 ...looks like a good product, and $350 isn't a bad price for a lot more piece of mind

 

[geekWithA.45]

Gunvault chord combos:

If you've got young kids in the house and a gunvault, you should set the combo such that at least one element of the combination is a "chord", that is to say, involves 2 or more simultaneous key presses.

Gunvault supports this.


The advantages are:


A) Kids don't think of chords
B) Extends the number of combination permutations, makes it _much_ less likely that they'd stumble into the combo by doinking at the buttons and
C) Small hands can't form chords

 

[vwfool]

C) Small hands can't form chords

I agree, using chords is better than not using them. Come on though, how many kids do you see playing with only one hand instead of both?
If kids knew that they were only supposed to use one hand to push buttons instead of both hands with both index fingers, they would know that they were not to ever touch the box under Daddy and Momma's bed.

I'm not attacking you personally; please don't take it that way. Kids are a lot smarter than we think sometimes, and they cheat really, really well. They may not know it, but they do.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think the finger print safe is a great idea. Would just like to know if it's consistantly reliable or not. Hate to buy it and the thing be finicky.

Does anyone actually have one?

 

[anapex]

I definitely agree on the multiple key presses for a gunvault. That's how I have mine set. I don't think of them of chords but rather a large number that the multiple key presses add up to.

 

[RyanM]

I distinctly remember one time when I was 4 or 5, I went up to a safe in a store (it was in the box, so it wasn't a modified display model or anything like that) and tried opening it. It was locked, big surprise. I spun the dial completely randomly for about 5 seconds, pulled the handle again, and it opened!

I have no idea if that was dumb luck, or a "demo mode" on the safe, or what, but I've never trusted a lock since then.

 

[nbkky71]

I've got one and really like it a lot. I bought the B/IO safe:

http://www.nokey.com/biobiomgunsa.html

It's handy enough to take with me and will fit two pistols inside of it. The fingerprint reader will authenticate me within 1-2 seconds.

The only times it has not immedaitely authenticated me was when I did not fully press my finger onto the reader. Every other time it has worked without fail.

The only thing that I would like to see changed is the cover for the finderprint reader: I wish it were spring loaded.

I see them advertised around $290 but I got mine off EBay new-in-the-box for $259.

 

[mack69]

Bio safes are cool but I wonder what happens if your finger is covered in soap, lotion, grease, oil or blood. Would it still read your print? Just curious....All of those things could be on your hand at any time.

I have wee'uns too, and the Gun Vault combo is what was referred to previously as a chord. Not had any issues in the 3 years I had it.

 

[TMM]

in addition to mack's comment... what if you don't HAVE a finger?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=133390
~TMM

 

[shermacman]

TMM, my man!

I have a GunVault with the push buttons. It sets off an alarm after three failed attempts. Furthermore, if the alarm does get set off, it won't open even with the right combination (takes three minutes to reset).
I have two kids, and with the GunVault I have no worries.

The finger tip thing is beyond freaky. Here we have the Law of Unintended Consequences: The security level for a Mercedes is so high that the owner now risks dismemberment to protect his car.

 

[IrvJr]

Multiple prints

I don't own a biometric safe, but I've read some marketing material for some of these devices. Many of the safes allow you to store multiple prints in their database. IIRC, the manufacturers recommend that you store more than one print for a particular finger so that it will be less likely to reject you falsely. Also, they recommend that you store prints for more than one finger, in case your primary finger is unavailable (band-aid, cast, etc.).

If you enter in prints for your right and left hands, you can hedge your self against a missing finger or hand!

 

[RyanM]

Hm, just out of curiosity, are there any biometric safes where you have to put fingerprints of certain fingers in in a sequence? Best of both worlds, if security is more important than speed and convenience (ie, a general purpose safe for the majority of your guns, not a safe for a home defense gun).

 

[sharkmandan]

I have one

And, it's alright, but not worth the $300 it costs at Cabela's. I have never had to be too concerned about keeping all of my firearms locked up, as I spent 46 years single with no kids. But, at 46, (3 years ago) I got married, and now have young grandchildren, so while I have a Cannon Model 50 for my main storage, I wanted something that will allow me to keep a gun close at the ready, but secure from the kids.
The Inprint, is the first biometric safe I found, so I bought it. It gives a memory that allows for 16 stored fingerprints. So, I set it up with my wife's 10 and six of mine.
Well, if the batteries are low, but the light still comes on, it will not open. The key is easliy misplaced, and I have gone to quite a bit of trouble to get a new lock, due to mine coming up MIA.
Also, sometimes it fails to recognize your fingerprint, if it is not EXACTLY in the same position as it was, when you stored the fingerprint. This could be a major problem, in a situation where seconds are critical.
The other problem I see with it, is the latch mechanism is very noisy. You might as well be racking a round into the chamber of an Ithaca 37. I would prefer stealth, in opening my safe.
Lastly, while it looks in the pictures, to be very sturdy, it is made of thin walled aluminum. I believe it would be very easy to defeat, in short order, by someone with bad intentions, like a burglar, so it should NOT be your primary safe.
That all said, it does what it says it will do, and works, mostly, pretty well. I simply think that because of it being the first of it's kind, it has bugs to be worked out, and the manufacturer isn't doing so.
A couple of years ago, at the Los Angeles County Fair, (NOT a gun show, at the regular Sept. Fair) I saw a company with several safes with fingerprint (biometric technology) opening. And these were REAL safes. Heavy, and would protect your gun from fire and theft, as well as keep it out of the reach of small children. And the prices were near the same as this Inprint safe ($289-$400) depending on size and manufacturer.
Personally, if I had it to do over, I would get one of these others.

 

[MisterMike]

I've got a Sequiam BioBox. I won't claim that it's impossible to fool, but I've had a number of family members give it a whirl and they just get the flashing red light (meaning, "Sorry, Charlie."). I've got fingers from both hands scanned into the thing, and the key hidden discretely not too far away, so I'm reasonably confident that my pistol will be accessible within a couple seconds if I ever need it.

No safe that's going to offer relatively quick access is going to be 100% foolproof, but securing a gun in this type of a box vastly decreases the odds of an unauthorized person gaining access. Personally, I'm entirely confident that a child could not get past the biometric reader on my BioBox and gain access to my nightstand pistol. In my view, this is an eminently reasonable--and safe--means of storage.

 

[Dr_2_B]

a buddy of mine had a USB device that was fingerprint activated. I'm just not sure they are reliable enough. But I'm willing to be proven wrong.