Hide in plain sight

I cant say that I do this, but some people might keep a handgun in the bottom of a plastic plant pot underneath the plant, such as the one in the image of the sliding mirror above. A plastic vine type plant would work best.

my guess would be criminals know all the common hiding spots and will find anything hidden pretty quick.

my goal is to discourage them by layers of security. just having dead bolt locks on your outer doors is a good start. It amazes me how many people do not even have that. start by making your outer doors harder to get past. not impossible, since that cannot be done, but just harder.

nothing is really "safe" if someone has the time and means to attack it. even a bank vault can be opened by criminals if they have the time and resources.

They do have a cool factor but the lack of any real security keeps me from using them. I also pocket carry at home, so I don't stash any guns other than my HD gun meant to be available primarily when sleeping.

This has been a favorite of mine:

https://www.amazon.com/Homak-WS00018002-Security-Between-Studs/dp/B0017KL254

It can be easily concealed by a mirror, or painted utility gray and camoed with a 'Caution - High Voltage ' sticker.

I've just got a plastic-coated magnet under the end table near the chair where I generally sit. There's a S&W Model 36 there, as it has been for years. Can't see it even looking underneath the table, as it is fully hidden behind the back of the drawer, where there's a void that is just about perfectly sized. To see it, you'd have to lay on your back and scoot under the table all the way to the back... yet I can easily reach it from my chair. Pretty much undetectable.

RainDodger said:

I've just got a plastic-coated magnet under the end table near the chair where I generally sit. ...

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I have found that many of the mounted rare earth magnets salvaged from old/bad 3½" HDDs are excellent for this purpose.

Ramone said:

This has been a favorite of mine:

https://www.amazon.com/Homak-WS00018002-Security-Between-Studs/dp/B0017KL254

It can be easily concealed by a mirror, or painted utility gray and camoed with a 'Caution - High Voltage ' sticker.

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there is a similar such cabinet from stackon that is selling for $58 shipped.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TOKR6W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ALXS9K0P89GJP

i suspect one could break into one of these kind of cabinets with a big screwdriver in pretty short order. but it might delay someone looking for a quick grab and run.

I was thinking one might be able to have a cabinet like this with a hardened steel chain inside secured to the studs and padlocked to the firearm so when the door is pried open the gun is still secure. Still not perfect but another layer.

I am so good a hiding things. I also have a bad memory. As they say, I can hide my own Easter Eggs.

I bet nobody would look in the bottom of a cat litter box for your gun.

ColtPythonElite said:

I bet nobody would look in the bottom of a cat litter box for your gun.

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I don't have a cat.

ilbob said:

I don't have a cat.

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The burglars won't know that. Just toss some unwrapped Tootsie Rolls in to make it look realistic.

I hope no burglars are reading this... We're giving away all our hiding secrets.

Best one so far is the litterbox one!

I use these to keep them from the grandchildren that come and visit. This way they are accessible. My grandchildren are older but I still don't keep my guns in plain sight.. All my family is taught gun safety and shoot with me.
I like to keep something close to me in case of an emergency.
I use tables with foam lining. Good for rifles, handguns, and of course full mags

ilbob said:

my guess would be criminals know all the common hiding spots and will find anything hidden pretty quick.

my goal is to discourage them by layers of security. just having dead bolt locks on your outer doors is a good start. It amazes me how many people do not even have that. start by making your outer doors harder to get past. not impossible, since that cannot be done, but just harder.

nothing is really "safe" if someone has the time and means to attack it. even a bank vault can be opened by criminals if they have the time and resources.

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I agree with everything you wrote except the part in bold. I can't envision many common criminals having either the time or the inclination to start searching for hidden compartments or secret storage areas. By & large, they're going to target the most obvious high-dollar items that they can quickly access and are able to transport. Sure they're going to rifle through your drawers. But I don't see them searching for hidden latches on the underside of your coffee table.

criminals talk to each other and know most of the common hiding places. the smart ones go through your freezer and cupboards and drawers and all the other common hiding places faster than you might think. that does not mean you can't hide something from them but it is harder than you might think to do so if a pro is involved. especially if they know you won firearms they are going to be looking for them.

if it is just kids or dopers looking for a fast score hiding works better because they don't have the patience or knowledge to know where to look.

Agreed, but this thread didn't start out talking about common hiding places. Unless secret compartments under tables and in walls have become common. In that case - I'm (as usual) a day late & a dollar short.

Look for a book titled "Everybody's Got Something to Hide". It was written by a guy in New York city who ran a business building secret compartments and even rooms in customer's homes. You had only to give him the dimensions of what you wanted to hide and allow him to look around in your residence. He had some pretty ingenious ideas and made a good living off of it. Before I could afford a good safe I was given an old furnace which I gutted, repainted and mounted in a hall closet. With the cover in place no one would give it a second look. I also have cut out a hole in the drywall between the studs and covered it with a large cold air return grille in a room. You could fit long guns in it and it looked like an original part of the house. The section of wall inside and above the sliding doors in bedroom closets is another place most thieves will never look as they rummage through your closet. You have to step inside and look up to see it. I also believe that if you buy a good safe it is more secure if you can hide it behind something so the thieves don't "see" your safe and go to work on it. If they don't see it they will keep moving on.

Under VERY dirty clothes in a laundry basket, in the pocket of an ugly jacket hanging up- the limits are your imagination.

hso said:

I've seen several new systems showing up at local gun shows that allow you to hide firearms from visitors (invited and otherwise).

I particularly like the furniture options for handguns and the concealed in-wall systems for long guns.

The Tactical Walls folks have done some nice work.
https://tacticalwalls.com/shop/concealment-full-length-mirror/

What have you folks used or seen that is particularly nice?

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How about this.
http://www.autosafes.net/hidden-wall-safe.php

My personal opinion is that the crooks know about all of these kinds of tricks and they will look there. The only thing you can really do is to discourage them from getting it in the first place and delay them after they get in.

I keep mine in the bottom of the kitty litter. And thanks for giving up my secret. The urine is hard on the finish, but not many willing to go for it, even if they know its there.

One recliner armrest for your dog and the other for your sig!