Bedside safe died. Need new one.

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

herrwalther

Member
Joined
May 1, 2013
Messages
8,130
It finally happened. My Winchester eVault 1200 safe that has served as my bedside/quick access storage for my daily firearms since 2009 has died. Well half died. I enter the code to open the door but instead of the door springing open, the motor whirs and does nothing. Can still gain access with the key, but the useful quick access feature is gone. So I am searching for a new one, any advice is always appreciated. Here are some things I would like:

*Ideally doesn't need power/batteries. Not too picky on this one though.
*Price: Under $200. Under 100 would be even better
*Non biometric. Love biometric locks for other reasons, this is not one of them.
*Large enough to hold at least one full size firearm. Two shelf like the 1200 would be better.
*Mountable or cable would be nice
 
Fort Knox Pistol Safe

It is $230, but well worth the money. I have owned this safe for probably over 5 years. Simplex 5 button mechanical lock. Some people paint the buttons with luminescent paint, I didn't. I have a 1911, compact 9mm, 2 spare mags, flashlight and a few other small items in it. The safe has 4 holes in the base so it can be bolted to a dresser or the floor. An internal hinge, anti-pry and a shock inside to aid in lifting the heavy lid. I love it. I bought mine from Dean's Safe online.
 
If you spend a little more on one with a mechanical push button lock it's longer lifespan will probably more than make up the difference in price. Depending on the features you want there are several brands available like the Ft Knox, Vline, and FAS1 Safe.
 
Good timing. I came here for the same reason although my current is a GunVault brand. Worked for awhile then just quit. Tried new batteries, etc and called gunvault. They said its probably the circuit board went bad but since its out of warranty, tough luck. So I won't be giving them anymore money.
 
I've got a Homak one I like quite a bit, lots of room, easy to open. Paid around $100 for it. I found a magnetic motion activated light I stick to the top of the inside, so when I open it the light comes on.
 
Mainsail said:
Have you even tried contacting Winchester to see if they'll send repair parts?
Click to expand...

I have never heard of being able to buy parts for any brand of electronic handgun safe. That's another advantage to one with a mechanical lock. If you do wear one out you can just buy a new lock. The electronic ones are basically throw-aways.
 
JonB said:
Tried new batteries, etc and called gunvault. They said its probably the circuit board went bad but since its out of warranty, tough luck.
Click to expand...
Ayup, sounds familiar. I have two of the GunVaults that I have to now access via key. The company offered me no option for correcting the issue.

The electronic mechanism only worked properly for a couple of years. They were only very lightly/sporadically used prior to failure.

So much for GunVault as a reliable choice.

Quite frankly, even if I had evidence that their new products are now reliable, the fact that they did not, apparently, care to help me fix my original GunVaults is reason enough for me to scratch them off of my List.

FWIW ...
 
I never ran the safe off batteries, so new batteries was not a viable solution. I looked around online for reasons why the keypad would not open the safe. The eVault and maybe the Gun Vault brand use a small motor attached to a spun steel cable to pull on the latch. That small cable has a tendency to break, some a few months or in rarer cases like mine a few years. I opened up my safe and sure enough that was the problem. The cable had frayed and broken right in the middle. I tried fixing it with some 550 cord but didn't work too well. I am confident I could fix it with a soldering iron (which I don't have) but am unsure how long the repair would last. Another trip looking around on Google showed that other people with the same issue have never heard back from Winchester for repair or replacement parts. I am leary of GunVault as I think they use the same type of lock system but am unsure. Has anyone taken apart their similar model GunVaults?
 
If this is your bedside safe I would just ditch it and get one with a Simplex mechanical lock. I can open mine and retrieve a pistol in almost complete darkness on muscle memory. The lock will outlast me, and possibly my kids.
 
I use an inexpensive keyed safe and have simply gotten into the habit of unlocking it when I go to bed and locking it when I get up.
 
Another vote for the Knox Box. Well worth the money. I had a Gun Vault but it died like so many others. Now, I only want mechanical locks which I don't have to plug in or put batteries into. Mechanical is more versatile, realiable, and mobile if I want to take it with me or move it around any (away from a plug).

$100 is a rather low threshold for something which your life may really depend upon.
 
I would have gone with the Ft Knox except it was a bit too tall for the location.

So I bought the Vline Top Draw. The version I have has a Simplex style lock.
 
Ohen Cepel said:
$100 is a rather low threshold for something which your life may really depend upon.
Click to expand...

$100 was kind of the pipe dream price. I picked up the eVault for $200 with taxes in 2009. I also thought mechanical lock dials would be cheaper since less moving parts.

So far I am liking the Gun Box and the FAS 1 safes. Two total ends of a spectrum, but I'm odd like that.
 
Another vote for the Fort Knox safe. It can hold 4 full sized pistols if you don't put anything else in there. The thing I like best is that it doesn't rely on batteries or electric, or anything that can lose power.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Bobson
  • Locked
Which Bedside Pistol "Safe?"
2
Replies
27
Views
4K
John Joseph
John Joseph
O
61,000 biometric gun safes recalled over potentially deadly malfunction
Replies
17
Views
1K
Meeks36
Meeks36
M
  • Locked
AR Quick Access Storage
Replies
8
Views
808
RockyMtnTactical
R
9
  • Locked
Quick Access Safe for Large Revolver
Replies
8
Views
1K
CopperFouling
CopperFouling
J
  • Locked
Best bedside safe?
Replies
1
Views
715
Rotorflyr
R
Back
Top