GunVault Circular lock at risk?

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Masterblaster;

My advice, stick to blasting. It's obvious you've got something to learn when it comes to real safes.

I'm a locksmith who specializes in safe & vault sales.

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So your saying that I cant cut 10 gauge sheet metal and drywall fill with a, angle grinder and a Cut off wheel, and I cant cut through the side of many of those $900-2000 "gunsafes" I see in the gunshops and on the net????

I can rent a gas powered cut off saw with a diamond wheel at the local hardware store think that'll let me cut through????


http://www.nhlawn.com/stihl/stihl_cut_off_machine.htm

Here is a milwaukeee 18 volt portable that can handle 1/2" mild steel plate.
http://www.milwaukee-et.com/int/int...A446D8BA1D309689C1256E8C002D8C64?OpenDocument
 
Update: The guys at Frontiersman sell some guns at good prices, but are a little confused about gun safes.

The safes they say have Doskocil's name all over them are Gun Guard safes, bearing no relation at all to GunVault.

Whatever.

My next step is to unmount the GunVault, take it apart, and see if the lock can easily be replaced.

Any locksmiths have any ideas?
 
Matt, I'd like to do the same. Please post details of how you resolve this here. Thanks for persisting in this.
 
So your saying that I cant cut 10 gauge sheet metal and drywall fill with a, angle grinder and a Cut off wheel, and I cant cut through the side of many of those $900-2000 "gunsafes" I see in the gunshops and on the net????
Click to expand...


I think the $900-2000 dollar ones don't qulaify as a real safe in the eyes of a Prof. safe guy.
A husky wrench will losen a bolt, but I buy snap-on tools as a profesional mechanic.

BTW, CB900F gives good free advice.
Tony
 
Sorry about resurrecting such an old thread, but I only just realized my GV1000 has this problem after watching this video:

http://www.evilmerc.com/uploads/kensington_paper_key_low.wmv

Gunvault / Cannon Safe disclaims any knowledge of this problem, which is even more annoying seeing as how it seems several THR members contacted the company about this back in late 2004.

Did any of you get the radial lock on a Gunvault replaced (either by yourself or a local locksmith) with some kind of blade key lock? If so, what was involved in doing that?

With the current lock, I just can't trust the safe to do its job (keep curious kids from getting inside it).

BTW, I tried the rolled paper technique on my GV1000, and though I've not mastered it, I did open the safe 3 times with rolled index card in a matter of minutes. The center portion of the lock on my GV1000 is too fat for a Bic pen, but roll the paper around a Bic, and that fits.
 
Actually I recently saw the Gun Vaults for sale again, with the same worthless circular locks, and thought of resurecting this old thread myself.

It does seem the company is incredibly cynical and unethical. They just ignored complaints, laid low, waited for things to calm down, and went back to selling the same old crap. :banghead:

Warn everyone you know about the worthless products sold by gun vault. :cuss:

I had mine converted to a Medeco lock, by a smith. Cost ~$70. Probably over kill, as the lock is now far superior to the container, but at least you can't get into it with a pen anymore.
 
Well, it's good to see the conversion can be done. Even your Medeco conversion for $70 is probably cheaper than buying a whole new fast access safe. Do you know if they had to disassemble the inner top panel to get the old lock out?
 
These ethical issues are a common theme amongst many gun safe manufacturers.

Why? Because they don't know a lot about safes, ratings, or real world scenarios. They know there is a demand, so they build an inferior product and sell it.

This is one of the reasons that I always suggest people buy their security products from a locksmith who specializes in those products (or me :D). The only people who know less about these gun safes are the superstores or sporting goods stores that sell them.

I think the medeco conversion is an excellent idea for anybody who needs that level of comfort.
 
Question for the experts.
I've been following thread with interest. I have a chance to buy a gunsafe with one of the questionable locks on it. I will need to replace it but don't feel that I quite need Medeco security. I have a couple of Van cam locks and about 1/2 doz cam locks that are marked "MIWA". (The Van locks are a barrel type but not like the ordinary ones. The Miwa's are a magnetic blade type. I believe they came from arcade video games.)
Are either of these any good?

Dean
 
The purpose of a Gun Vault is to have a loaded handgun readily available to a home- or business-owner, but not readily available to children or burglars.

It's hardly impossible to get the thing open with tools.

It does not replace a real gun safe. If you need a real gun safe, get one. Keep the pistol in there if you're not at home and are really worried about someone getting to it.
 
How many of you were actually able to open your GunVault with a pen? :confused:


I'm going to go out on a limb and call "Chicken Little" on the whole issue. :rolleyes:
 
If someone has the time, a Sawzall will get into a GunVault quicker. A cordless drill could also be used, too, pretty easily.

Again, that's not the point of the GunVault.

I'll go try the paper thing, and report back, though. It will be good to know.
 
Know what you are talking about.

NJL,
I actually know something about safes. So you know, Locksmiths are experts in Opening cars and re-keying house, most don't crap about safes. So be very careful taking a Locksmith's advice. Ask him if he is a registered Safe and Vault Technician. Most Locksmith Schools spend less than a day on safes. Safe and Vault Technicians work on safes NOT locksmiths. I've drilled almost every safe made and can pick almost any lock. The first thing you must remember is ANY SAFE can be opened given enough time and tools. "Locks were made to keep honest people honest."

First off how old is your GunVault? I would guess it is a few years old. The lock you are talking about hasn't been used since May 2005 when GunVault Inc, was purchased by Cannon Safe Inc which by the way builds safes for Commercial, Residential and Guns. This is probably why they aren't aware of your problem because they don't make the same box you own. It was completely redesigned at that time. Before you go Slander a company make sure you know what you are talking about.

Also as another person said on this thread what are you looking for? What did you expect to get for $99?? Quick Access Pistol boxes are NOT high security safes. They are not rated by UL. The New GunVault meets or exceeds the ASTM F15.55 standard on Quick Access Pistol Boxes which is the highest standard and exceeds CALDOJ which is what most Manufactures follow. Medeco locks are excellent locks and hard to pick but 99% of all consumers don't want to pay an additional $70 on a $129 item. So if you are concerned buy a new GunVault or replace the lock with a Medeco. If you want High Security buy a Underwriters Laboratory rated safe. Quick Access pistol boxes made by all manufactures are made to have quick access to a handgun and keep kids and the casual person walking through your house out. The fact is it is faster to pick the GunVault up and walk away with it than pick the lock. FACT all locks can be compromised (picked or bypassed) the harder they are to compromise the more money they cost. I personally don't like Key Locks because you have the issue of Key Custody. If I know you and want into your Key Locked container all I have to do is steal your key which is pretty easy most people in the USA leave keys laying around.

As always you can't drink Champagne and pay Beer prices. If you want high security you better open your wallet and then decide how high you need to go UL RSR, TL15, TL30, TL60 or TRTL60x6. The last one can run you up to $10,000 depending size. The skys the limit on how much you can spend on security.
 
ReadyontheRight,

when was yours manufactured? I just got one and the sticker inside indicates it was made in March, 2006.

Are the "new" locks (Cannon-era) susceptible to the same sort of attack? drillrig's post seems to indicate that they are not. If not, what about the lock has changed that makes the attack fail? (I'm hoping it's not just a change in the diameter of the key.)

Does anyone know any details of what other changes were made during the re-design? This is just a point of curiosity.

Thanks.
 
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