Need some opinions on safes / rsc's

[heeler]

LTROI,before I finally broke out the check book and paid for my Amsec BF I researched just about every gun safe on the market and finally settled on three to choose from and they were the Amsec,Sturdy with fireliner,and an upgraded FT.Knox Defender.
I priced the Defender with the free outside hinges and the body upgrade from the standard 10 gauge body to the 3/16th body which upgraded the fire door from a 1/4 inch plate door to a 3/8th plate steel door.
I also priced it with the standard 10 gauge body and the additional 10 gauge inner steel wall.
But as nice as it was,and they are nice looking gun safes,it was still $5-600.00 higher than either the BF or Sturdy.
I really liked how the Sturdy was built but for what I was about to shell out monetarily I just could not buy one sight unseen.
I saw several BF's as there are several Amsec dealers in Houston.
I am totally pleased with my BF 66X36.
If it's American made you want then look at these three closely.

 

[LTROI]

Fort Knox also tends to spend more on the fit and finish. In your specific example, the Protector is the same safe as the Defender, but with a nicer paint job

Wow, I didn't realize that well I think the Defender looks nice enough so that's the one I'll compare the others against.

LTROI,before I finally broke out the check book and paid for my Amsec BF I researched just about every gun safe on the market and finally settled on three to choose from and they were the Amsec,Sturdy with fireliner,and an upgraded FT.Knox Defender.

Thanks a lot for the response heeler. I really don't have much experience with gun safes but a friend of mine had his house broken into and they couldn't get into his Ft Knox safe but they weren't very well prepared and my friend was smart enough to keep all the things that could break into his safe inside the safe.

Actually looking at all three of these guns safes, they all look like quality products. I guess I'm going to have to put it on paper to compare against each other.

 

[heeler]

LTROI,when you put it to paper if you find an Amsec dealer either local or online that deals I can tell you straight up there will be so little difference in the pricing of the Amsec vs Sturdy Minute Man that it will be just which ever one you prefer or feel best buying.
They are both quality gun safes at a very,very competitive price and pretty much out do many other gun safes that cost a bit more to a great bit more.
The Fort Knox is a very nice gun safe but as I mentioned I just could not justify the extra money for one.
Although to their credit the local Knox dealer was willing to deliver it and bolt it down cheaper than anyone else in town.
Last,as I have said before in these gun safe threads here that if you have one of these premium gun safes and bolt it down and place it so they are very hard to pry attack unless the person(s) breaking in to your home knows about the safe in advance it is highly unlikely they will breech the gun safe with what they have brought with them.
Hence dont leave tools available to them to make their rotten lives easier.

 

[LTROI]

heeler, I see now what you are saying about Fort Knox. It doesn't take much to get well over $3000 with the Defender with just a couple upgrades and that's for only a 10ga body. And, it looks like the fire protection is just "fire board" which is dry wall right?

To compare Apple to Apples with the AMSEC BF and the Sturdy, I thought it would be best to compare a similar Fort Knox model for steel thickness and fire protection and in that case it would be their Executive model with a 3/16" steel body (like the Sturdy). The Fort Knox Executive of dimensions 60"x31"x25" looks to be going for $4504 with a discount ($5630 retail) which is almost double what the other two are going for with similar features.

Fort Knox safes look really nice and of high quality and also appeal to the geek in me with all the complex gearing and bolt arrangements but I agree with you, just too much money for what you're getting. I guess I see why there are so many AMSEC BF verses Sturdy threads around here, much more safe for the money with those two it seems.

 

[Keizer]

Fort Knox safes look really nice and of high quality and also appeal to the geek in me with all the complex gearing and bolt arrangements

Man I hear ya.....I love the bolt work on those Fort Knox safes. I would probably put a clear lexan panel on the inside if I owned one. That way I could admire the inner workings every time I opened the safe.

I too went through what heeler did when researching gun safes. The AMSEC BF series, and Sturdy were my two safes that were in the final running. I went with the AMSEC because I thought they looked better. And, since both were equal (IMO) in security and price, I chose the one that I thought looked nicer.

 

[Hedgemeister]

I have a Rhino safe. They are made in Idaho and have external hinges. 2.5 hour fire rating and you should be able to find the size you are looking for under $2500.

 

[DADS357]

Sportsman Steel Safe Report

I recently spoke in length to a gentlemen in Longbeach CA by the name of Tony concerning the stories behind their safes, he matter of factly contacted me personally after receiving my email. Obviously he stated that customer service is there top priority and safe quality as well. He also admitted freely that in the past they have had negative feedback, but however the individuals that were responsible for this have since departed or simply fired due to their poor service. The company is working very hard to re establish a good rapport with its customers and insure that the quality of their safes are in accordance to their claims (sounded very sincere) and that's its a up hill battle. What would you expect them to say? However in their defense, no one would state that they have poor service or inferior products, that would be business suicide. I have read numerous post on this company, the majority was negative and quiet honestly a little scary, however the majority of the post were between 3-4 years old as well. Now I have worked for various businesses that have initially at one point in their history had very poor customer customer and negative feed back...but I have also seen them do a complete 180 thru a lot of hard work of it's personnel. I would very much like to hear more recent problems with this or any other company. They cant be all bad, I hope! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fool, however it's easier to decide not to purchase based on negatives, but what about purchasing on positives!

 

[LTROI]

Sportmans Safes

DADS357,

I had them on my list earlier because I thought they were American made safes but I read a comment from someone who received a safe from them that actually said Made in China on the cardboard box. There were a host of other complaints I read about them and I said no way, if a company isn't honest or their customers aren't pleased with the product or service they received, I want no part of them. And even looking at their safes, they aren't even a good deal for what you are getting compared to some of the more popular brands and especially AMSEC and Sturdy. Look at their Commerative Arsenal for $2300 (similar to a comparable AMSEC BF or fire lined Sturdy). It only has a 10ga body and no where does it say it's actually made in the US it only says various parts such as the S&G lock are made in the US. If I want to buy a decent Chinese made safe, I'll get that Steelwater safe someone posted on here earlier for a lot less money and more steel. Of course, I could be wrong and don't really have a strong opinion one way or another it's just not on my list anymore.

 

[Keizer]

I'll get that Steelwater safe someone posted on here

Steelwater has some pretty good vids of different types of attacks on their safes if you do a search. I've watched all them, and they are pretty interesting.

 

[LTROI]

If I want to buy a decent Chinese made safe, I'll get that Steelwater safe someone posted on here earlier for a lot less money and more steel.

Opps, DADS I see you were the person that posted about Steelwater safes. Steelwater looks like a pretty good deal to me in a comparison between Sportsman Steel Safes.

 

[Hedgemeister]

If you like the Steelwaters also look at Bighorns. 10 gauge steel but made in China. You can buy them from Costco and have them delivered.

 

[Superpsy]

Anyone interested? Price drop. I'm thinking of picking one up.