Noticed someone's been trying to pick my safe

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opampman

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So, I have one of those cheap gun stack-on gun cabinets and noticed that someone lodged something in the keyhole. Probably my older boy and the neighbor kid. :fire: Took forever to get it out, but I did get it out and was able to open it. Now I'm looking for a new, better safe (two safes really, one for long guns and one for handguns). Of course I am also talking with said older boy on gun safety!

Here's my question. I want to find a quick-access handgun safe with a strong combination (something more than those push-button Simplex locks with 1000 combos). The other important criteria that there be NO override key because those barrel-locks are so easy to pick. However, I'm having a hard time finding one on the google. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm willing to pay extra for my kids' safety.
 
I don't want to come across disrespectful, but the only thing I can advise in good conscience is to secure all firearms in the best safest and most redundant ways (like following keeping ammo and guns stored and locked separately, and trigger locks on guns even in the safe) until gun safety is properly addressed taught understood and Respected by ALL members of the household. This is of complete and utmost importance and priority. Spend money on formal training if need be. Not having or disabling a back up to a quick access safe is asking for a trapped gun at a very inopportune time.

Teachu2: as above I don't believe it's a good idea but awesome creativity for a simple solution!
 
Unless the kid is a 1%er (as in a sociopath who doesn't care about the consequences of his actions) a lockbox he can't pick will be sufficient. Truly secure with quick access costs much more.

I bought one of the Barska Biometric Rifle "Safe"s recently for my bedroom closet. That's where I secure the HD guns. It's enough to keep the grandkids out, but not a serious burglar or a fire. It is, however , fast to open and conceals well. Everything else goes in a Summit Denali, which will stop anyone but a pro but doesn't conceal easily.
 
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Biometeric is the LEAST reliable method of locking, consult with an actual safe tec, not a salesman

Consider, a UL rated lock goes for between 130-250+
you are not going to find it on a over decorated wall locker
 
I really like the JB weld suggestion actually. Brilliant!

And I might just do the camera idea too. Sounds like a lot of fun. :)

Centurian--points well taken. The guns inside the cabinet have receiver locks on them, and no ammo is anywhere near those guns. But that said, I need to improve my set up to keep everyone safe.
 
It would have been a clear-cut case of child abuse if my two kids had of ever done something like that!!

rc
 
"It would have been a clear-cut case of child abuse if my two kids had of ever done something like that!


You got that right x 1000% 5 kids, many guns, never locked & always loaded
 
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Did you read Bill Cosby's book, Fatherhood? He talks about what he did when his son lied to him. It's similar to what the American Indians did. Humiliate him.

Set up a game camera. Capture image.

Ask him if he or any of his friends tried to break in. He'll deny it. Ask him if he could explain the photo. Don't show it yet. When he's finished, ask him what would happen when you showed the photo to the father of your son's friend?
 
I can honestly say, if i caught my son trying to get into my safe(s) there would be rather serious concequences.
 
Shadow 7D said:
Biometeric is the LEAST reliable method of locking, consult with an actual safe tec, not a salesman

Consider, a UL rated lock goes for between 130-250+
you are not going to find it on a over decorated wall locker
Click to expand...
Shadow is absolutely correct, especially if you include programming errors in the calculation. Initially, I followed the instructions and ended up with a safe that would open with ANY fingerprint! A little search on the net revealed the correct proceedure, and mine has been 100% reliable ever since.

If you are trying to avoid pushbuttons, in a handgun box, and have quick access, and keep it affordable, you quickly run out of options. This is not a safe - it's a lockbox to thwart the nearly honest.

If the kid has no fear of the parent, it's a whole different situation. If it's a normal, curious boy who is just trying to pull one over on the folks, this should do. If the kid is willing to damage the box to get in, the problem is much bigger than this issue.
 
Yep!

Unless he is only 3-4 years old, he shouldn't be stuffing things in your gun safe lock!!

Period!

rc
 
Ok, maybe not quite a DCS moment, then. If he's only 7, it's forgivable and he needs to learn about firearms & all the do's & don'ts in addition to the fundamentals of marksmanship. The more he knows about firearms, the less mysterious they become.
 
All the electronic handgun safes have a backup key for a reason. I would think twice before doing the JB Weld thing. Most of them are also not very secure.

Are you afraid he will be able to figure out the combo on the Simplex lock?
These don't need a backup key and the boxes are usually better constructed.
 
My dad would have whooped me for a month of Sundays. My sisters and I grew up in a house with many guns in a glass front gun cabinet (easy to open lock + I knew were the key was) along with pistols in various places around the house I knew where they were too (on top of kitchen cabinet, top shelf linen closet, ...). Only once did I pick one of his guns up without permission, the next day we all had key's and started to actually lock the door. Imagine looking up a set of stairs and seeing a small, skinny 12 year old as he cocks the hammer on a .357.
 
rcmodel said:
It would have been a clear-cut case of child abuse if my two kids had of ever done something like that!!
Click to expand...

No kidding. My older, teenage kids know where gun safe emergency keys are and my younger kids don't need to know, but even they've been told that if they want to look at guns, handle them or anything, just talk to me and I'm happy to let them satisfy their curiosity safely. If I ever found out that someone has tampered with the safe locks, someone will be grounded for an EXTENDED period of time, without TV, video games, candy or any other privileges.

What I'm slightly worried about are my kids' friends. Few of them are from pro-gun families, meaning that guns are mystical items that they've ever seen on movies and video games and they know my family hunts, shoots and collects "movie guns".
 
You can easily add a car burglar alarm to the safe without changing the lock.

Any lock can be beat given time.
 
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