Would this make a good gun safe?

[Krob]

Any thoughts?
http://maine.craigslist.org/atq/2512974540.html

 

[heeler]

Yes.

 

[a1abdj]

Aside from the fact that I don't think the "locksmith" quoted in the ad knows what he's talking about, it would make a decent gun safe.

It will need to go into a garage or walk out basement due to the weight.

 

[Krob]

I have a walk out basement.

My concerns:

It is on wheels.
Probably going to be tough to anchor.
Probably going to be tough to drill to get power in for lights and dehumidification.
Is this going to be as fire resistant (or more) as a Liberty Franklin, which I can get for about the same price?

 

[a1abdj]

I have a walk out basement.

If you can drive to it, even better. Safes like this aren't very fun to move by hand across a yard.

It is on wheels.

They will come off. They're bolted on, but will have 100 years of rust slowing you down.

Probably going to be tough to anchor.

If you're going to take the wheels off, you could drill anchor holes. This safe is probably heavy enough that I wouldn't be overly worried about it walking off.

Probably going to be tough to drill to get power in for lights and dehumidification

Won't be hard at all. You'll have 1/4" or less soft steel, some mild "concrete" and an inner layer of thin steel. You may be able to get all the way through it with a normal twist bit. If the fill is a bit too hard, you may need to switch to a masonry bit.

Is this going to be as fire resistant (or more) as a Liberty Franklin, which I can get for about the same price?

I would still use a 100 year old cast filled safe over a modern day gun safe using anything other than a cast fill. These older safes weren't really rated like they are today, but were often over built like all other old things. I have seen many of these antiques survive modern fires.

 

[Krob]

Any thoughts about this comment from another forum:

"It is better than nothing, but probably won't have a relocker and can be broken into by just whacking the handles off and pushing them inside the safe."

My impression it is not only better than nothing, but better than the liberty. Both seem better than the new options I have found for <$1k.

Do you have anything better at zycansafe you can deliver to Dover nh for <$1200?

I live in a low crime city and a low crime neighborhood. I am more concerned with fire nag general "keep the kids out" than burglary. I am not that worried about fire either, but I figure this isn't that much more money than a cheap uninsulated lock box.

 

[a1abdj]

"It is better than nothing, but probably won't have a relocker and can be broken into by just whacking the handles off and pushing them inside the safe."

It's possible that the safe has a relocker, but either way, it doesn't really matter. These old safes are built better than your typical flimsy gun safe. Keep in mind that the tools one could use for a burglary were much more limited in the days this safe was built. Your options were essentially a hammer, a prybar, or nitro. Most of these safes were designed to give somebody with a hammer and a prybar a hard time.

Just like modern day safes, knocking off the dial or handles is not likely to open the safe.

My impression it is not only better than nothing, but better than the liberty.

I agree.

Do you have anything better at zycansafe you can deliver to Dover nh for <$1200?

Nope. In fact, you would be getting that safe for less than half of what we would sell it for.

I live in a low crime city and a low crime neighborhood. I am more concerned with fire nag general "keep the kids out" than burglary. I am not that worried about fire either, but I figure this isn't that much more money than a cheap uninsulated lock box.

I wouldn't keep $100,000 in it, but for an average gun collection it should serve your needs well.

 

[rondog]

I wanna know where you can get a Liberty Franklin for $700?

 

[Krob]

There is a Liberty Franklin 35 local to me for sale for $900 used.

If I could figure out how to get that antique 1500+ pond safe in my basement, I think I'd buy it in a heartbeat. As it stands, I just can't figure out how to get it into the house.

I have a walkout basement, but there is a septic tank in the way, and I can't drive to the walk out. I could put it in the garage, but I am more comfortable with it in the basement.

Jeepers, I hate this safe shopping stuff. The info from most is so poor it feels like most commercial products are a con or a total waste of money, or way overkill for my needs for the credible stuff. If anyone out there is in the seacoast NH area, and has a great idea, and wants to make a few bucks moving a safe, let me know.

 

[Krob]

Anyone have any thoughts about rolling a safe this heavy across a lawn and down a short hill to get it to the basement walkout?

I was thinking that I could lay sheets of plywood on the ground and roll it on the wheels on the ply (the wheels are reportedly working). I could use a come along to slowly roll it down the hill, or a tow rope attached to the car, and gently drive the car forward as lit rolls down the hill. I think I'd like to try to get this safe, but only if it makes it into the basement, and to do that I have to roll it across the lawn and down a small hill.

I can't drive it to the walkout as my septic tank can't support the weight (I believe).

 

[leserz]

my uncle has one like that in his garage where he does his gun smithing. think he said it weighed close to 3.000 lbs. yours is not going to roll on grass you will need a few friends to push it on concrete floor. the easy way is hire safe movers to do it might cost $300-400.00 to do it that way but beats getting your self hurt or killed if something goes wrong.

 

[TXdefender]

I don't know what rates are in your area but I paid $1200 to get my HEAVY safe moved. That's more than you're looking to spend on the safe. Just something to think about.