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The majority of gun safes that you see in sporting goods stores, online shops, even on this site, aren’t really ‘safes’ in the truest sense – at least not in the eyes of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), the world’s foremost testing agency in security products. They technically classify gun safes like Liberty’s Presidential, Browning’s Platinum Plus, and Fort Knox’s Legend as RSC’s (Residential Security Container).
But enough on what I have to say on the subject. I asked a UL representative a few questions regarding their RSC rating system, and she was kind enough to give me her expert input. Here’s what she had to say:
- What do you guys do for testing when a manufacturer brings their safe to you?
An attack test is conducted on the safe by 1 operator, using common hand tools not exceeding 18 in. in length, hammers not exceeding 3 pound head weight, and an electric drill with high speed and carbide tipped bits not exceeding 1/4 in. diameter. The attack is conducted for 5 minutes (clock runs only while the technician is actively attacking the unit), with an attempt to open the door of the safe.
- What determines whether or not they pass?
The safe door must remain closed and locked following the 5 minute attack.
- Are there any “must have” features I should look for that any safe that passes your tests has?
The designs and features of the UL Listed gun safes may vary widely. There are no required features, except that the lock provided must be a UL Listed lock (key lock, combination lock or electronic lock). All safes submitted are tested using the same methods and tools for the same time period.
- Are there different certification levels you offer for safes (residential stuff – not bank vaults..?)
For the residential rating there is only 1 rating (5-minute test).
She was also kind enough to include a list of all the UL RSC rated gun safes on the market. What a sweetheart!
A jeweler, a banker, or a candlestick maker with a million dollar inventory might need something a little more beefy than a “residential security container”. However, if you’re a gun owning citizen with a valuable firearms collection, or a case full of your grandma’s jewelry, you’ll want to make sure you’re locked up in a quality RSC.
Here’s a list of UL’s RSC rated safes for your viewing pleasure. I should note that not all of these are in fact gun safes (as in not specifically for storing firearms). Many are also listed by model number, which isn’t always a common qualifier on gun safe shops. Before you make a purchase, double-check, and run the model number by the manufacturer first:
Oh, and I’m required by law to include the this statement in reference to the following list: Reprinted from the Online Certifications Directory with permission from Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Enjoy!
A & A Sheet Metal Products – better known as Securall
Sentinel Series, Models 31XX , 32XX , 33XX , where XX may be any two digits.
Statesman Series, Models 40XX , 41XX , 42XX , 42XXT , 43XX , 44XX , 44XXT , 46XX , 48XX , 49XX , 49XXT , where XX may be any two digits.
American Security Products (AMSEC)
Rifle Safe Series; Model BF
I should note that despite having only one gun safe on the list, AMSEC manufactures some pretty quality products. Their HS series gun safe, for instance has a TRTL-30 rating, meaning it’s door can survive a 30 minute attack
Baxley Blowpipe
Series S
Gold series, Models G6326, G6326F, G6428, G6428F.
Medallion series, Models M6221, M6326, M6326F, M6428, M6428F.
Morgan Fort series, Models MF6221, MF6326.
Platinum series, Models P6326, P6326F, P6428, P6428F.
Platinum Plus series, Models PP6326, PP6326F, PP7326, PP7326F, PP7428, PP7428F.
Residential security containers, Models 6215, 6221, 6326, 6428, 7326, 7428 with or without alpha suffix and/or prefix.
Sterling series, Model S6215, S6221, S6326, S6326F.
BUMIL Safe Company check the New York Safe Company
Models BA780, BA870, BA1070, BA1270, BA1570
C&H Welding – better known as Sun Welding Safes
Scout Series, Models S-22, S-34.
Traditional (T) Series, Dangerous Game (DG) Series, Cannon (C) Series, Serengetti (S) Series, HR Series (HR), American Eagle (AE) Series, Professional Hunter (PH) Series, Executive Vault (EV) Series, Home (H) Series, Patriot (P) Series, Private Label (PL) Series.
Champion Safe Company
500 Series Models 21, 31, 37, 39
1000 Series Models 19, 22, 31, 35, 41, 43
2000 Series Models 17, 23, 35, 45
3000 Series Models 19, 25, 35, 45
4000 Series Models 22, 25, 31, 35, 50
5000 Series Models 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60
6000 Series Models 30, 40, 50, 60
7000 Series Models 35, 45, 55
8000 Series Models 9, 12
Envirotemp – Frontier Safe Company
Series FM, MS, PI, RG, TB, WC, WR
FireKing
Models 12 , 18 , 24 , 30 , 40 , 72 , 1612-1 , 1715-1 , 1715-2 , 2015-2 , 2115-1 , 2115-2 , 2021-1 , 2021-2 , 2100-1 , 2200-1 , 2218-1 , 2515-1 , 2515-2 , 2521-1 , 2521-2 , 3020-12 , 3115-1 , 3115-2 , 3121-1 , 3121-2 , 3624 , 3624-1 , 3915-1 , 3915-2 , 3921-1 , 3921-2 , 4524 , 4524-1 , 5021-1 , 5021-2 , 5428 , 5428-1 , CSC1612 , CSC2218 , CSC3624 , CSC4524 , CSC5428 , F4130 , F5030 , F6034 , M2460 , M3060 , M4060 , M4072 , MP2460 , MP3060 , MP4060 , MP4072
Defender Series, Models D4026, D6026, D6031, D6041, D6637, D7241, D7251, D7261.
Executive Series, Models E6031, E6637, E7241 .
Guardian Series, Models G6026, G6031, G6041, G6637, G7241, G7251, G7261.
Maverick Series, Models M4026, M6026, M6031, M6637, M6041, M7241, M7251, M7261.
Protector Series, Models P4026, P6026, P6031, P6041, P6637, P7241, P7251, P7261.
Titan Series, Models T6031, T6041, T6637, T7241, T7251, T7261.
Legend Series , Models L6031, L6041, L6637, L7241, L7251, L7251.
Gardall Safe Corp – they make gun safes, but the gun safes don’t have the RSC rating
Models FB1212-G-C, FB2013-G-C, FB2013KD-G-C, FB2714-G-C, FB2722-G-C, FB3521-G-C and FB5322-G-C
Gardex
Models SP1FB, SP2FB, SP3FB
Godrej 7 Boyce Mfg Co LTD Security Solutions
Models 1212-11, 1414-12, 1616-16, 1814-12, 2414-12, 2416-12, 2416-16, 3016-12, 3016-16, 3020-16, 3620-16, 4016-12, 4016-16, 4820-16, 6020-16, 6026-16.
Granite Security Products – Granite manufacturers all of the Winchester gun safes
Legacy 14, Legacy 22, Legacy 45, Ranger 7, Ranger 19, Ranger 30, Silverado 22, Silverado 45, Supreme 26, Supreme 53, Western 21, Western 34, BPS-S-592620, WT-592820
Hayman Safe Company
MV5-1215, MV5-2016, MV5-2618, MV5-3020, MV5-4120, MV5-6028
Heritage Safe Company – this is quite the list. Heritage has a lot of RSC rated safes. If you’re looking for something in particular, I recommend using Ctrl+F 😉
Centennial Series. Models C2430, C2460, C3060, C306020, C3066, C3660, C3666, C4072, C5672; Centennial Deluxe Series, Models CX2430, CX2460, CX3060, CX306020, CX3066, CX3660, CX3666, CX4072, CX5672; Fortress Braun Series, Models FB2460, FB3060, FB3660, FB306020, FB4072; Legacy Valiant Series, Models LV2430, LV2460, LV3060, LV306020, LV3066, LV3660, LV3666, LV4072, LV5672; Legacy Crusader Series, Model LC3060, LC306020; American Series, Models A2460, A3060, A306020, A3660, A4072; Signature Series, Models S2460, S3060, S306020, S3660, S4072; “E” Series, Models E2460, E3060, E306020, E3660, E4072; Enforcer Series, Models Enforcer2460, Enforcer3060, Enforcer306020, Enforcer3660, Enforcer4072.
Tradition Series. Models T2430, T2460, T3060, T306020, T3066, T3660, T3666, T4072, T5672; Tradition Deluxe Series, Models TX2430, TX2460, TX3060, TX306020, TX3060LE, TX3066, TX3660, TX3666, TX4072, TX5672; Fortress Regal Series, Models FR2460, FR3060, FR306020, FR3660, FR4072; Fortress Deluxe Series, Models FRX2460, FRX3060, FRX306020, FRX3660, FRX4072; Smith and Wesson Magnum Series, Models SW3060M, SW306020M, SW3660M, SW3666M, SW4072M; Smith and Wesson Magnum Deluxe Series, Models SW3060MX, SW306020MX, SW3660MX, SW3666MX, SW4072MX; Smith and Wesson Patriot Series, Models SW2430P, SW2460P, SW3060P, SW306020P, SW3660P, SW3666P, SW4072P; Legacy Valiant Deluxe Series, Models LVX2430, LVX2460, LVX3060, LVX306020, LVX3066, LVX3660, LVX3666, LVX4072, LVX5672.
Legacy Series, Models L2460, L3060, L3660, L3666, L4072; Legacy Deluxe Series, Models LX2460, LX3060, LX3660, LX3666, LX4072; Legacy Royal Series, Models LR2460, LR3060, LR3660, LR3666, LR4072; Legacy Royal Deluxe Series, Models LRX2460, LRX3060, LRX3660, LRX3666, LRX4072.
Ultimate Series, Models U3260, U3866, U4272; Legacy Imperial Series, Models LI3260, LI3866, LI4272
Ironman Safe Co
3000, 3000E, 4000, 4200, 4500, 5000S, 5000T, 5200, 5800
John D Brush & Co, DBA Sentry Group – better known as just Sentry
Models EQ5433, GQ5453, GQ5553.
Models GT8423, GT8523, GX8599, GV8526, GTT8523, ET8523, GX1852, GXW2252H, GXW2252H-S, ET8523-T, GSE1425, GSE1415, GPT1852, GPT1855G, GPT2245G, GPT2255G, GPW1842H, GPW1852H, GPW2242H, GPW2252H, GAW2252G, GAW2245H
Liberty Safe and Security Products – this list will likely confuse you if you’re familiar with Liberty products – have no fear, they’ll clear it up on their site, or, I can just make it easy for you – they’re all RSC rated
L-Series, Models L-17, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, 50; Models LX-17, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, 50.
O-Series, Models O-20, -25, -40, -50.
P-Series, Models P-25, -40, -50.
H-Series, Models H-17, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, 50; HX-17, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, 50; E-Series, Models E-17, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, 50.
J-Series, Models J-14, -23.
R-Series, Models R-4, -8, -12.
D-Series, Models D-13, -15, -17, -20, -23, -25, -27, -31, -35, -40, -45, -48, -50; Models DX-13, -15, -17, -20, -23, -25, -27, -31, -35, -40, -45, -48, -50.
MM-Series, Models Mini Mag.
CL-Series, Models CL-20, -30, -36, -39, Mini Mag JR., Mini Mag Plus, 72 in. Mini Mag Plus.
LW-Series, Models LW-04, -08, -12, -4.75, -7.97, -12.63 .
MG-Series, Models MG-30, -32, -36, -42, -50.
Q-Series, Models Q-17, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, -50; QX- Series, Models QX -17, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, -50.
LZ-Series, Models LZ-17, -20, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, -50, -64 ; LZX Series, Models LZX-17, -20, -23, -25, -31, -35, -40, -45, -50, -64
Porters Pendleton Safes – better known as Pendleton Safes
Knight Series Models 2860, 2872, 3260, 3272
Bishop Series Models 3060, 3260, 3260P, 3072, 3272
King Series Models 3072, 3272
Pro-Steel Security Safes, Div of Provo Steel & Supply Co – better known as ProSteel, they also manufacture safes for Browning
Model X or XX, where X may be any number 5 through 70, with or without any letter prefix, with or without any letter suffix except D.
Model X or XX, where X may be any number 5 through 70, with or without any letter prefix, with any letter suffix, followed by the letter D.
Rhino Metals Inc – they manufacture both Rhino and Big Horn safes
Models 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 21T, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 30W, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 47, 50, 52, 56, 58, 60, 64, 72, 200, 250, 300, 300T, 350, 600, 800, 900, 1200, 1615, 1617, 1818, 2019, 2117, 2420, 3027, 3030, 3424, 4021, 5312, 5315, 5517, 5521, 5521D, 5523, 5627, 5921, 5925, 5926, 5928, 5929, 5930, 5932, 5935, 5936, 5937, 5938, 5940, 5942, 5943, 6022, 6022D, 6026, 6030, 6032, 6034, 6036, 6039, 6040, 6421, 6440, 7142, 7144, 7236, 7240, 7250. All Models with or without alpha prefix and/or suffix
Seguridad Y Manutencion S A – SEYMA Safes
G Series Models GA-44D, GA-60D, GB-76D, GC-100D, GC-126D, GC-150D
Shanghai Baolei Industrial Co LTD
Models J1713, J1717, J2117, J2417, J3417, J4517, J4820, J5620
Models HGS-1024, -1024E, -1036, -1036E
Sun Safes – Also known as Eagle Safes
SB-01C, SB-02C, SB-02D, SB-03C, SB-04C, SB-05C and SB-06C
Surimax Cia LTDA
BF-10, -50 , -100, -150, -200, -300, -500, SP-5, -10, -100, GN-100, -200, -300, -400, -500, -600.
