Sturdy, Liberty (edit – with the exception of their Centurion 20), and Fort Knox are just a few gun safe manufacturers who pride themselves in producing 100% American-made products.  Assuming you’re an American, buying a gun safe (or any product for that matter) made in the good ole’ U-S-of-A kind of makes you feel good inside – like you’re serving your country or something.

I get a little extra burst of joy out of supporting American companies myself, but I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do it exclusively.  Take my history of car ownership for example: I’ve driven my share of fine American automobiles, but I didn’t hesitate to stray from domestication when I found a great deal on a used Toyota Sequoia.  Does that make me a bad American?  Perhaps, but it also makes me a happy driver.

Regardless of the market, buying products made in the USA has some lovely, often intangible perks, but does it always give you the best bang for your buck?  I wanted to know the answer to this question, particularly how it pertains to the gun safe industry, so I sat down [on my couch and talked on the phone] with Terry Pratt, owner of Sturdy Gun Safe Manufacturing to find out.

I specifically sought out Terry for a couple of reasons.  One, his company, Sturdy Safe, has been manufacturing American-made gun safes for over half a century, and Terry himself has been in the game since he was a teenager.

And two, though I’d never talked with him before, he seemed like the most approachable of his peers; since I started Gun Safe Haven over a year ago, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to customers, reading spec sheets and reviews of dozens of different safe manufacturers, and I’ve always gotten exceptional feedback from Sturdy Safe owners – honestly – nothing but praise on their product, prices, and flawless BBB customer service record.  In addition, their website is incredibly informative.  They’re like the Progressive auto insurance of the safe world – they’ll help you find the best deal on a gun safe, even if you don’t buy from them.

Though Terry lent me a solid hour of his time, it only took me a couple minutes to figure out that he’s a genuinely nice guy who has an honest-to-goodness passion for the industry.  While I would have loved to have picked his brain for several more hours, I had an agenda, and I’m sure he had better stuff to do .  That said, he was able to give me the information I needed to determine that American-made gun safes are indeed worth the hype (especially if you’re an American).

What makes a great safe so great? Well, a lot of things really, but one indicator they all have in common is sound structural integrity, and that all starts with a solid steel body.  So, one of my first questions to Terry was how American steel stacks up to the rest of the world in quality.  After all, when it comes to steel production, the United States is far from king of the hill in overall volume – according to the World Steel Association’s 2009 statistics measuring crude steel production, we’re behind Russia, Japan, the European Union, and China.  In fact, China produces nearly 10 times the amount that we do…but is it any good?

According to Terry, “the problem with Chinese steel is that it’s inconsistent.  You can’t rely on the chemistry, especially when using high tensile strength.  The formula has to be right, and they’re just not there yet.”

Chinese and Mexican-produced steel just isn’t reliable for Sturdy Safe’s operation.  With American steel, they’re able to bend it and work with it to match the form of their tried-and-true design.  A lot of foreign steel, particularly that produced in China and Mexico, is unreliable, and often fractures under the strain applied during safe construction.

While China and our friends south of the border produce a significant amount of the steel used to supply American-based gun safe companies, they definitely aren’t the only countries in the security market.  In fact, when it comes to steel, Terry said, “the Japanese have it right on the mark”.

So, if the quality of Japanese steel is so fantastic, why doesn’t Sturdy safe use it to manufacture their products? I’m sure Terry could answer that question 10 different ways, but one of the biggest reasons is that its high price and the added cost of US tariffs on steel imports make it way too expensive.  The quality of American steel is on par with Sturdy’s high standards, keeping the cost significantly lower than the Japanese alternative (this ultimately passes more value on to the customer).

If safe manufacturers like Sturdy can turn a profit by producing their products from American steel, why would anyone want to outsource to Mexico or China? Aren’t they getting nailed with the steel tariffs?  Not exactly – those same tariffs don’t apply to completed products.  Many US gun safe manufacturers save a lot of money creating their products overseas, using cheap foreign steel and labor, and selling the final product back here in the States.

Well-established companies who keep their manufacturing within the country are able to stay competitive because they have certain advantages that most fresh-faced companies don’t.  Sturdy Safe, for instance, has been in the business forever, they own nearly all of their capital (property included), and their storage space and operating revenue are high enough for Terry to load up on inventory while prices are low, and wait to use it when he needs it.  Terry said, “In the old days, you could make a lot of money in manufacturing if you worked hard…nowadays, you’d have to have a hole in your head [to start from scratch]”.  This is why a lot of new companies go outside the border to get the job done…it’s just too dang tough to stick around.

How is foreign manufacturing reflected in the final product? Based on the feedback I received from Mr. Pratt, it reflects rather poorly – at least well below Sturdy’s standard.  It’s not uncommon to find inconsistencies between what the advertisement says, and what the customer actually gets when they buy the product.

When you’re producing a product overseas for the sake of cheap labor, it’s not uncommon to wind up with a cheap product.  Terry has been designing, constructing, testing, and repairing safes and locking mechanisms for decades, and not just Sturdy products – he’s had his hands on all sorts of fun stuff.  He told me a few stories about safes he’s worked on that would make you feel rather…unsafe.

For instance, safes that don’t measure up to their advertised steel thickness, and when it comes to steel on a security container, every fraction of an inch is significant (the price tag included).  A lot of foreign products also lack the innovative design needed to keep up with the burglar-of-today’s constantly evolving break-in techniques.  For instance, he mentioned a safe he was working on that had a 1/4″ steel door, framed with only 16 gauge holding the locking lugs.  While the surface of the door might be able to take a good beating, a thug with a pry bar could rip that sucker right off.  In addition, he’s also been able to spot a lot of exploitable locking systems – the result of poor design and shoddy craftsmanship.

All that considered, Terry will be the first to tell you that there are always exceptions – American manufacturers occasionally share some of the same aforementioned issues, and on the flip side, there are foreign manufacturers who’ve put out quality products.  That said, the general consensus is that the quality of the safe tends to suffer when the work is done beyond US borders.

**On a side note, much to the dismay of my curiosity, Terry withheld the names of the offending manufacturers referenced above…he’s clearly a man of integrity.

The main intent of my phone call was to find out if American gun safes really boast superior quality to their foreign counterparts, and while it turns out they do, something else was also brought to my attention – just how many American jobs are supported in the process.  Obviously, the Sturdy Safe employees see direct benefits, but it goes a whole lot farther than that.

Also effected are the mill workers, the folks in the leveling plant, the outside vendors who manufacture the plating, locking lugs, ceramic wool, insulating blankets, and of course, all the trucking that’s required to tie the whole thing together.  A couple thousand American jobs have a hand in Sturdy Safe’s operation, and the number swells dramatically when you factor in the rest of the US-based gun safe manufacturers.

The United States has one of the largest consumer bases in the world for manufactured goods, but the number of jobs linked to manufacturing has dropped radically in just the last few years.  The soapbox I’m standing on wasn’t built to hold my 260 lbs frame, so I’ll get off, but it’s definitely something to consider (if you’re reading this and you aren’t from the US and/or you just plain hate us, that point might not have the desired effect).

Regardless of how you feel about the last note, I can feel confident when I say that across the board, American made gun safes are definitely worth the hype.

I’d like to thank Terry Pratt, owner of Sturdy Safe Gun Safe Manufacturing once more for volunteering his time and expertise to supply me with the info I needed to write this post.  As always, to anyone reading, I’d love to get your feedback.  Stay safe!

There are several other factors that play a role as well – a few well-placed Bouncing Betties around the safe’s proximity can work wonders for your burglar problem.  That said, one of the greatest facets of safe’s security effectiveness is its thickness…in the safe industry, it’s all about girth.

Of course, we’re talking steel here, not fluff.  There are a ton of manufacturers out there who would love for you to think that their advertised three-inch thick safe walls are made of solid steel.  In most cases, the bulk of that three inches is just concrete filler – in residential models, it’s very rare to find a gun safe with steel walls thicker than a 1/4”, and that includes the majority of premium models.

In most of the cheaper models, you’re looking at a significantly lighter frame.  If the safe has three-inch walls, and it weighs less than an elephant, it’s not solid steel.  If you can break through it with a sharp fire axe…it’s not solid steel.  Steel’s heavy, it’s resilient, and steel is expensive – that’s why the following model that I’m awarding the title, “Thickest Gun Safe”, is such a gem.

American Security (better known as AMSEC) has been in this business for over six decades.  I’m not going to go into details on their company history because you’re probably upset with me as it is for not getting to the point already.  Just know that their massive line of security products – ranging across drop boxes, personal safes, vault doors, wall safes, floor safes, and of course, gun safes are hot sellers as they have a few quality units in their repertoire.

The AMSEC RF6528 (rolls right off the tongue) is our winner today because at 1” of solid plate, this sucker dawns the thickest steel.  Smaller outfits like Graffunder and Brown can build a heavy hitter boasting similar specs for you, and if you travel into the world of bank-grade security, you’ll surely find thicker units, but this is [as far as I’m aware] the thickest mainstream-manufactured unit on the market to be billed as a “gun safe”.

So, you might be asking, “why is a measly inch significant?”.  Here’s one way to look at it:

The RF6528 is advertised as having the capacity to hold 30 long guns.  The Liberty Centurion – a slick little safe I’ve discussed on this site before – resembles the AMSEC very closely in dimensions, allowing 28 long guns to be store within its walls.  The Centurion is built with 12 gauge steel, which is common among less-expensive safes (under $1000), and weighs in just under 550 lbs.  Our AMSEC model tips the weighing station scales at almost 3500 lbs.  That’s over six times heavier – due almost entirely to the thicker material.  While the Centurion definitely isn’t the flagship of Liberty’s fleet, using it as an example really puts into perspective how much of a beast the RF6528 really is.

So, what else does an inch of steel plate get you?  It gets you a TL-30 rating from UL.  To earn this, UL sicked their safe crackers to try to break into this thing, and failed…at least within the 30 minute time frame.  For a consecutive half hour, professionals attacked this thing with everything from sledge hammers to power saws, and didn’t gain access.  UL won’t even listing it as a TL-30 unless it boasts at least an inch of steel.

While the rating only applies to the door (the TL-30×6 rating covers the whole unit), smart placement, as mentioned previously, will make this safe all but impossible for a team of neighborhood scum to get into.  If I had one of these, I’d anchor the sucker down (always a must), and nest it into the cement wall in my basement, only exposing “access” to its extremely resilient door.  Of course, the rest of the unit can also take a solid beating – I’m just a knucklehead who likes to do it the hard way.

So that’s my decision – this AMSEC High Security unit brings the ultimate in gun safe thickness, earning it a spot in Gun Safe Haven’s Best Gun Safe Superlatives.

Best Gun Safe Part 2: Capacity and Coolness

I’m nothing but a broke gun nut with a blog, so I don’t exactly have safe manufacturers banging down my door, begging me to test their products.  I’m forced to get my information the old fashioned way…reading a crap ton of message board threads to find out what other safe owners think.  There are a lot of proud folks out there, both praising their safes and the guns inside them, but the sad song I continue to hear no matter where I go is, “I should have bought a bigger gun safe”.

Guns are like tattoos; most dudes who have them aren’t going to stop getting them until they run out of space (within reason, of course).  Don’t fool yourself.  You know darn well that your 9 piece firearms collection is gonna grow to 15 in a couple years – forget the 12 gun safe – go for the 24.  Forget the 36, go for the 51.  Forget the 64, go for the Gibraltar!  Seriously though, friends, you have to think about the future.

Of course, you also need to think about the present.  Most gun manufacturers don’t factor scopes, tactical lights, fore grips, or .50 BMG muzzle breaks into the equation when they advertise their capacity.  That said, if you’re looking to store some well-accessorized cannons, you may want to factor that into consideration during check out time.  That 24 capacity gun safe won’t have any problem holding two dozen barebones Ruger 10/22′s, but you elephant hunters out there may have a different experience.  If you have the money, it never hurts to get a bigger safe; I’m sure you have plenty of other valuables that would be in your best interest to lock up.  Here are a few models that set the bar for capacity.

Liberty Safes: Fat Boy
Capacity: 64

Sturdy Gun Safe: Model 6028-6
Capacity: 75

Pentagon (Sportsman Steel Safes): Double Wide Crown Series
Capacity: 100

Superior Safes: Ironside 95
Capacity: 120

Coolest Gun Safe

If you’re in the market for a new safe, your main priority is likely security (and price), but that’s a good thing; security should almost always be the most important factor.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong buying a big, reliable, drab gray box to sit hidden in your basement with your valuables locked safely inside.  In fact, boring can be a good idea; if the burglar doesn’t notice it, he won’t try to break it open.

All that’s great….boring dependability is just swell, but there’s something in me that craves that sweet taste of novelty flair.  It’s the part of me that would rather read a Bud K catalog than the Wall Street Journal.  It’s the part of me that went into the dealer to buy a neat and simple Ruger Mark III and came out with a GSG-5; it’s the mall ninja part of me that can’t get enough gun safe bells and whistles

Runner up: Browning Mark II Tactical gun safe

The Mark II Browning Tactical is the kind of safe that every mall ninja out there just wants to lock himself inside and get high on that new safe smell (don’t though – you’ll die).  This sucker is dripping with storage efficiency.  The majority of firearms security containers on the market don’t exactly cater to the tactical buff.  Though a little bit of TLC, decent convertible shelving and a few well placed accessories can give just about any safe the resources to adequately house your arsenal, the Mark II is ready to go right out of the box.

It’s named appropriately.  It may be cliche’d to pieces and buzzworded to death, but I honestly can’t think of a better adjective than “tactical” to describe this safe.   If I had to compare it to a gun, it would probably be the DPMS RAPTR; a reliable product that includes a slew of surprisingly useful bells and whistles.  For starters, it just looks bad ass.  The exterior sports a baked on satin black finish, an S&G Type I electronic lock, exterior mounted hangers and the ballsiest chrome handle you ever did see…I wish they made it in a belt buckle.

As sharp as the outside looks, the inside is what makes this beast live up to its moniker.

What tactical characteristic is shared among just about all aptly named firearms on the market?  The Picatinny rail system, of course!  The Browning Mark II is one of the only safes models I can think of that actually has one.  This means any black rifle mods that you want to organize can be effectively stored separately from your piece.  But as cool as it is, the rail system is only scratching the surface.  Its list of accessories is a long one.

From the ground up you have a waterproof, rubberized floor mat to keep your guns’ wear to a minimum.  The inside of the door is loaded with pockets, straps and racks, able to easily hold half a dozen various sized cannons, magazines, and accessories.  The bulk of the interior is jacked freakin’ full of organizational potential – just look at the picture for cryin’ out loud (I admit – the guns shown in this picture have influenced my attraction to this safe)!.  Everything from 1911s to bullpups to Barret M82′s will feel right at home in this bad boy.  And to cap things off, the safe is equipped with lighting and a full length mirror; two extremely underrated features.

The only reason I deemed this unit runner up is because I’m disappointed in its body thickness.  Browning stacked this unit to the 9′s, so why they built it with 11 gauge steel is beyond me.  Eleven gauge thickness is bearable in a less testosterone fueled model, but I have no idea why Browning didn’t bump this guy up to 7 gauge – at least as an option.  Oh well.  It’s still cool as crap (cold crap).

Coolest: Pendleton King Revolution Gun Safe

This thing is freakin’ rad.  Even if it were a total piece of crap, I would still feel comfortable calling it the coolest gun safe I’ve ever seen.  Fortunately, however, it’s not a piece of crap.  It’s actually a pretty well built, secure safe.  The Pendleton King is an innovative security container with a reliable S&G electronic lock, nearly 1300 lbs of steel, and a resiliency rating decent enough to get UL’s RSC blessing – but those are just boring reliability features – they hardly do anything for its mall ninja appeal.

The first thing you’ll notice that’s a bit different about this safe is that it’s cylindrical.  It looks like a phone book that would give Superman a claustrophobic panic attack (yeh, he’s no match for Krypton or tight spaces).  The reason for its unorthodox design becomes very apparent when you open the door.  You’re greeted by as many as 40 long guns and 26 pistols revolving around on 12 volt motor-powered, turret shelving.  The interior is lit up by over 300 LED lights (with an alleged 100,000 hour lifetime rating)…it looks like a tanning bed from Hell.  The floor is constructed from neoprene to help prevent both unnecessary wear and moisture damage to the firearms.  This unit, like all of Pendleton’s revolving safes, also includes a built in dehumidifier.

Don’t write off this safe’s slickness as a gimmick folks, it’s the real deal.

Best Gun Safes Part 1

Best Gun Safes Part 3: Thickest Gun Safe

You’re right if you said it’s a lockable security container where you keep your guns. However, you’re also right if you said that it’s the product of masterful steel craftsmanship, coupled with painstakingly detailed engineering designed to protect not only your firearms, but your jewelry, family heirlooms, and precious photo albums from nature’s elemental terrors, professional riffraff, and curious kids. Then again, I suppose the second answer isn’t universally accurate. There are certainly those safes which stand head and hinges above the rest. The following list comprises the latter; those that live up to their value, and keep your valuables unharmed.

This list is something I’ve thrown together from personal research, observation, and my own unique enthusiasm for firearms storage solutions. Though my supporting information is accurate, many of the superlatives listed stem from my own “educated” opinion and shouldn’t be interpreted as the final word (I’m open to feedback). I should also note that this list is primarily comprised of RSCs (Residential Security Containers), essentially meaning they can survive a five minute beating from a safe cracker armed with common hand tools, a three pound hammer and a high-speed carbide drill…but more on that later.

What I’m getting at is that the majority of these units, though each uniquely impressive, aren’t, in the technicalist of technicalities, 1/2″ plate steel clad “safes”. Then again, the majority of you reading this have neither the dough or the need to purchase a full-blown TXTL-60 rated safe (tested to take a full hour of continuous abuse with basically everything from a welding torch to a short stick of dynamite). Calling an RSC a safe is kinda like calling a magazine a clip – it pisses off the professionals, but it’s good enough for you and me. Now, on with the gun safe list

Biggest Gun Safe

I wanted to get this unit out of the way early to keep things fair for the rest of our nominees.  Technically, in addition to awarding it for its massive size, this safe should also take home the prize for highest capacity, and arguably best case study, as it can easily hold 300 firearms, and is the world famous safe used on the game show ‘The Price is Right’…but we’re going to take it one step at a time.  This monster created by the folks at the Sportsman Steel Safe Company is appropriately named ‘The Gibrlatar’.

They’ll build this sucker in any size, weight, shape, or color your heart desires, but for most of you maniacs, the base model, priced at $9995, will be plenty.  Most gun safe dimensions are advertised in inches – at 168 cubic feet (2016″), the Gibraltar warrants a bit more respect.  And make no mistake about it, this beast is more than a dumb weight novelty box – Sportsman Steel has an innovative, quality reputation, and they don’t exactly pull any punches with their flagship.  It’s rigged with six relockers, a 1″ thick drill-killing hardplate, 20 solid steel bolts around the door frame, 1/4″ plate steel body, a two-hour -ested, peace of mind fire rating.  All these features illustrate quite obviously why no one has ever successfully broken into one (that, and as part of the warranty, Bob Barker will come out of retirement to personally pummel anyone stupid enough to try – the price is wrong!).

Most Expensive Safe

Ok, I realize I said that I wasn’t going to include custom over-the-top models in this list, but…I kind of lied.  I just want to help put into perspective how ridiculous, and disgustingly deep some rich folks’ pockets are.  Many consumers, myself well-included, have gone into severe sticker shock shopping for premium gun safes like Brown, Liberty, Gaffunder, Browning, and Fort Knox, many of which can easily creep up into the $5-10K range.  Well, imagine seeing a $340,000 price tag – your brain would probably blow clean out your face – I know mine did.  The cause of this brain-sized hole in my face is none other than the icon of luxury, Karl Lagerfeld, who worked with German safe manufacturer, Döttling, to produce what is essentially the most expensive piece of security-conscious art work in existence; the Narcissus.

I wasn’t just being cute, it truly is a piece of art, able to blend into the setting of any room…literally.  This 72″ tall, one ton safe is covered from head to toe with mirror-finish steel plated aluminum, and chock full of handcrafted mechanically operated drawers for the Jones’ diverse Casio collection.  And while it’s not exactly labeled as a gun safe – per se – I’m sure old Karl wouldn’t mind if you threw a couple bowling pin plinkers in there for safe keeping.  Only 30 were made, so if you can’t afford them, you better get crackin’.  Let’s just hope that for Lagerfeld’s sake, he was smart enough to throw some chrome plated anchor bolts into the package.

Best Locking System

The lock system can either make or break the value of a gun safe.  You may have an 800 lbs solid unit with a 30 minute fire rating, but all that’s utterly useless if it takes a knuckle head with a drill two minutes to compromise the lock.  If you want to maintain the peace of mind that inspired you to make the purchase in the first place, don’t skimp on the safe lock.

Most safes dubbed with the ‘premium’ monicker – models typically price in the $3-6K range – are crafted by manufacturers who understand the value of a tight security seal.  In fact, they’re essentially required to if they want to pass their big UL (Underwriter Labs) exam. Almost any home safe worth its salt receives an RSC (Residential Security Containers) rating from UL, part of which requires UL’s pro crackers to fail at attempting a break-in after attacking the lock with a high speed carbide drill for five straight minutes.  All of the big boys in the industry have their marks including the Fort Knox Legend (which by the way has the most locking blots of any mainstream RSC at 28), Browning Platinum, Cannon Safari, and the American Security HS series, but the locking mechanism that got my attention is Liberty’s new Monster Mech GX-480.

It sounds like the name of that security bot in Robocop who bugged out and blew that dude’s intestines up into his face when he thought he had a gun.  In fact, I think the Monster Mech is related to Robocop‘s ED209 (yeh, I had to look up its name).  The GX-480 isn’t a safe itself, but a newly designed locking system engineered by the ever-innovative folks at Liberty as a premium option for their two premiumest (word!) safes; the Presidential and the National Security Magnum.  What they’ve done is taken all of the features that make a locking system great, and jacked them up a notch.  It operates on a 480 degree rotation gear drive, controlling all of the safe’s 26 1.5″ thick bolts with it’s patent-pending anti punch engineering.  In addition to punching and drilling, one common method of busting into a safe is over-torquing the system – practically impossible with the Monster Mech’s slip clutch handle.

Back in December, a group of burglars armed with a hammer drill, a pick axe, a punch, hatchet, pry bars, crow bars, and everything else short of a thermic lance tried to break into Tyler Texas’ new Presidential, which was equipped with the GX-480. They worked it for five hours before they quit without even coming close.  A testament to not only the Monster Mech, but Liberty’s Presidential craftsmanship as well.  If this sucker isn’t the best RSC locking mechanism on the market right now, please tell me what is…honestly, I’d love to know what you think!

Best Safe Lock

While industry leaders like Kaba Mas certainly craft fine reliable products, S&G (Sargent and Greenleaf) easily ranks at the top, proven through both market success and elite design.  They have available a full host of different locks manufactured to dawn the finest residential security containers, vault doors, and commercial safes in the biz.  Though their entire line is solid at its worst (all UL-rated), I’d like to discuss the two models that I feel actually deserve the title, ‘best lock’.

While I certainly have a distinct appreciation for the convenience and flexibility of the high tech and new-fangled (which you’ll see in a moment), when it comes to safe locks, I’m partial to the old school flavor; rotary dial operated mechanical locks.  I say old school because combination style mechanical locks have been used in full swing since the 1870′s, many of which are still going strong today.  You may not be able to access your safe with the speed and convenience of a keypad or fingerprint reader, but the only thing that these suckers need to run forever is a locksmith checkup every half decade or so.  S&G, though focusing much of their efforts on manufacturing and distributing their line of electronic locks, offer a slew of the mechanical variety as well.

Though you’re likely to find the S&G 6xxx series locks (UL Group II) on most high-end residential gun safes (Fort Knox, Browning, and Liberty to name a few), their most resilient, expertly designed model is their 8500 – one of the finest UL Group 1R locks on the market – period.  Such a federally approved rating requires testing the lock against a severe physical beating coupled with hours of expert manipulation  – in the case of the 8500, hundreds of pounds of force resistance and 20 hours against expert cracking attempts justify its coveted mark of approval.  In addition, the “R” portion of the UL nomenclature indicates that the lock’s acetal resin wheels give it the ability to withstand break-in attempts aided with X-ray imaging.  This is the real deal, son!  If you think that the S&G 8500 lock may be a little overkill for your humble needs, and you want to stick with the manufacturer’s default model – no worries – S&G’s ‘Magic Module’ guarantees that the footprint is virtually the same as their other models, allowing you to swap it out seamlessly if you’re looking for an upgrade down the road.

Say you’re like most American gun safe owners, and you tend choose speed, convenience, and modularity over longevity and hassle-free maintenance.  If this sounds like you, you’re likely suited for a more high tech solution for opening your safe.  Mechanical dial-operated locks indeed require the least maintenance relative to their electronic cousins.  However, electronic locks have come a very long way since their early inception to the security industry, particularly those with UL Type I marks.  In addition to having the bare minimum of one million different lock combinations, as well as a relocking system in place (a safe guard against the common punch attack), an electronic lock with a UL Type I rating must also be able to withstand the stress of common wear and tear associated with inevitable aging, moisture resistance, excessive vibration, and corrosion.

The S&G Z03 encompasses all of the aforementioned benefits of a Type I rated lock, and then some.  Basic access to the lock is governed by a 10 digit keypad, but the technology wrapped up into the model pushes its capabilities much further.  For those fans of ‘overkill’ levels of home security, or more practically, suitable protection in an office or retail environment, the Z03 allows for supreme user control and flexibility.  In addition to the master and supervisor code, up to five different user codes can be used to open the safe.  Along with both time delay and time lock features, as well as dual control options, the possibilities for redundant point of access security are limitless.

For ultimate protection, you can hook the Z03 into your security system, syncing it with your motion sensors and security cameras.  If things get really hot, S&G’s ‘duress mode’ allows you to punch in a code that will simultaneously alert the police as it opens the safe…tell that jackass with the ski mask to make sure he gets everything in the back.  To further the unit’s flexibility, as in the case of the 8500, nearly all of S&G’s electronic models are part of the same basic footprint, allowing you to upgrade to the Z03, or downgrade (I use that term loosely) to a mechanical system.  If you really want to take it to the next level, the Z03 can be equipped with the S&G biometric keypad ring, allowing you both the power of the core system, coupled with the speed, security, and potential redundancy of adding a fingerprint scanner.  Satisfy your fastidious need for extreme security, and program your lock to accept only users with both the entry code, and the fingerprints.  You can go nuts with this baby, baby!

Best Gun Safes Part 2: Capacity and Coolness