Where do I buy a good Gun Safe in Northern VA?

[REL1203]

OK, so my wife wants me to start looking into buying a gun safe. Size is our constraint, to get it into our basement, has to be less than 36" tall, and no wider than 29.5" to get through door, height is not important, just over 60" which they all seem to be. I have gone to Dicks Sporting Good, Sports Authority, and 2 of my local stores but they dont sell for size safes.. Anyone have any recommendations for places to go to see some quality safes in Northern VA? Also, having had back surgery a few months back, will need to pay for inside delivery (which I know is costly, but worth it for me)... Any recommendations for B&M stores?

What about online places, any one have good experiences with online orders/deliveries?

Thanks

[zephyp]

I bought mine at Baldino's in Springfield. They have a showroom with several safes and will deliver for a nominal fee. Good folks to deal with and I recommend them if you are especially after something like a Liberty safe...

http://www.baldinos.com/

[novaglock]

Timely post as I was just thinking about a safe also! DK, are you happy with your Liberty? Any thoughts on size, fire rating etc. Anything you would do differently if you bought again?

[gunderwood]

Most gun safes are not really safes, but rather fire resistant cabinets. The steel used to too thin to really be considered a safe. That is fine, but you should understand what you are buying. There are real security safes, but they are very heavy and costly.

Nearly all of the guns safes you will find at stores are basically 10-16ga sheet metal with dry wall for insulation. Higher fire rating = more layers of drywall. Most of the weight in these is drywall not steel. Some of these may qualify for what is called a B rated safe, but none are security safes. They can easily be broken into with an axe (cut through them) or have the door pried off in 2mins or so. There are a few companies that use a pored mixture (sort of like a porous concrete) that dries for insulation. These are better than the drywall IMHO. YMMV.

The next step up is a Residential Security Container (RSC) rated safe. These undergo UL testing. RSC must withstand 5mins with basic hand tools (screwdriver, hammer, etc.). Marginal security over the other safes, particularly in the sides. The RSC rating only applies to the door. I.e. the testers are not allowed to attack the sides. Most RSC safes are just as vulnerable as unrated safes if attacked through the sides.

The first real security safe is a TL-15 rated one. TL stands for tool and -15 is 15mins. All power tools are allowed, but again only the door is attacked. If you see something like TL-15x6, then and only then is it rated for 15mins on any side. There are also -30 and -60 for 30mins and 60mins respectively. They also can carry the x6 rating. There is also something called a TR safe, which is like TL, but includes torches. These are rare and I know of none that are configured for guns.

American Security (Amsec) makes some TL-15 gun safes, but are obviously only door rated. Most good safes are only RSC, which really isn't a security safe. The highest rated "gun" safe I know of is the High Security Platinum Safe by Original. They are really regular security safes that can have their interiors modified for guns. Take a look at them here:

http://www.lackasafe.com/products/gun-s ... t-original

Something else to consider is where you will keep it. In your garage is a common thought, but remember that not much can stop a 3 ton diesel pick-up with a head start. Attach a chain to your safe and get started.

All this ignores the fundamental question: what do you actually need? Only you can determine that, but this info should help you understand what is available.

[allingeneral]

Good post gunderwood. Thanks for the clarifications!

Also - Gander Mountain in Fredericksburg seems to have a pretty good selection of safes. I don't know about GM locations other than F'burg.

[gunderwood]

Good post gunderwood. Thanks for the clarifications!

Also - Gander Mountain in Fredericksburg seems to have a pretty good selection of safes. I don't know about GM locations other than F'burg.

Thanks. I would love to have one of the Original safes, but I can't justify spending that much money...but I probably could if I had a place to put it. Just too heavy. I didn't want to come off as suggesting that a fire rated gun cabinet is junk, but wanted to convey that a determined burglar isn't going to be stopped by anything less than a TL-15. More than enough to stop anyone who would worry about damaging the safe or its contents (like kids).

[REL1203]

Hey Zep, Baldino's looks like a nice local place, and they have locations all over including city i live in Manassas, and in Chantilly where I work... Awesome... How are their prices? Do you remember what delivery cost?

[zephyp]

Hey Zep, Baldino's looks like a nice local place, and they have locations all over including city i live in Manassas, and in Chantilly where I work... Awesome... How are their prices? Do you remember what delivery cost?

I think their only showroom for safes (security containers as corrected by gunderwood) is in Springfield. The prices are similar to what you find online. I purchased a Liberty Fatboy for around $1700 and paid around $400 for delivery inside and bolted down.

Timely post as I was just thinking about a safe also! DK, are you happy with your Liberty? Any thoughts on size, fire rating etc. Anything you would do differently if you bought again?

When I did my research the number one complaint I read was about size -- "I wished I bought a larger safe." So, I got the largest I could afford the Fatboy. I'm more concerned about security than fire since everything is insured via USAA for replacement. The Fatboy is plenty large and came with a nice storage rack on the inside of the door for pistols, mags, papers, etc. Its a great safe and I like it alot.

What would I do differently? Saved more money and got a nicer model just as big or had this once custom fitted with upgraded carpet, lights, and maybe a mirror. I did install a dehumidifier (works great) and a light...

Here's a link to pics that I posted in December. Suffice it to say its fuller now...

http://vagunforum.net/post26376.html?hi ... boy#p26376

[gunderwood]

Clark Brothers had a Browning RSC with the tactical door. I like the idea of hanging guns you might pull out often on the door.

[zephyp]

Ah, tactical door. I was trying to think of the name of it. It is made of black nylon and holds things nice and ready for ya...

[REL1203]

Clark Brothers had a Browning RSC with the tactical door. I like the idea of hanging guns you might pull out often on the door.

Does anyone know if Clark Brothers offers in-house delivery? I would hate to take a trip out there only to find out they dont offer delivery?

[gunderwood]

Ah, tactical door. I was trying to think of the name of it. It is made of black nylon and holds things nice and ready for ya...

They sell those too, but the tactical safes have a rifle/shotgun system built into them. It is "u" shaped hooks that pivot for easy removal of the firearm. Would be perfect for home defence guns.

Theirs had this door, but I don't think it was the fully optioned out. http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... id=146476A

[REL1203]

Clark Brothers had a Browning RSC with the tactical door. I like the idea of hanging guns you might pull out often on the door.

Does anyone know if Clark Brothers offers in-house delivery? I would hate to take a trip out there only to find out they dont offer delivery?

Answered my own question on their website.

"One of many products sold by Clark Brothers is a gun safe. We offer in home delivery on the complete line of Liberty Safes. Prices vary due to distance to the home and location of the safe in the home. Generally fees range from $75.00 to $250.00; Additional charges for long distances or difficult installations. We deliver safes using our own staff - you will never have to worry about subcontractors entering your home. We also place your safe in your home – not just delivered at the end of the driveway.
"

[CowboyT]

How about Costco? They often have Winchester safes ("security containers") for $499. Look like they'd fit through any standard size door, too.

[REL1203]

I went to Baldinos in Springfield yesterday.. Nice place, has about 12-15 different models on display, all Liberty it seems, and mostly the higher end stuff... They were charging full price for most, but still really liked the Colonial line in 36" wide, but damn delivery is expensive.. $500 for in the house, bolted to the floor. $1600 for the safe...

[REL1203]

Going to go to Clark Bro's tonight, and then make my final decision

[gunderwood]

You might want to be careful calling them security containers. The seller and/or manufacturer might take offense. IMHO they are security containers just like the walmart sentry fire safes are; steel is about the same thickness on some models.

[zephyp]

I went to Baldinos in Springfield yesterday.. Nice place, has about 12-15 different models on display, all Liberty it seems, and mostly the higher end stuff... They were charging full price for most, but still really liked the Colonial line in 36" wide, but damn delivery is expensive.. $500 for in the house, bolted to the floor. $1600 for the safe...

Check the liberty web site. They might have a coupon special. Thats how I got mine and saved around $300...My delivery was a little cheaper since I'm only about 2 miles from the store. The warehouse is somewhere nearby...and they also did all the lock on my doors so I played up that angle...

[REL1203]

Went to Clark Brothers today.. Been probably 5 years since i have been to that store, still nice people working there. They had about 15 or so Gun Safes, mostly Liberty, some Champion, and there prices were much better, shipped was less, but they dont Bolt Down the safe... I am pretty clueless when it comes to how to bolt it through my pergo, into my slab, so i am a little worried about that, but they have most everything in stock, including the one I am looking at, the Liberty Colonial 30gun in Black... There shipping is $225 including in the house setup, plus a BS $50 Freight delivery fee, but out the door delivered price of $1600 which is what Baldinos wanted for just the safe itself.

I am kinda torn though, i got baldinos to knock $220 off the price, but I would have to wait 2months for the safe to get in since they have to order it, but I could get the cool Door panel with the pistol holders and storage from the factory then, and have them bolt it into my floor, but would cost me $400 more and I would have to wait... What do you all think I should do?

[gunderwood]

So it is $1600 or $2000? The pistol holder can be bought separately, but doesn't cost more than $100? For approx. $300 do some google searches and bolt the thing yourself. Just my two cents.