A Brief History
Safes in one form or another have been around since the days of Julius Cesar. While sometimes disputed, Jesse Delano is credited with the first fireproof safe design patented in 1826. The modern gun safe has its roots in the 1850s designs of Silas Herring. He used plaster and steel to create a fire rated gun storage safe. What’s interesting and disappointing is that the gun safes of today are not built to standards anywhere near Herring’s 1850 design. Price and profit pressures have caused the whole industry to move away from true fire rated safes. The majority of what are commonly called and sold as “Gun Safes” are actually UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) listed as “RSC” or “Residential Security Containers” and are not actual safes. This includes the “safes” available at all the big chain with popular brand names including “Liberty,” “Winchester”, “Browning,” etc. Yes, you may have guessed it. The industry did not want to build to the UL Safe classification standard so they created a new standard, RSC – “Residential Security Container”.
Learn more: Gun Safe: Understanding Ratings and Certifications
What is an RSC (Residential Security Container)?
An RSC rated container (gun cabinet) will resist forced opening for up to five minutes by an attacker using simple, non-powered hand tools. We’re talking screwdrivers, hammers (must be less than 3lbs), and pry bars (must be less than 18″ long). RSC containers are not rated against any attack by power tools of any kind, or any attack lasting longer than five minutes. This is security designed for 1850’s threat level. Today, a high powered battery operated grinder with a cutoff wheel can cut a “gun safe” (Residential Security Container) in half in less than 15 minutes. A small portable plasma cutter will do the job in under 3 minutes. People assume that because it weighs 1000 lbs it must be secure.
Fire Rating
RSC Certified gun safes are not fireproof. Not at all.
The only consistent, reliable and independent fire rating is the UL fireproof safe class rating. The lowest rating is “Class 350 1-hour” The ratings go up to 4 hours (Class 350-4). Unfortunately, there are no RSC gun safes that meet this rating as the materials and construction required to offer this kind of protection are deemed too expensive by the gun safe industry. The fire rating or “fire certified” sticker on the door of an RSC means very little as each gun safe (RSC) manufacturer creates their own standards and fire tests. If a safe does not have a UL class 350 fire rating then it is not a fire safe. It is a thin steel box lined with drywall and covered with some carpeting. The Drywall makes the safe real heavy and “feel” secure. It is not. Talk to firefighters. “Gun safes” (RCSs) rarely ever survive a real fire. go to: Gun Safe: Understanding Ratings and Certifications for more information
Guns Safes and Corrosion
Consider Corrosion
There are a lot of products on the market designed to slow the process of your guns rusting in a “gun safe”. There is a good reason for these products. Drywall or Gypsum board used in RSCs contain several chemicals that are highly corrosive to your guns. Formaldehyde is used as a dispersing agent in drywall production and is highly corrosive to steel. See: pharosproject.net/blog/show/44/formaldehyde-additives-drywall
Safes imported from China use drywall that contains additional threats to your guns. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and other agencies have found high levels of pyrite (FeS2) which gives off carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide — all of which are corrosive to firearms. 100% of the problem drywall coming from China also tested positive for the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which lives in pyrite deposits. These bacteria consume iron and sulfur producing highly corrosive sulfuric acid. Have you ever noticed a mild sulfur smell when you open a Chinese import safe? There are many concerns about drywall from China.
Other Disadvantages of Gun Safes.
They are very big, very heavy and once in place cannot be easily moved. They are also big and heavy. Did I tell you they were heavy? …You get the picture. In our modern, mobile society where people move on average every 6.6 years (US Census Bureau) does it make sense to own a 1200lb metal box full of drywall?
If you live in a condominium or town-home owning a heavy old safe is probably not allowed by your HOA.
The Industries “Little White Lie”.
This gun safe, rated for 29 guns can not efficiently store 11 modern rifles Gun safe capacity is a lie.
Gun Safe Capacity
When a safe manufacturer offers a gun safe (RSC) and claims a capacity of 30 guns what are they telling you. Keep in mind the RSC will not hold 30 guns, not even close. Either they are not very bright or they think their customers aren’t very bright. The VP of national sales for one of America’s largest safe manufacturers told me it was the “industry’s little white lie”. It seems all safe manufacturers state their capacity based on how many gun slots they can fit in the safe, regardless of how many guns actually fit. In our product testing, using safes from several different manufacturers, we found the actual capacity for traditional guns is about half of what the manufacturers claim. When you add in modern sporting rifles that capacity drops even further. We purchased a 29 gun Steelwater gun safe and were only able to fit 11 modern rifles and at that point, they were packed in and hitting each other. Gun safe capacity is a sham.
Gun Safe Are Too Deep
Manufacturers all focus on making real heavy complex doors and lock systems in an effort to make you think the cabinet is secure. These doors are so heavy that the cabinet has to be deep. Deep enough to offset the weight of the door so when it is opened the cabinet does not tip over. This depth is counterproductive to proper gun storage. You end up with guns packed in and you have to dig through to get to the rifles stored way in the back.
Please note: a thief ignores the door and just cuts through the thin steel on the side or back of the RSC.
Gun Safe Interiors
Gun safe interior design has never changed.
American gun ownership has changed dramatically and the safe industry refuses to address it. The number one rifle sold in America is an AR15 and most shooters now have some sort of scope or optic on every rifle and shotgun. The gun safe industry not only failed to anticipate these market changes they appear to have buried their heads in the sand and refuse to even acknowledge that there has been any type of change. Gun safes simply do not have the ability to properly store modern rifles.
This is the typical safe interior. Even with stripped down Henry rifles you will not fit guns in every slot, there simply is not enough room for the stocks. AR platform rifles will not fit well at all and there is no room for optics of any kind.
You can upgrade gun safe interiors to SecureIt CradleGrid Technology.
“They’ve buried their heads in the sand”
Why does a whole industry fail to address a big market change? It almost appears like all gun safe manufacturers are in a big game of chicken. They all produce basically the same product and are all afraid of being the first one to be different. In most industries manufacturers actively look for points of difference. But not with “gun safes” (RSC containers). It is very unusual and not in the best interest of the consumer. These manufacturers and products are dinosaurs and perhaps, soon be extinct.
We see this as a complete lack of respect for the firearms they store, and their customers who shell out big money expecting secure fireproof storage yet really only have a steel box with some drywall and fancy paint. The only advances in gun safe manufacturing in the last 100 years has been the move to cheaper materials, lower standards, and misleading certifications.
So do you need a so-called “gun safe” or RSC?
The answer is probably no.
If you think you will sleep better knowing that your rifles and stored in a big 1200 lb. gorilla in your basement, then it may be the right product. You have to understand, however, that the security against both theft and fire is really smoke and mirrors. The whole industry is built around a false perception that because these things weigh 1200lbs, it must be safe and secure.
When you consider that these so-called “gun safes” (RSC) are no more secure than a simple steel cabinet and fire ratings (which do not meet even the most basic UL Certification) are simply made up by manufacturers, you have to really question the decision.
- They are very difficult and expensive to move.
- They are corrosive to your guns by design.
- They do not properly store precision rifles.
- Older homes may not support the weight and you certainly would not put a safe in an upstairs location.
So what do you do?
There are several very inexpensive steel gun cabinets on the market. Products like Stack-On will store guns, however, they have very basic locking and the interiors that mimic guns safes so you will struggle with the same inefficient and damaging storage issues.
This year SecureIt introduced the Model 52 Ultralight gun cabinet with CradleGrid Technology. The first in a series of modern modular gun storage cabinets and provides proper storage for 6 rifles, handguns, and a lot of gear. The Model 52 is manufactured out of the same steel as many traditional gun safes (RSC) but doesn’t have the ridiculous weight, or the corrosive interior.
Patented CradleGrid Technology was developed under contract with US Army Special Forces. The modular system provides simple, adjustable, proper storage for rifles, shotguns, and handguns and allows you to organize and store firearms along with associated gear.
In our modern, mobile and fast-paced society why tether yourself to a 1200lb gorilla? It will be parked somewhere in your life and eventually left behind somewhere. Otherwise, It will require a great deal of work, time or money every time it must be moved. It provides no additional security over much lighter and easier to deal with cabinets and the materials used in its construction can be corrosive and detrimental to firearms.
Knowledge and Education is Power
Take the time to learn as much as you can before you spend your money. Here are links to articles that we have found to be informative and accurate.
11 Myths about Gun Safe Theft Protection
9 Myths about Gun Safe Fire Ratings
And don’t forget to look at our selection of gun safes here.
Good point! My choice of words was not the best. The results is the same but the intent is certainly different. Truly I do not think most safe manufacturers ever really consider the gun when designing and producing their products.
I get it. It’s a box for guns that just keeps the honest man out and they don’t weigh a lot or take up a bunch of space. Smart. Sold.
Thanks for your question. At this time, we are not releasing specific information on future products that aren’t currently listed in our product selection. We highly recommend signing up for our mailing list (https://www.secureitgunstorage.com/secureit-team/) if you’d like to receive information on future products and upcoming product launches. Please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions.
Just stumbled upon your concept, unfortunately I already have a moderate size behemoth. I am going to be moving soon, and thought that I’d strip the interior and retrofit with one of your systems. Is this optional route advisable (knowing it doesn’t address the potential weakness). Once stripped, would you do anything special to the interior?
Brian,
If you remove the stock interior rifle support pieces, you can simply install one of our kits to the back of the cabinet or (depending on size) on the sides. The kits included fasteners to attached to the drywall on the back of the safe.
Moving a safe can be a real pain, if it is big, we recommend talking to a safe distributor that delivers and installs safes. Many moving companies will not have the equipment to do the job right. Best of luck.
When I said strip, I should have clarified that I was thinking of removing the carpet and drywall as well. I’ve known there were issues with the moisture due to local humidity levels and was thinking of removing the “sponges” inside the safe (knowing that modern air conditioning moderates that fairly well).
Fortunately the safe is manueuverable once the door is removedfroms its pins. Thanks.
Brian,
LOL, I thought that might be the case when I read your first post.
Installing our grid panels, you have a few options. The easiest and perhaps strongest is Velcro tape.
Use 1″ Velcro, Cut strips to fit panels lengthwise. use 3 per panel. The advantage of Velcro is it’s strength and ability to handle deviations and small imperfections in the steel surface inside your safe. Velcro has a shear strength of 14 PSI That puts a panel with 3 strips of Velcro over 1000lb shear load. Other options include. 3M foam adhesive tape, neodymium magnets or nuts and bolts. Please do not hesitate to call to go over this in more detail.
I enjoyed learning about your gun storage solutions, and I like your products and your honesty with regards to how many guns your cabinet will hold. However you can’t lump all RSC rated “gun safes” into the same category. In listening to your videos, a person with no knowledge would assume every safe with an RSC rating is equal, which is not true. For example, an RSC rated safe with a 7 gauge wall and 3/8″ steel plate door will undoubtedly outperform an RSC rated safe with 14 gauge sidewalls, and a very thin door. I’m betting the gun safe manufacturers do not want to bear the cost of trying to get a better rating. In summary, I believe, as you stated, an uninformed “safe” buyer can be sold an “illusion” of security, but after researching, I have found there are RSC rated safes that are much “stronger” than the “bottom of the barrel”, “Big Box retail” safes out there.
Ralph,
Ralph, You are correct. There are bad and better gun safes out there. What frustrates me is that so many safe manufacturers advertise their “UL Ratings” as if it means the safes are secure or they imply that their cheap safe is as secure as a much stronger model. The RSC rating is as you know extremely low. Another issue with UL ratings is they were created for smaller jewelry type safes. To build a gun safe sized safe with a UL “TL-30” or higher rating will result in a safe that is too heavy for most homes. Going forward we are working to get consumers look beyond the UL ratings and consider actual construction and performance of the safes. As you state a 7GA Steel safes is stronger than a 14GA model. There are strong RSA safes out there, they will cost north or $4000. The mass produced cheap $1000 safes that advertise UL rated need to go…. they may look strong and have a fancy paint job, but as far as security goes, they are junk. We will be releasing our line of “True Safes” this summer. These will be a game changer in the industry.
Very informative thing to know about gun safes. Thanks for sharing this, Tom. Instead of spending a ton of money on gun safes, I agree that you can store your guns in inexpensive gun cabinets with proper care and maintenance.