Storage "safes"

[Jeff S]

I'm thinking about investing in a gun safe. Based on the conversations I've read, many of you guys have extensive collections of side by side shot guns. Of the gun safes that I've looked at, all contain "partitions" suitable for rifles, or single barreled shot guns. Are there guns safes that are designed for side by sides?

[Sporrns]

Jeff, I have seen several of the newer, more modern safes offered with minimal or no partitions inside. This allows you to custom cut and fit whatever partition configuration you want. Years ago I bought a c. 1930s document safe that had one metal shelf tack-welded in place along with 2 thin sheet metal partitions but no other substantial compartments. I removed the shelf and partitions and cut, covered and fit the racks like I wanted them, primarily for double guns with space for a few O/Us and A-5s. Most all of the safes offered today have partitions that are covered with plain carpeting, so making your own is not a big deal and allows you to configure the inside the way you want it. My safe is much taller than most, 80 inches tall x 32 wide x 26 deep. Interestingly enough, I have never met anyone who told me they bought a gun safe that was too big!

[Jeff S]

Thanks for the reply. For 30 years I have kept my guns in a "sheet metal" cabinet from the office furniture industry. I cut nice grooves in a 1 x 3 board and screwed it to the back to act as a partition for holding the guns upright. Since it locks, it has kept curious kids away from the guns, but it's not really very secure. Like you mentioned, I don't think it would be very difficult to modify one of the new safes so that it would hold side x sides, I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing anything. By the way, you are exactly correct when you say gun safes are never too big. I ran out of room about 5 guns ago, and to be honest, I need a couple more.

[vaturkey]

I store my doubles muzzle down so the basic configuration of a gun safe works pretty well. I purchased mine at Tractor Supply. Decent size without being too large. That said, I wish I had a bigger one and I've sold a bunch of guns over the years. Said I wouldn't buy anymore and added 4 over the last year although sadly only one was a fox.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I too store bbls down. A quality Liberty safe, fireproof 90 minutes at 1400 degrees and come with a dehumidifier rod.

[Jeff S]

Thanks for the tip. I never thought of storing them muzzle down.

[mc15426378]

My main safe is an older Cannon. Originally had a divider down the middle, a top shelf, and 2 shelf standards w/adj clips on each side. I removed the divider, kept the top shelf, then cut a rack from a piece of plywood fitted to the inside. The white stuff on the wooden rack is door/window weatherstripping glued to the wood then wrapped in blue painters tape. Not shown in the photo but I did add, in the bottom, a thick piece of plywood covered in green felt (gun cleaning pad). This raised the safe floor up above the frame (1/8") so that the barrels are less likely to hit the safe frame when removed/returned. Second photo is of the motion activated lights in the safe. The lights have a magnetic base, metal disc was glued to the bottom of the top shelf.

My safe is not a show queen but the upgrades cost very little and work well for my use.

[Jeff S]

Forget the safe. Nice guns!