I've had a gun vault for about 5 years. Shortly after I bought it I discovered that its circular lock could be picked by a child with a ballpoint pen. I had a lock smith change the lock to a Medeco, and tried to contact GunVault about the shortcomings of their product. They ducked all consumer complaints, and waited for things to blow over. Meanwhile StackOn was changing locks for their customers.

Last week this piece of crap failed to open when I entered the code. Fortunately I was trying to open it in a routine situation, not an emergency. Yes, I'm entering the code correctly (the tamper alarm doesn't sound). It has never opened, except via the mechanical lock, since then. I also tried entering a wrong code (didn't open, got the tamper alarm), reprogramming the safe to accept the wrong code as the correct code, entered the "wrong code" again (didn't open, but didn't get tamper alarm).

So it seems to recognize the code as correct, but is not mechanically able to open. I don't want to get this thing repaired (assuming it is even possible). I wouldn't trust it. So I have two questions:

1.) Please recommend a higher quality lock box for bedside use. It doesn't have to be electronic. At this point I am thinking a purely mechanical device might be preferable.

2.) Since this thing is now useless I'm thinking of learning just how tamper proof they are, via destructive testing. Please suggest a test protocol that would maximize learning opportunities. So far all I've thought to do is to try prying it open with a series of increasingly strong/large tools, e.g. small screwdrive, large screwdriver, small pry bar, large pry bar... and see when it pops open.

The idiot light for the airbag in my 3 year old Ford just lit up yesterday, indicating it may be non-functional. Another safety device letting me down. Ironically I'm an electrical engineer. Its things like this that lead me to seek out foolproof mechanisms whenever possible. Things that run on gravity are good. Not thrilled with the small capacity of revolvers but I do like their simplicity and reliability. Oh, and I absotively posilutely do not ever want a "smart" gun, that uses technology to attempt to prevent anyone but the owner from using it.

There is a known issue with these boxes. They use a cable on a spool, turned by a motor, to unlatch the door from the keypad.

The cable eventually frays and break.

A cam might have been a better design, huh?

Regardless, it is possible to disassemble the device and replace the cable. You won't get any assistance from the manufacturer, but it can be done.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242167

See? You are an electrical engineer trying to do a mechanical engineer's job.

Hey bab, I remember an old boss of mine telling me once, just before I went off to school to become an EE, that the number one rule that I should always adhere to is "make sure your shit works". And the number two rule was "and if it doesn't, stand behind it". It didn't have much impact on me at the time, but after being in my career for almost 10 years now, I definitely undertand what he meant.

The fact that the manufacturer doesn't want to help you out is very disappointing, but what's even worse is the fact that they KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM (based on Andrew's post) and didn't contact you first to issue a recall or something. That's just downright dangerous. Good thing you discovered this in a non-emergency situation.

Tannerite?

Not Tannerite. A guy down here in Goodhue County tried that with a dump truck bed. A brief quote from the Red Wing paper.

Childs pleads guilty in explosion case

Published 08/29/2009, The Republican Eagle

Brian Childs, the man accused of detonating a massive explosion on his Welch property, pleaded guilty Thursday to two felonies in the case that drew national attention.

Link to the video

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3a7_1200611038

I don't think there would be a problem using Tannerite. It could create a problem if one used too much Tannerite

Brian Childs got a little carried away

By the way I was told by plant engineers that I work with at Prairie Nuclear Generating Station that the dump truck exposion set off the seismic sensors at the plant.

The China safes are all similar. The motor won't oveercome any binding. (Which they'll call "side pressure") There are apparently issues with the mechanical locks as well.

If you are a burglar who has a lock problem, you can tip the safe on it's side or front, and open the bottom with a small hatchet or cold chisel ; it's just real light guage steel.

Apparently, this company has no mechanical engineers on staff, or at least competent ones.

A cam-based locking mechanism (no motors, no spool, no cable, just a few chunks of metal) is far more reliable than some stupid motorized cable system. KISS!!!

As an Mech. Engineer and as a firearms owner, I feel your trouble.

I have 3 years exp. as a tool&die maker and 2 year M.E. (Including industrial door design) and if I were incharge, this is something close to what I'd have specified:


unfortunatly, this is what manufacturing would have made:

Andrew, thanks for the reference, I'm thinking that is exactly what happened to my gun vault.

Let this be a lesson to everyone out there who owns one of these... every time you open it you are rolling the dice, eventually it will fail. Try to make sure that time isn't an emergency.

So how about recommendations for alternatives to the gun vault? What other lock boxes are people using out there, how are they working for you?

I use the following:

http://www.safemart.com/Gun-Safes/SecureLogic-In-Wall-Safe-Biometric-Gun-Safe-20700.htm

This has worked very well for me and has never failed to read my print.

In addition, if you search long enough, you can find really good prices on it (I bought mine on eBay for dirt cheap).