All gun owners should have a rifle or handgun safe, regardless of how responsible and trained they think their family is. You never know who might be in your house and what could happen as a result. Gun safes come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate whatever firearms or other items you might want to put in them. There are biometric gun safes, in-wall cabinets, in-floor safes, stack-on wall safes, small gun safes, fingerprint gun safes, pistol gun safes with digital keypads… the list is almost endless. In this article, however, we will concentrate on in-wall gun safes.
In-wall gun safes are a great option for those who don't have any extra closet or drawer space or even those who want the option of a bit more concealment. While, technically, guns can be kept in a traditional document safe, gun safes are made with guns and their accessories in mind. These tend to have more organizational features and carpeted or lined interiors that prevent scratches to weapons and other valuables. You can also always store materials that are not weapons in a gun safe so if weapons will ever be kept in the home go ahead and go with a gun safe over a traditional document safe. These are the best in-wall gun safes that are available this year.
Stack-On IWC-11 In-Wall Pistol Cabinet
Though technically more of a lockbox than a safe, this little pistol cabinet is great for someone who only owns one or two pistols and just needs somewhere to store them that has a lock. It fits perfectly between 16-inch studs and can be easily installed by anyone. There is a single adjustable shelf and both levels of the cabinet have thick padding to protect your guns. It is opened by a single key lock, but the thick steel will hold up to any amount of prying and banging that an intruder might try to get at what is inside. Since the face is practically flush to the wall, it can easily be concealed with a painting or hanging. For simple camouflage, you can also put a utility box sticker on the door and it will look like any other electrical panel that one might find in the home.
Viking Security Safe VS-52BLX Biometric Fingerprint Hidden Wall Safe
This biometric safe by Viking Security is a major upgrade from the basic wall safe. It can be unlocked by either a digital pin code or a fingerprint and it can hold up to 32 fingerprints in memory. The interior features an LED light to illuminate the contents of the safe. It is also fully carpeted to protect guns and valuables from getting any scratches. There are three shelves included which are fully adjustable and removable so it can be configured however works best for you. Unlike most biometric safes, this one includes a display which gives feedback instead of making you wait and guess with just a few beeps. The display has a battery life indicator as well so there is no guessing game when it comes to whether or not there is power.
Stack-On PWS-1555 Long Gun Wall Safe with Electronic Lock
Stack-on is one of the best names in gun safes so it should be no surprise to see them on this list twice. This 52-inch tall safe is ideal for storing long guns such as rifles and shotguns. It is secured by three steel locking bolts and an electronic keypad entry. The keypad has an extra security feature where after three incorrect entry attempts there is a timeout period before another attempt can be made. The hinges are concealed so they cannot be removed from the outside and the plate steel doors are pry resistant to ensure no one can break in by alternate methods. It is also very heavy, at over 70 pounds, so no one is going to be cutting it out of the wall and taking it with them either. This safe comes with four adjustable and removable shelves to meet all of your organizational needs, so you can make room for your long guns as well as have somewhere to put pistols and ammunition. Stack-On’s long gun safe really makes good use of the available space in your wall as well as the extra vertical space.
V-Line Quick Vault Locking Storage for Guns and Valuables
One of the biggest considerations when choosing a safe is the locking mechanism. This is a fairly personal choice based on the user and situational circumstances. Some do not like the simplicity of the cam style locks on lockboxes while others do not like the potential for electronic locks to fail if their batteries die at an inopportune moment. This vault by V-Line solves both of those problems. The mechanical button lock requires no electricity or batteries, so you know it will never fail on you. At the same time, the locking mechanism is strong, with the bolt going directly through the inner frame to prevent being susceptible to prying. The five-button lock allows for up to 1081 possible permutations so it is just as difficult for an intruder to guess or trick open as a standard electronic keypad. Due to the unique locking mechanism, this safe does not have the same problem that many other “advanced” safes do where the housing of the lock takes up a large amount of the interior space. Another benefit of this particular safe is that the door is slightly recessed to make up for the external parts of the lock and, therefore, it can be easily concealed with a flat object like a mirror or framed picture. As to be expected from a good gun safe, the interior is carpeted and comes with a shelf to help with organization.
Though there are plenty of in-wall safes to choose from, as a gun owner it is important to pick one that is made with your particular needs in mind. These safes have the most desirable mix of security, ease of access, and being able to store your guns and valuables in a way that is best suited for them. Most of these can also be concealed easily, which is a highly recommended extra step to take in order to ensure your weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.