Top Brand Safes? Storing My Coins/Valuables

I am shopping around for a safe, and I ran across a company called MESA Safe and I am curious if they produce decent safes? Anyone have any experience with them? I looked at Liberty Safes but they seem to be more geared toward guns, which is not what I am looking for. And the few home safes that they offer are too small cubic feet wise.

Also other suggestions of reputable brands would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for a Burglary & Fire Safe. Not sure how much I want to drop on one but Id be looking into the $600-$1200 price range.

Appreciate any feedback!

 

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Good safes are not cheap. And it depends how much room you need. I've heard horror stories about Sentry safes with jamming mechanisms. Liberty produces a nice safe. If you can, stay away from the plastic keypads. You would probably be better off looking for an older style safe on Craigs list or take out an ad in a local paper for one, then have it rekeyed by a bonded locksmith.

 

When people start talking about safes, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Ohio collector whose 4,000 lb. safe was removed from his home while he was vacationing for a week or two. I think I'd rather have a "safe room" in the house.

Chris

 

That took some doing, absent neighbors? Sure wish I could afford a safe room. Think Jodie Foster?

 

It turned out to be dumb luck that the thieves were caught. One of the perps attempted to sell a rare Morgan dollar to a dealer in the Florida panhandle. It just happened that the dealer recognized the coin because he was the one who sold it to the Ohio victim.

Chris

 

I've checked Craigslist and the only one for sale was way to small of a safe. It seems like all new safes are pushing the plastic keypads. What's the reasoning behind staying away from them? I am cautious of them because what happens if they break or the wires are faulty and how would you get in the safe then, assuming a locksmith would be needed. And then is it possible to restore the keypad? And once broken it fixable?

 

I have heard that story before.

And how about a safe room with the safe in it? Someday I'd like that.

 

Oh and also do you know if older safes say 1950-1980s era, do they offer any fire protection?

 

There is usually an override to the keypad but the first thing that gets smashed by a thief is the keypad and they tend to go bad, probably a general poor design but the batteries can go dead if you are not on top of them also. Be patient, the old safes were designed to last and although they can be terribly heavy, it's a good deterrent. Most thieves spend less than 5 minutes in a home invasion.

 

If it is truly a safe room, what is the point of having a safe? Wouldn't that be like having a guard dog to protect a tiger?

Chris

 

A lot of the older safes had cement linings or fiberglass compressed. So yes, they were designed for fire. Water is another story. Todays safes are better at water protection provided they are not submerged. They would take a hit from fire hoses but I would not say how long they would last under water.

 

I guess if you could afford both a little redundancy would not hurt.

 

Well, if I had a safe room, it definitely would be hidden. I wouldn't put it behind a bookcase because that is relatively common. Instead, I think I'd hide the safe room behind a laundry room wall. You know, the kind that has a sorting table piled with dirty underwear and/or diapers.

Chris

 

I am building a new home here in another 2.5 years, and I will be building a vault in that home. However, since I already have safes I will have them in the vault. While it is redundant and somewhat unnecessary on the face, I view it as extra protection. Coins that would typically be in a bank vault safety deposit box but cannot for some reason would be in such. Additionally, it's nice to have somewhere where the wife can't look for her Christmas/birthday present.

As far as the OP's question. I look at it like buying coins - don't get in a rush. You need to find a safe you are comfortable with, and have researched. I am not sure it is available on safes, but, I know on vault door's, you can get a mechanism that connects to your alarm system and sends a hold-up or hostage alarm if a certain code is used. I would suggest seeking out this type of feature.

 

I own a big locking file cabinet, with lots of pistols.. And its has some value inside of it too, I keep this ruby inside it

 

Safes that expensive are usually damn heavy - in the hundreds of pounds - have to consider how to move it and how to place it!!

 

Maybe just a hint:

 

And always - if in doubt plead the 2nd amendment !!!