Been looking at safes for months.  Started with $800.00 budget and quickly realized all I could get was Chinese walmart boxes. So instead I have been looking now to try to find a reasonably good used safe from a reputable maker.  Recently found a 1996 Fort Knox Guardian.  The guy wants $1100.00 and I can get it delivered in home for another $200.00.  Its got 10 gauge steel body and 1/4 inch steel plate door.  It has fire proofing inside.  The guy selling it thinks it was rated at 50 minutes for 1450 degrees, but who knows.  Weighs about 850 pounds.  Its a good size for me as I don't have a lot of long guns.    I would post pics but cant figure out how.  Its probably a 20 gun safe, likely holds around 12 long guns on one side, with four shelves on other side and large shelf on the top. I was hoping to get a safe with at least a 7 gauge steel safe body but I don't think I can find a 7 gauge body with 1/4 inch door for around $1000.  Should I be at all concerned about the safe being 20 years old?  Can I do any better in this price range?  Any thoughts would be appreciated especially anybody that might have any experience with a similar model/ similar vintage.  Thanks

Sounds like a decent deal. I think those safes start at $2500. I've got two old Winchester safes. One I bought new 20 years ago at about a grand. The second I bought used for $600. Both 60"x30"x24" they have 1/4" doors and 10ga bodies and each weigh 700-800 pounds and are a Beotch to move. I did buy a similar sized newer safe Field and Stream for $500 it weighs half the other two and has flimsy sheet metal. I should have shopped Craigslist or Facebook Market Place. Older safes are out there.

Age isn't really significant on a quality safe. There have been some improvements and bells and whistles have increased, but the metal box doesn't wear out and most get minimal wear on the locks. BTW, you can add features to an old safe. I've added a door hanger, rifle sticks and lighting to mine.

If it is his personal safe and he is getting ready to move, you might decide to offer a little less as he probably just wants it gone.

850# seems light. my garbage costco RSC is close to that weight.

I have a Defender model from 1997.  No troubles at all.  I would say go for it.

Yours is probably 4-500 pounds. Big difference. Costco has a huge $900 Cannon that is < 600 lbs

I have a Guardian 6637.  Had it about 18 years.  I am convinced it will never be broken into and had zero issues with it.  Won't comment on the deal but better than a tin can from Walmart.

Save the 200 rent a 10 foot uhale and grab a few frends. Thats what I did...minus the few friends.

Yeah it was hell getting it in...mine is a fat bastard jr.

Be very careful about using a uhaul for moving safes - you have to check the load capacity of the ramp.  If it breaks while you're going up on down it, crushed legs is about the best you can hope for.  Plus, it's about impossible to safely move, even with a dolly, a 700+ pound safe up the ramp.  You'd have to have people pushing it from below, which is very dangerous.

Better to use a pickup truck, where you can drag it in/out with the dolly and don't have a long ramp you have to move up and down on.

Do it. I got a 1996 used for knox. It's a solid safe and a deal. You can always call them and get the specs as they built it.

V

Having looked at Costco safes when I purchased my safe I highly doubt what you say. 850 lbs for a 1100 dollar safe is pretty good.

I mean you should probably get a liftgate truck rated for it.

The Fort Knox S & G electronic locks are pure trash. I've replaced three on mine.

You can rent a Ryder with a lift gate for $10 more than a uhaul.

Or do what I'm going to do when I find a decent deal and rent a small trailer.  They make ones that allow the deck to lay flat on the ground which is what I'll be using.

Many rental shops have These

I just tipped my safe over into the Uhaul, then tipped it out.