National Security and Liberty are the best, IMO.

You'll pay more for less with Browning.

I was on the fence a few years ago, i had all my stuff stashed in a closet, i cam e home for lunch one day and it was all gone, good stuff you can't buy anymore, i lost about $6,000 worth of guns and after my insurence covered the max of $2,000 on guns and  a $500 deductable, i got $1,500 for my stuff.  

I learned my lesson,  my father died and left me his safe (full) and there is nothing like being gone and knowing your stuff will be there when you get back.  

Buy a good one, and buy it bigger than you need!  Mine is busting at the seems.  

Quoted: I just ordered this safe Smith Security Safes I read every topic I could about safes for the last 6 months and this one sounds like a good deal. You have them build the safe as you like, with wall and door thickness from 3/16, 1/4 or 3/8. The basic 3/16 is heavier gauge than many other brands and I think I was able to buy a bigger and better safe for my money. They have many options to pick from in the pricing link. They are also made in OH near Bowling Green. I also like to buy local whenever I can.

I live about 20 miles from their shop.  I bought an Oak Plus about two years ago.  Overall, I'm pretty satisfied.  

The biggest issue I have is that the door is too narrow.  Every safe Smith sells has the same size door.  Partly because this method makes inventory & stock ordering simple and partly because there is no internal frame and the 12 gauge steel body isn't stiff enough to support a wider, heavier door. (This was the explanation given to me by Doug Smith.)  Their door fine for the smaller models, but on the big ones, it is a PITA to remove the guns that are stored near the sides of the safe.

I bought mine as a shell only - Just the body and the door, no lock, no insulation, no upholstery, no lights, etc.  I finished it myself with a double layer of 5/8 sheetrock for fire insulation and built my own shelves/racks.  I used 'rope light' from Lowes for the lights, and rigged up a switch that is activated by  on of the lock plungers ($30 total, DO NOT BUY THE OVERPRICED LIGHT KITS THAT BROWNING AND THE OTHER BIG MANUFACTURERS SELL FOR $100+).  I bought a S&G keypad lock from a locksmith for a less than half what most safe dealers charge.  

IMO, Smith makes his money on the options and extras.  $450 for a mediocre paint job, $90 for two $10 Home Depot flourescent fixtures,  $340 for 10 yards of the cheapest carpet available, $225 for 5 sheets of drywall & 2 tubes of liquid nails,  $40 for 10 feet of vinyl hose, etc.

My comments probably sound negative, but I don't intend it that way.  Bottom line, I think that Smith makes a pretty good safe for the money.  The fit and finish doesn't compare well to a Liberty, but the price is significantly less, especially if you are willing/able to do some of the 'finish work' yourself.  My next safe will probably be a Magnum.  The double doors eliminate the access issues I have currently.



Heathen - Unless they have changed things, you can't get 3/16, 1/4 or 3/8 metal in the body, only the doors.  All of the bodies are 12 gauge (IIRC?) steel.  I asked about upgrading, and Doug explained that they didn't have the equipment to work with anything heavier. I think that is a typo on his website.