When I bought a safe, electronic just seemed ridiculous. Just extra batteries to deal with. It's not that hard to put in a simple combination on a mechanical lock, I can have it open in 15 seconds without trying to go fast. Electronic safe is fixing a problem that doesn't exist. Mine is just a fire safe too, it wouldn't be that tough to keep out someone with tools. A big expensive high security safe? I don't want no electronic shit.
My guns aren't even in a safe. I don't see the value if you aren't trying to lock them up from people welcome in your home. They are right next to the safe though. The way I see if they've made it that far either I'm not home or I've already been shot and killed. I keep a safe to protect documents, backups, and cash from fire mainly.
I'd maybe consider going for a dual lock combo with a mechanical and electronic one. Both kinds of locks likely have their advantages and disadvantages, security-wise, so having a layer of each would likely cancel out most disadvantages.
Although in both cases I suspect the manufacturers have a master key, and I don't feel confident enough to try a DIY job on something as sophisticated as a safe locking mechanism.
The issue with safes and locks in general is the failure state.
Electronic locks can fail open or fail closed. Mechanical locks can only fail closed.
Double the locks on your safe is double the vulnerabilities to attack.
Master key systems are expensive to implement and add a huge vulnerability to locks. Lose a master key and a whole product line is potentially compromised.
If I am going to buy a safe, I want it to come with the promise that I am the only one who can open it. If I lose my key, it is going to require a specialist or a grinder.
I'd be tempted to go out of my way to get a top of the line safe that's a pain to bust into, and leave it completely empty, just so I can see the frustrated reaction from the Feds. Maybe leave something in there like a clown nose, just to troll them further.
If the cost of being able to buy and sell safes on the 2nd hand market is defeating the entire purpose of a safe in the first place, probably best we just not have a 2nd hand market.
Otherwise you'd never be able to get into a used safe.
Sure you would. You wouldn't be able to reuse a used safe, but a safe isn't expected to be safe against an attacker unrestricted by time, noise or lack of power tools.
Alternatively, you could buy a used safe alongside the key it came with, and/or the combination it came with given to you, and accept the risk that the prior owner will know a code. Ultimately, some random schmoe who happens to be selling his old safe is less likely to attempt access to the safe than basically anyone else in the first place, anyways.
Why would a safe company have the code to your safe? How is that even legal?? Do people even know that?
I was looking at their website and scanned a bunch of different safes, there's no mention of this.
I guess the lesson is simple- only buy non-electronic safes.
When I bought a safe, electronic just seemed ridiculous. Just extra batteries to deal with. It's not that hard to put in a simple combination on a mechanical lock, I can have it open in 15 seconds without trying to go fast. Electronic safe is fixing a problem that doesn't exist. Mine is just a fire safe too, it wouldn't be that tough to keep out someone with tools. A big expensive high security safe? I don't want no electronic shit.
If someone can get to you, with your guard complete down, inside of 15 seconds, you're fucked anyways.
My guns aren't even in a safe. I don't see the value if you aren't trying to lock them up from people welcome in your home. They are right next to the safe though. The way I see if they've made it that far either I'm not home or I've already been shot and killed. I keep a safe to protect documents, backups, and cash from fire mainly.
I'd maybe consider going for a dual lock combo with a mechanical and electronic one. Both kinds of locks likely have their advantages and disadvantages, security-wise, so having a layer of each would likely cancel out most disadvantages.
Although in both cases I suspect the manufacturers have a master key, and I don't feel confident enough to try a DIY job on something as sophisticated as a safe locking mechanism.
The issue with safes and locks in general is the failure state.
Electronic locks can fail open or fail closed. Mechanical locks can only fail closed.
Double the locks on your safe is double the vulnerabilities to attack.
Master key systems are expensive to implement and add a huge vulnerability to locks. Lose a master key and a whole product line is potentially compromised.
If I am going to buy a safe, I want it to come with the promise that I am the only one who can open it. If I lose my key, it is going to require a specialist or a grinder.
I figure if I'm being hunted by the government I'm already screwed anyway. They don't need contents of a safe to lock me up for no reason.
I'd be tempted to go out of my way to get a top of the line safe that's a pain to bust into, and leave it completely empty, just so I can see the frustrated reaction from the Feds. Maybe leave something in there like a clown nose, just to troll them further.
I don't think that they had the guy's combo. Instead they must have a backdoor code to get in.
They have master codes based on the serial number of your safe. Otherwise you'd never be able to get into a used safe.
If the cost of being able to buy and sell safes on the 2nd hand market is defeating the entire purpose of a safe in the first place, probably best we just not have a 2nd hand market.
They also want to be able to let you open your safe if you somehow forget the combination without destroying a $5k safe.
The issue isn't that they have it, or that they were forced to follow a warrant.
The issue is that that warrant was issued in the first place.
Sure you would. You wouldn't be able to reuse a used safe, but a safe isn't expected to be safe against an attacker unrestricted by time, noise or lack of power tools.
Alternatively, you could buy a used safe alongside the key it came with, and/or the combination it came with given to you, and accept the risk that the prior owner will know a code. Ultimately, some random schmoe who happens to be selling his old safe is less likely to attempt access to the safe than basically anyone else in the first place, anyways.
I'd rather not have that "convenience" as a hypothetical used safe buyer than have a backdoor code known to third parties.