Cannon 48 Gun Safe Review

Originally headquartered in California, Cannon was one of the first companies to every produce gun safes. They since moved their headquarters to Henderson, Nevada and all manufacturing operations to Mexico. They have an interesting history over the last decade. Alpha Guardian acquired them through a merger with Stack-On. They then went bankrupt and came back to life. While Cannon safes are not the premier, high security products they once were, they are quite the bargain for the size. In this review, I’ll help you understand why the Cannon 48 Gun Safe TS5934 is one of the best options for the price.

Lock – Cannon 48 Gun Safe

I wish Cannon would just use the NL lock on all of their safes. In an attempt to cut cost and have the absolute lowest prices available, they opted to use a low quality Solenoid electronic lock. These locks are unbranded, un-rated and prone to failure. They include a key override for when the lock inevitably fails. Finally, they do not include a hard plate or re-locker and really are as cheap as you can get. Cannon offers an identical model with the UL Rated NL lock included, you can check it out here.

Security – Cannon 48 Gun Safe

The Cannon 48 Gun Safe TS5934 is CA DOJ approved as a firearm safety device. This rating certifies it can withstand light burglary protection. Ideally, you want a UL Approved as a Residential Security Container, RSC rating. Because it only has a 14 gauge steel door and body, it does not qualify for the test. This Cannon gun safe has 5 solid steel locking bolts 1.25″ thick and an internal hinge which offers no exposed cutting points.

In my opinion, there really isn’t a big difference between 11 gauge through 14 gauge steel as they can all be cut with the same saws. The big difference comes from the American Security BFX gun safes with concrete composite in the walls. This type of material just destroys the saw blades. They are significantly more expensive though so if you just need standard burglary protection, this 14 gauge Cannon will do a great job.

Fire Rating

The Cannon 48 Gun Safe TS5934 comes standard with a 45 minute fire rating at 1200 degrees. Cannon Gun Safes use Gypsum Fire board as their insulation material. This is consistent with nearly every other manufacturer besides American Security who uses concrete composite. Cannon used to have all of their gun safes tested with ETL to verify their claims but no longer do. This means that they only do a factory test and we have to trust that it will actually survive.

Also included is a dual state triple fin door seal. This seal expands to multiple times its size during the fire to keep smoke and heat out. Cannon also backs this gun safe with a lifetime transferable warranty against fire.

Style and Function

The Cannon 48 Gun Safe TS5934 is finished in a matte black paint scheme. Hardware includes a chrome 3-spoke handle, chrome keypad and very stylish beveled edges. The interior is a gray carpeting with split gun rack capable of holding 55 firearms, adjustable side shelving, adjustable top shelf and door panel organizer with pistol holsters, pockets and a strap for holding a long gun on the door.

The Bottom Line

The Cannon 48 Gun Safe TS5934 is not one I can recommend due to the Solenoid Electronic lock. Cannon does offer an identical model with the NL lock that is secure and much better quality. You can check the better version, here.