American Security WS1214 Wall Safe Review

American Security is the oldest, most reputable and highest quality safe company in the world. They’ve been around since 1946 and have always headquartered in California, USA. They make real safes, not the illusion of security but real, actual , high quality, secure, insurable safes. While this wall safe is actually made in China, it’s still the thickest and strongest wall safe in the industry. In this American Security WS1214 Wall Safe review, I’ll help you understand what makes it the strongest wall safe available.

Lock – American Security WS1214 Wall Safe

First and always most important for any floor safe is the lock. American Security offers two different lock options on the WS1214 Wall Safe depending on your preference.

UL Approved High Security Electronic Lock – ESL5, ESL10XL or ESL20XL

First up is American Security’s own UL Approved high security lock, the ESL series. These locks are UL approved as type 1 which is the highest security rating possible. I don’t typically recommend American Security ESL locks and prefer ones made by NL, SecuRam and S&G. However, the ESL10XL and ESL20XL are built very high quality and typically used in commercial applications lasting decades. All three locks have over 1 million possible combinations and the ESL10XL adds Time Delay function while the ESL20XL adds multi-user and Time Delay.

UL Approved High Security Mechanical Lock – Big Red

The second lock option is the Big Red Type 2 UL Approved Mechanical Lock. S&G is the oldest and most reputable lock company in the United States. This three number combination lock is built to last forever and is known for its longevity and reliability.

Both of these lock options are excellent choices and it really comes down to your preference. Wall safes are typically meant to be hidden and not accessed as much as traditional gun and home safes. With that in mind, it may be more convenient to use a Mechanical Lock in this application to avoid having to replace any batteries.

Hard Plate and Re-Locker

Either lock option is also protected by both a hard plate and internal spring-loaded re-locker. The Hard plate is a piece of hardened steel that absolutely destroys drill bits. The internal re-locker fires if the lock is punched through, securing the bolts in place. Both of these are essential security features and included on this safe.

Security – American Security WS1214 Wall Safe

The American Security WS1214 Wall Safe is equipped with a massive 3/4″ thick solid steel door. The body and frame are built with 12 gauge steel and four pre-punched holes are included on the sides for mounting into the wall, in-between the studs.

Behind the 1/2″ steel door are three 1″ solid steel locking bolts that retract from the chrome handle. The safe door operates on an internal hinge and a heavy duty steel dead bar locks beneath that hinge. This is an extremely strong wall safe and very difficult to break into.

Style and Function

What’s unique to this wall safe and a handful of others is that it is 10″ deep. It’s very important to make sure your wall can accommodate this extra depth as the traditional wall safe is roughly 4″ deep. Next, the American Security wall safe is finished in a very nice textured gray that is so much better than the traditional powder coat used on imported safes. The interior features two removable shelves. Finally, hardware includes a chrome L Shaped handle and chrome keypad or black dial. All in all, this wall safe is styled very impressively and designed to last decades.

Warranty

The American Security wall safe comes with a 1 year parts and labor warranty. With a mechanical lock, these safes are bullet proof and are designed to last for many decades without any issues. In my experience, American Security is one of the easiest companies to work with for both service and warranty. No red flags here.

The Bottom Line

Would I buy the American Security WS1214 Wall Safe to protect my valuables? Yes, I absolutely would. With a UL Rated high security lock, 3/4″ thick solid steel door, advanced security features and backed by a long term, reliable company, this American Security wall safe is my #2 recommendation out of any wall safe. Don’t hesitate to buy this one.

With that said, there is a wall safe I like even better than this one. The Stealth WSHD1414 wall safe comes with a 1/2″ thick solid steel door, UL rated high security S&G mechanical lock, hard plate, re-locker, 12 gauge steel body, double the warranty and is Made in USA. It’s my top absolute top pick in the wall safe category and significantly more secure. It’s also much less expensive than the American Security.