Barska AX12656 Floor Safe
Pros
- 12 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- Two Steel Locking Bolts
- Easily Installs in Wood Floors
- Double-Bitted Key Lock
Cons
- Made in China
- No Warranty or Support from Manufacturer
- No Hardplate or Relocker
- No Gas Strut to Assist in Door Opening
- Not Suitable for Concrete
“Decent Safe, Horrible Keys. The most secure thing about this safe is that it is hidden. It is sturdy enough but not even close to being “burglar proof.” I did have to follow advice in other reviews and used a small file to knock the burrs off my keys. After I did this the locked worked a lot better. The safe is made of quality steel and don’t feel cheap however they could do A LOT better job in making the keys.”
Shaun from Amazon.com
The Barska AX12656 floor safe is actually one of their better produced safes and at a very good price. In true Barska fashion, they did cheap out on the quality of the locking mechanism, but when it comes to double bitted key locks, there is only so much damage you can do and as many reviewers experienced, it is fixable. In this review, I will help you understand why the Barska AX12656 floor safe is a decent product for the price.
Lock
First and always most important is the locking mechanism. Barska did not go with their typical Biometric or unbranded mechanical lock and instead opted for a double-bitted key locking mechanism. This is on the cheaper side and still made in China as many reviewers reported the keys getting stuck or having issues opening the safe. The solution is to file down the burr on the keys so that they enter and turn smoothly. This is definitely an oversight in quality control at the Barska Chinese factory however, for how low the price is on this unit, it is somewhat par for the course.
Security
The Barska AX12656 Floor Safe is built with 12 gauge steel door and body which is actually quite good for something of this size. The key locking mechanism contract two steel locking bolts that appear to be roughly 3/4″ in diameter. The safe operates on an internal hinge and has an internal lip that catches the door, generating additional pry resistance. For the size and price, this is a secure little safe.
Function
Because the Barska AX12656 floor safe is so small, it doesn’t have a lot of features. There is no strut to assist the door opening and it only comes with a carpeted bottom and does not need a dust cover. It is actually meant to be installed in wood floors and has two mounting holes on both ends to screw into the floor joists. If you plan to install this in concrete, you will need to make sure to completely cover those holes so that the cement or water does not seep in. If properly installed in concrete, floor safes are not affected by fire as heat rises. If you have perishable items, it is still advised to purchase a fire rated home or gun safe but for burglary protection only, floor safes are the most secure option. I also recommend placing your items in waterproof bags or ziplock compartments for additional water protection, especially cash.
The Bottom Line
The Barska AX12656 Floor Safe is not the most secure or highest quality floor safe available but it is also extremely low cost at nearly $100 with free shipping. For the price, I would say you get more than you pay for with the 12 gauge steel and double-bitted key locking mechanism. If anything goes wrong, Barska customer service will be your worst nightmare and if you are going to all of the trouble of buying and installing a floor safe, I would still suggest going with a higher quality product such as the Stealth Made in USA Floor Safes, the AMSEC C Series Floor Safes or the AMSEC B Series Floor Safes.
