GunVault was the original inventor of the first ever electronic handgun safe roughly 15 years ago. They have made a few changes to the products yet continue to sell pistol safes that are way too easily broken into. In these GunVault Handgun Safe reviews, I will help you understand why they are products you should definitely avoid.
Lock – GunVault Handgun Safe Reviews
First and always most important for any safe is the lock. GunVault uses a typical solenoid electronic locking mechanism that operates with a latch and spring. Overall, this mechanism is decent and the electronics should last at least a few years. Finally, there are over 12 million possible combinations with the electronic code.
However, this is not the main issue with the safe. The fatal flaw is the key override. In an attempt to save some money and have a lower price, they went with a tubular override key. These locks can be opened with BIC pens just by inserting and twisting. There are also numerous tubular lock picks available on Amazon that pick these locks in seconds.
In an attempt to upgrade their key override on the newer models, they went with a dimpled design override key. This is definitely an upgrade from the old tubular override keys but still very easy to pick. All in all, there are ton of dimpled lock picks available on Amazon that pick these locks in seconds and youtube videos showing you exactly how to do it.
Security – GunVault Handgun Safe Reviews
The GunVault handgun safes are at best CA DOJ approved as a firearm safety device. This is not a difficult test to pass and nearly every safe gets approved, so long as the manufacturer pays for the testing. Sadly, this does not ensure the product is actually secure and if it can be opened in seconds with a BIC pen, I’ll let you do the math. Next, these handgun safes are built from 20 gauge steel up to 16 gauge steel which at best is the thickness of a penny. Finally, if you are expecting security in your handgun safe, these are not the safes for you.
Style and Function
Most of the GunVault handgun safes are finished in a relatively nice paint job that is much better than the standard textured powder coat black. It has a crinkled feel to it that is durable and strong, very similar to the Stealth and Vaultek product lines. The interiors are lined with foam to prevent scratches to your handgun. The identifying factor is the no-look patented keypad that perfectly fits the grooves of your finger. The keypad also comes with brail so that you can know which number you’ve placed your finger on.
Warranty
GunVault advertises all of their handgun safes to have an exclusive 5 year warranty. However, when you read the fine print, the 5 year warranty only covers damage caused by fire, burglary or attempted burglary. The actual product warranty is only for 1 year. You also have to pay for the shipping back and forth to GunVault for repair or replacement. Always read the fine print.
The Bottom Line
Would I buy a GunVault handgun safe to store my pistols? No, not a chance. With an easily defeated override keys, extremely thin gauge steel construction, misleading warranty and electronics that will not last, I can not recommend these handgun safes.
With that said, I do recommend two handgun safes instead of these ones. The first is the Stealth ShadowVault which uses a UL rated high security S&G electronic lock. The second is the V-Line Brute XD which is a mechanical handgun safe and Made in USA.
