Viking VS-12SX Handgun Safe Review

Viking is a relatively unknown company in the safe industry. They only sell on Amazon and direct with no in-store presence. They make innovative handgun safes that are designed to destory their competitors. Overall, their safes security is actually quite good and I do recommend them. In this review, I will explain why the Viking VS-12SX Handgun Safe is one of the best mechanical handgun safes available.

Lock – Viking VS-12SX Handgun Safe

First and always most important is the lock. Viking uses the genuine Simplex mechanical push button lock with 1,081 different possible combinations. When installed and used correctly, this is a very reliable lock designed to last forever.

Punch Attack Solution

A few years ago, it was exposed that anyone could easily break into this style of handgun safe with a screwdriver and a hammer, however that was never the case with this pistol safe. From the start, Viking added a steel housing underneath the lock to prevent a punch attack. This company is one step ahead and actually cares about your security.

Security – Viking VS-12SX Handgun Safe

This handgun safe is built to full size gun safe standards. It uses a 3/16″ steel door with a lid that overlaps a 10 gauge steel body. This offers maximum pry resistance and is significantly thicker than the standard 16 gauge steel options from nearly every other manufacturer. It has not been tested as a firearm safety device by California Department of Justice. However, I am positive it would pass if tested.

Style and Function

The Viking Mechanical pistol safes are finished in a smooth, matte black. I am very impressed with the finish. From a functionality stand point, they did an incredible job with this handgun safe. It includes two layers of foam. The interior has an LED light that illuminates once the safe is opened. An accessory pouch is included on the back of the door. Bolt down holes are located on the bottom of the safe and a slot is also available for a security cable. Finally, a gas strut is included to help assist in lifting the heavy door and keep it up until you are ready to close the safe.

Warranty

Viking products come with a 1 year limited warranty. I have not been able to find any information on what that warranty actually covers. I also can not confirm if they will send someone out to your home to fix the safe or if you must ship it to them for repair. In my experience, when little information is provided, the warranty is usually not very good. This may be the only downfall of this incredible pistol safe.

The Bottom Line

Would I buy the Viking VS-12SX Handgun Safe to store my pistols? Yes, I absolutely would. It’s a reliable product with a high quality Simplex mechanical lock encased in a protective steel housing with thick steel construction and loaded with features. It blows nearly every other mechanical pistol safe out of the water.

However, it’s not my top pick for a handgun safe and I recommend two handgun safes instead of this one. 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 nearly identical to this safe but Made in USA.