Winchester Legacy 53 Gun Safe
Pros
- S&G UL Approved High Security Electronic Lock
- UL RSC Burglary Rating - 10 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- 2.5 Hour Fire Rating at 1400 Degrees with Intumescent Door Seal
- Quality Interior with Light Kit, Door Panel Organizer, Electrical Outlet and Leather Trim
- Limited Lifetime Warranty from a Reliable Company
Winchester at one point was making nearly all of their gun safes in Ft. Worth Texas but has since gone back to fully importing all of their products from China. They sell nearly exclusively on Tractor Supply with the TS models making up the bulk of their sales. While I’m no fan of the TS gun safes, starting with the Ranger, these imported gun safes are actually pretty good. The Winchester Legacy 53 Gun Safe is a nice upgrade from the Ranger series with 2″ locking bolts, the S&G electronic lock and more than double the fire protection. In this review, I will help you understand just what makes the Legacy 44 such a great gun safe.
Lock
First and always most important of any gun safe is its lock and the Winchester Legacy 53 gun safe features the S&G electronic lock. This is UL Rated, an excellent quality lock that is very reliable and made by the oldest lock company in the world. It is one of three electronic lock brands I recommend with the other two being NL and SecuRam. It operates smoothly and is very long lasting. There is no key override or Solenoid, it is 10 out of 10 on the lock.
Security
The Winchester Legacy 53 gun safe is UL RSC Burglary Rated for security and features a thicker 10 gauge steel door and body. Behind the lock are both a hardplate and relocker that protect against drilling attacks and the eighteen 2″ solid steel locking bolts including top and bottom, keep the door secure during a saw attack. All of these security features are more than the basic standard and minimum to achieve the UL RSC rating. While this is not as strong as higher end safes like the American Security BFX gun safes, it does retain the same insurance certification. In my opinion, there isn’t a huge difference between a 10 gauge steel body and 1/4″ plate door compared to a 12 gauge door and body. The real differences start when you have material like concrete in the walls and door. Overall, this is a good quality gun safe for valuables totaling under $50,000.
Fire Rating
When it comes to fire, the Winchester Legacy 53 gun safe is fire rated for 2.5 hours at 1400 degrees. It claims to have UL rated fireboard however this is not a real thing so I’m not even sure why they are claiming that. UL only certifies the fire rating and no gun safe has ever passed the test as it includes a 30 foot drop after the fire and the way gun safes are constructed does not allow them to survive. 2 hours of fire protection is still plenty of time and will survive the standard house fire. The safe also has an intumescent seal that expands to multiple times its size during a fire to keep smoke and heat from entering the safe. This fire rating is not certified or tested by ETL or UL and is only a claimed factory rating so keep that in mind when making your decision.
Style and Function
The Winchester Legacy 53 gun safe is finished in gun metal gray or black powder coat paint with a black chrome 5-spoke handle and black chrome hardware. This safe is styled very nice and the gray is a great look. The interior features full carpeting with leather trimmed shelving on a split gun rack interior with adjustable shelves. Also included is a door panel organizer, electrical outlet and a light kit standard. This safe has all the bells and whistles and the interior looks great in person.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Winchester Legacy 53 gun safe is a great choice for someone looking for something with a little more than the standard security features in a UL RSC Gun Safe. It has an excellent lock, certified burglary protection, good quality fire rating and nice interior at a competitive price point. In this category and price point of a gun safe, I feel the Legacy 53 is the best option. What really sets it apart is the 2″ thick locking bolts and 2.5 hour fire rating, nothing else comes close for the price.
