Warning about GunVault SVB500 pistol safe

[DRNewcomb]

I know this isn't primarily a pistol forum but I thought you might find this interesting. Like a lot of folks I was looking for a good way to secure a loaded handgun in my bedroom. A friend showed me his GunVault SVB500 biometric (fingerprint) SpeedVault pistol safe. It bolts to the wall and drops open, presenting the pistol in the draw position when you touch the fingerprint sensor. I ordered one.

While getting measurements for mounting it to the wall, I inspected the locking mechanism and immediately saw a serious design flaw. I was able to make a small, simple tool from a bent piece of wire and was able to repeatedly open the safe almost as quickly and reliably as if I'd used the key. It got put back in the box as returned to the vendor.

If you own one of these I suggest you consider how much security it actually provides. Thieves aren't stupid. I'm neither a locksmith nor mechanical engineer. If you are looking for a pistol vault, I suggest you look elsewhere.

The same defect may apply to the four-button SpeedVault. I'm not sure.

 

[dickn52]

In my opinion only...These vaults/lockers are all made with this type flaw. There has to be an override to any electric lock for when the battery dies. 4 fingers or whatever. Same as for a safe with electric keypad. Comes with a key for those moments.

 

[DRNewcomb]

It's one thing to be able to open it with a key, that's a good feature. I'm talking about opening it with a bent piece of wire; something any thief could make.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

In my opinion only...These vaults/lockers are all made with this type flaw. There has to be an override to any electric lock for when the battery dies. 4 fingers or whatever. Same as for a safe with electric keypad. Comes with a key for those moments.

None of my 3 safes open with the key unless i put it into that day business mode. If you had the keys to a locked safe itll do you no good. If the battery goes dead you put a new one in it- you dont have to open the safe for that

 

[mtnman31]

I look at these as not a safe, but more as a security locker. I don't expect them to provide the same level of security as a safe. In fact I don't want them to. I don't expect them to stop a determined thief. I want them to provide me quick and reliable access to a firearm. At the same time, I need it to keep the gun out of the hands of my two kids. For a home security gun, I don't want it stored in Fort Knox. I keep my firearms locked up safe, but my home security gun is in a much less secure, quick access locker. I figure if a thief gets into my house while I am home, he's in trouble. If he gets in while I am away, he's probably going to get away with my home security gun.

Having said that, being able to open it with a piece of wire or screwdriver is completely unacceptable. I'd have sent it back too.

 

[Olspark]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[muleman69]

None of my 3 safes open with the key unless i put it into that day business mode. If you had the keys to a locked safe itll do you no good. If the battery goes dead you put a new one in it- you dont have to open the safe for that

Mine is a lot like yours, batteries under key pad . I'm sure there is a lot of criminals it would not slow down but keeps out most of the brain dead low lifes

 

[mtnman31]

Forgot to mention in my earlier post,
For my main gun safe, I bought a safe off Craigslist for $100. It is what I'd call a mid-level of quality. The lock was broken but the door was open, making it easy to replace. I bought a new in box Kaba/Mas X09 lock off fleaBay for cheap (around 200) and replaced the broken lock with it. The Kaba is the same lock used by the DoD, State Dept, etc and is very high security. It is digital and self-powered with no batteries to ever have to change. One thing the Kaba lock has going against it is that is operates like a traditional dial lock (left, right, left) which makes it too slow to open for a quick-access, home defense safe. To buy this lock outright would be around $1000. The Kaba is much higher quality than the locks that come on your average safe. If you're interested in the Kaba locks, keep an eye out on eBay. New ones come up for auction there occasionally as government excess.

 

[ND shooter]

Forgot to mention in my earlier post,
For my main gun safe, I bought a safe off Craigslist for $100. It is what I'd call a mid-level of quality. The lock was broken but the door was open, making it easy to replace. I bought a new in box Kaba/Mas X09 lock off fleaBay for cheap (around 200) and replaced the broken lock with it. The Kaba is the same lock used by the DoD, State Dept, etc and is very high security. It is digital and self-powered with no batteries to ever have to change. One thing the Kaba lock has going against it is that is operates like a traditional dial lock (left, right, left) which makes it too slow to open for a quick-access, home defense safe. To buy this lock outright would be around $1000. The Kaba is much higher quality than the locks that come on your average safe. If you're interested in the Kaba locks, keep an eye out on eBay. New ones come up for auction there occasionally as government excess.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive heard of those locks but mine all have sargent and greenleaf on em. I thought they were the standard everybody uses. My pentagon safe came with one and they make safes and doors for all the govt agencies and said the s&g was their top of the line

 

[DRNewcomb]

Ive heard of those locks but mine all have sargent and greenleaf on em. I thought they were the standard everybody uses. My pentagon safe came with one and they make safes and doors for all the govt agencies and said the s&g was their top of the line

For many years, S&G made the mechanical locks used by the military. Around 2005-ish they began replacing the mechanical S&G locks with the Kaba electronic locks. AFAIK, the only real advantage to the electronic locks is that they are more resistant to manipulation. After X-number of wrong attempts they inflict a delay on the user. Mechanical locks don't do this. Also, for high-security safes (e.g. crypto) two-person integrity (requiring two different combinations to open) can be implemented with a single lock. With mechanical locks this required a special drawer/door with two dials. I assume that the Kaba locks have been tested resistant to EMP.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ill sure check em out on my next pentagon safe