Not a safe, a cage?

[Waywardson174]

Does anyone have a gun cage in lieu of or in addition to a gun safe. I don't know why, but I really like the idea of expanded metal over a frame with a padlock on the front of it. I'm thinking slots for 14 long guns, and an open area to hang pistols up in loops. What do you guys think? Waste of time/money over getting a classic safe? I know a professional welder who thinks we can do the whole thing for $300-350.

[rondog]

Sorry, but I think you should put down the crack pipe and back away from it! That sounds like a crazy idea, but, your mom says you're special.....

JMHO, YMMV, etc., etc.

[Goodburbon]

Seen a few movies with tackticool cages?


Now I'm thinking I'm going to convert a closet to a safe, since they don't make a safe big enough for me, nor do I have a place to put 2 safes. It's a helluva problem to have, but I don't think it would be hard to reinforce the interior of the closet and add a beefy door/frame.

[Ashton]

Any safe can be cracked. If you're gone 8 hours in a day... Well. That safe is gone. A cage with good steel and a good lock? Yeah gone for 8 hours you're still getting jacked. If you're at home often and just want it for a deterrent I'd say go for it. People don't realize how easy it really is to get into a safe. Of course I'm thinking a normal gun safe not a top of the line safe with 18 in thick walls a copper liner biometrics and a code on top of it.

[Waywardson174]

Seen a few movies with tackticool cages?

If I'm honest, yes, they look good in the movies. But they are also cheap and robust. My goal isn't to stop theft as much as I need to prevent the niece and nephew from getting into them. I could get an entry level safe at this price range, but what aspect of the cage is crack pipey?

[jhood001]

I liken a cage to lingerie. I just want what is inside all that much more.

[Irving]

Any safe can be cracked. If you're gone 8 hours in a day... Well. That safe is gone. A cage with good steel and a good lock? Yeah gone for 8 hours you're still getting jacked. If you're at home often and just want it for a deterrent I'd say go for it. People don't realize how easy it really is to get into a safe. Of course I'm thinking a normal gun safe not a top of the line safe with 18 in thick walls a copper liner biometrics and a code on top of it.

If you have someone targeting you who spends more than 2 minutes inside your place, you've got much bigger issues than whether some guns get taken.

[Ashton]

If you have someone targeting you who spends more than 2 minutes inside your place, you've got much bigger issues than whether some guns get taken.

Probably more than two mins IMHO. But I agree. Fight or flight. If you fight... You better make sure you win.

[Bailey Guns]

I don't see a problem with it. Especially if all you're looking for is basic security.

[KevDen2005]

If you have someone targeting you who spends more than 2 minutes inside your place, you've got much bigger issues than whether some guns get taken.


Oh, don't act like you don't!

[Zundfolge]

Honestly most safes are just enough of a theft deterrent to keep unauthorized hands off them (eg, kids) and a thin layer of protection against fire.

A cage would be just fine for the first but useless for the second.

[eadgbe194]

I liken a cage to lingerie. I just want what is inside all that much more.
lol, depends on what's inside i guess

[hatidua]

When my father died, there was a 14,000# safe in one of the buildings on the property and we had to hire a guy to open it as nobody had the combination. When I looked up the safe model online in order to find a dealer to come open it, that safe cost more than most people spend on their automobiles! At any rate, the guy drove out and told me to stay within yelling distance and he'd let me know when he got it open, he said it could take anywhere from ten minutes to an hour.

Suffice it to say, I was shocked at how easy it was to open that safe by someone that knew what they were doing - with no fancy tools or brawn at all, just finesse. Under three minutes, total. Cost: $650 for opening it (sadly, it was completely empty).

So, a welded cage? I doubt it's any less secure than the various "fire-rated, 56-bolt, 8" thick" safes that most recommend. Put a good Master Lock on it and get an insurance policy that covers theft.

[HBARleatherneck]

expanded metal is sharp too. watch out for little fingers getting cut bad. i have worked with a lot of expanded, and its very sharp in every nook and cranny.

a safe normally shields people eyes as to the content. so a criminal may see you have a safe, but isnt sure whats in it.


your cage idea will allow full view of its contents. then the criminal can come back some other time, this time prepared, with tools.

[BushMasterBoy]

Should be OK with a good professionally installed burglar alarm and surveillance cameras...I say go for it!

[trlcavscout]

I have thought about a cage to keep the wife and kids out. I have a 700+sq ft man cave, a good security door is all I need though.

[Tinelement]

I think it's a great idea.

Remember you give up the fire protection.

The number one thing you need to plan is the lock. I made expanded steel gates for my shop. They are a deterrent, that's all. The pad locks are exposed, but I placed them so you CAN NOT get to them with a bolt cutter. You could use a hack saw blade, blade only, and there are 2 of them. Very time consuming. That leaves you to power tools, or back your truck thru the wall.!

You might want to think about a steel box that houses the pad lock. And more than one pad lock. That way you can't open the bolt cutters far enough to cut the lock. Thieves want quick access, if they can't get in and out they are more apt to move onto something else!

With some planning this could be a good idea. I have thought about it myself.

[Great-Kazoo]

I have thought about a cage to keep the wife and kids out. I have a 700+sq ft man cave, a good security door is all I need though.

Solid core fire door.

[asmo]

Many people don't realize just how easy it is to pick just about any commercial padlock.. If you do use one, get one of the high end ones (hint: Medeco is not found at home depot or lowes) and have it installed in a protected fashion.

[stoner01]

Ive pondered this idea myself. I decided to go one step further though, in planning our new house, I would add a small closet sized room in the basement and put in a good security door. Not only would it make a good arms room but a tornado shelter and what not. The house being closer to the plains, I would simply explain it to the builders as a shelter and no one would be the wiser.

[Ashton]

I think it's a great idea.

Remember you give up the fire protection.

The number one thing you need to plan is the lock. I made expanded steel gates for my shop. They are a deterrent, that's all. The pad locks are exposed, but I placed them so you CAN NOT get to them with a bolt cutter. You could use a hack saw blade, blade only, and there are 2 of them. Very time consuming. That leaves you to power tools, or back your truck thru the wall.!

You might want to think about a steel box that houses the pad lock. And more than one pad lock. That way you can't open the bolt cutters far enough to cut the lock. Thieves want quick access, if they can't get in and out they are more apt to move onto something else!

With some planning this could be a good idea. I have thought about it myself.

You could use a round lock and put a square shaped box around it.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I've been looking at doing some thing like this for a closet for ammo. Not firearms per-say. I think you can order this one from Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/20/2000a7bf-7a5e-4f83-8ca3-28ef03f59829_300.jpg

[brutal]

If you're building, why not put in a hardened, fire proof room and security/vault door?

[merl]

If you're building, why not put in a hardened, fire proof room and security/vault door?

probably cost. could cage off a corner of the basement easily enough. building it enough to be fireproof and secure is a much bigger deal.

I think the cage is a good idea. to make it prettier you could always drywall it afterward. It is also something that can be removed easily enough if the next owners don't want it.