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Graffunder Gun Safes – the Very Best

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In my opinion, the absolute best gun safes being produced are Graffunders by Sage Safe Company.  There are only a few Graffunder dealers (we are the only dealer in a four-state area) so these safes are not well known.  They are also beyond the budget of most buyers.  But if you are willing to pay for extraordinary quality and security be sure to check them out.

In this, the first of several posts concerning Graffunder Safes, we start with the basics.  Four series are offered starting with the Bishop, then progressing up in security to Castle, Emperor, and Fortress.  These correspond with B-rate, C-rate, E-rate and F-rate security designations.

Pry tools cannot be inserted
Pry tools cannot be inserted
Graffunder Castle C6032
Graffunder Castle C6032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first really impressive feature you notice, even before the safe is opened, is the fit of the door.  With every Graffunder we have had in our shop (we normally stock Castles), the door has fit so tight that a business card will be held firmly between the door edge and the frame.  That is true craftsmanship!  Ever notice that with “box store” safes you can stick a pry bar in all the way to the back edge of the door?  With a Graffunder you simply cannot pry the door open because you cannot insert a tool.  That is just the beginning; more information will follow in future blogs.

Got a “Smelly Safe”? What to do:

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People sometimes complain that their home fire safe stinks and it makes the contents smell bad, too.  This is caused by leaving the safe closed for long periods of time, especially when it is moist inside.

1)  All safes should be opened every two weeks or so to let the old air out.  This is especially true with new units because the poured-in insulation may not yet be completely dried.  Just leaving the door open for several weeks might get the smell out.

2)  Clean the inside of the safe with detergent or bleach.  Then enclose one or two laundry dryer sheets inside.  We use Bounce/Febreze and it normally fixes the problem.

3)  If the smell persists there is probably mildew growing in the insulation.  We have had success by putting a bowl of bleach in the safe and closing the door for a week.  It seems like fumes from the bleach kill the mildew.

4)  Still got a problem?  Buy a new safe and open it regularly.

Small Antique Safes

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Small antique safes with good original paint and ornate graphics are very hard to find.  This beautiful little Victor, standing only 20.5″ high by 14″ wide, is a gem.  The red emblem on the inside door panel is uncommon, but not rare.  It lists all of Victor’s patents which were used on the safe.  The most recent patent shown is 1889, so the safe was probably built before 1895.

ANTIQUE VICTOR 20X14 001 ANTIQUE VICTOR 2 002

Elaborate graphics and hand painted outdoor scenes on such a small safe are rare.  Rarer still is that the original paint is still intact.  The pictures shown here are not as sharp as I would like, because the safe was sold before we could even clean it.  If you have a small antique that you no longer want, or if you would like to buy one, please contact us at Hoogerhyde Safe.

Save Money On a Gun Safe

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If you plan to purchase a gun safe in the near future, you can probably save money by buying it in December.  Safe manufacturers typically raise prices at the beginning of January in preparation for the Shooting, Hunting & Outdoors Trades (SHOT) Show.  SHOT is where manufacturers introduce their new catalogs, products and price schedules for dealers and retailers.  Some stores roll out new prices gradually as old stock runs out.  But in many cases, especially when you order a non-stock gun safe, the higher prices take effect immediately.  So save some money — buy your safe in December before prices go up.

In-Floor Safes Part 2, the Downsides

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In-floor safes provide terrific security from theft, but most customers decide against buying one when they learn about all the negatives.
1)  Difficult to install:  Floor safes are hard to install, especially if you need to cut a hole into an existing concrete floor.  Even when pouring a new floor it can be difficult to properly set the safe.
2)  Lack of space:  If all you are storing is gold or cash most floor safes will give you plenty of room.  But for bulkier items like silver or a coin collection or documents, you will run out of space quickly.
SQUARE & CYLINDER IN-FLOOR SAFES
3)  Inconvenient to use:  Getting down on hands and knees to unlock a floor safe is awkward.  Reaching down below floor level into the safe is worse.  Even if your knees and back allow you to do that now, will they still be OK in five or ten years?
4)  Water and moisture problems:  Most floor safes are not water-proof around the door, so a broken water heater, sewer backup, water from a fire hose or heavy rain can flood a floor safe and damage its contents.  A rising water table can flood the safe from below ground if there are cracks in the welds.  Floor safes tend to be damper than above ground units, so they are more likely to develop odors and mildew.
5)  Rust:  When safes are installed so that there is contact with damp sand, most can rust through in just a few years.  A plastic or fiberglass safe body can prevent this problem.
6)  Lock problems:  Since the lock is below floor level, it is easy for sand and dirt to get inside it.  That will cause problems for any kind of lock.
7)  You can’t take it with you:  When you sell your house you will almost certainly need to leave a floor safe behind and buy a new one.

All that being said, the high security provided by floor safes make them appropriate for some folks.