I've had a gun vault for about 5 years. Shortly after I bought it I discovered that its circular lock could be picked by a child with a ballpoint pen. I had a lock smith change the lock to a Medeco, and tried to contact GunVault about the shortcomings of their product. They ducked all consumer complaints, and waited for things to blow over. Meanwhile StackOn was changing locks for their customers.
Last week this piece of crap failed to open when I entered the code. Fortunately I was trying to open it in a routine situation, not an emergency. Yes, I'm entering the code correctly (the tamper alarm doesn't sound). It has never opened, except via the mechanical lock, since then. I also tried entering a wrong code (didn't open, got the tamper alarm), reprogramming the safe to accept the wrong code as the correct code, entered the "wrong code" again (didn't open, but didn't get tamper alarm).
So it seems to recognize the code as correct, but is not mechanically able to open. I don't want to get this thing repaired (assuming it is even possible). I wouldn't trust it. So I have two questions:
1.) Please recommend a higher quality lock box for bedside use. It doesn't have to be electronic. At this point I am thinking a purely mechanical device might be preferable.
2.) Since this thing is now useless I'm thinking of learning just how tamper proof they are, via destructive testing. Please suggest a test protocol that would maximize learning opportunities. So far all I've thought to do is to try prying it open with a series of increasingly strong/large tools, e.g. small screwdrive, large screwdriver, small pry bar, large pry bar... and see when it pops open.
The idiot light for the airbag in my 3 year old Ford just lit up yesterday, indicating it may be non-functional. Another safety device letting me down. Ironically I'm an electrical engineer. Its things like this that lead me to seek out foolproof mechanisms whenever possible. Things that run on gravity are good. Not thrilled with the small capacity of revolvers but I do like their simplicity and reliability. Oh, and I absotively posilutely do not ever want a "smart" gun, that uses technology to attempt to prevent anyone but the owner from using it.
; it's just real light guage steel.
