Crazy idea for gun storage...

[PlayboyPenguin]

Okay, this idea has made my partner think I am completely insane but here goes. I have decided that I would like to build one of those fake book cases that open up to reveal a weapons vault behind them. Like the ones in the movies. It would just appear to be built in bookcases from outside but a hidden release would unlatch the cases and allow them to swing out like french door revealing a nice gun display wall inside. It should be pretty easy to do. I do own a construction business for goodness sake. I even have the perfect place. A closet in my office area that I removed the doors from and turned into display space (pictured below). I know it is childish but I think it would be neato.

 

[Janitor]

Security through obscurity, eh? Well, by itself not my favorite tactic. In addition to all other measures though, one more layer certainly doesn't hurt. Especially if it were something neat like your bookcase idea. Love to see it. It's fairly normal to hide the safe somewhat, but usually the ideas aren't quite as cool (imo).

At this point in time, your posted picture isn't coming through.

I don't get the "childish" part.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Security through obscurity, eh? Well, by itself not my favorite tactic. In addition to all other measures though, one more layer certainly doesn't hurt. Especially if it were something neat like your bookcase idea. Love to see it. It's fairly normal to hide the safe somewhat, but usually the ideas aren't quite as cool (imo).

At this point in time, your posted picture isn't coming through.

I don't get the "childish" part.

Can people see what I am envisioning. I think the pic is working now.

 

[bogie]

If they can't see the safe, they can't break into it.

You're gonna need bigger studs. Think about the weight of a "convincing" bookcase (and you aren't gonna want tracks on the floor either). You'll want hinges that can deal with a coupla hundred pounds, and a wall that isn't gonna go anywhere.

I've seen some commercial "hide it" bookshelves, and thought they were okay.

 

[Meplat]

Okay, this idea has made my partner think I am completely insane but here goes. I have decided that I would like to build one of those fake book cases that open up to reveal a weapons vault behind them. Like the ones in the movies. It would just appear to be built in bookcases from outside but a hidden release would unlatch the cases and allow them to swing out like french door revealing a nice gun display wall inside. It should be pretty easy to do. I do own a construction business for goodness sake. I even have the perfect place. A closet in my office area that I removed the doors from and turned into display space (pictured below). I know it is childish but I think it would be neato.

Childish? Not at all. Not a bad idea at all if you have the room and resources. My old boss (multi-millionaire many times over and afficianado of VERY fine and high dollar rifles) did something similar but on a larger scale. Had me design a gun room that was hidden behind a floor to ceiling and wall to wall bookcase in his study. The room itself was a safe that had been removed from an old defunct small town bank. Security in spades!

 

[torpid]

I'd worry more about them stealing all those action figures and sculpts!

 

[Hawken50]

if you could make it so that to unlatch the door you have to tip a a copy of "The Art of War" off the book shelf, that would be the ultimate in cool.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I'd worry more about them stealing all those action figures and sculpts!

That is just the tip of the iceburg...the other 3 walls are completely covered and I have alot more in storage.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

if you could make it so that to unlatch the door you have to tip a a copy of "The Art of War" off the book shelf, that would be the ultimate in cool.

I have a small bronze bust of batman and I though it would be really cool to have to tilt the statue to trip the latch. Kind of my homage to the batcave of the TV series.

 

[MSgt B]

Did it.

It's alot easier than it sounds.

Make sure the floor in front where it swings out is tile or lino, and put a rubber soled caster under to help bear the weight. Even so, it will show marks on the floor over time.
Maybe as a contractor you might have access to some sort of gorilla hinge that can take the weight, so you won't have to use the caster.
Even with the beefiest hinges I could find, and the caster underneath, I had to keep the load on the shelves light.

Dress up your seams with overlapping moldings and use trim paint to match the rest of the house. You're in business.

 

[Cosmoline]

Gun safes are thief magnets. You're best off getting a fancy safe and filling it with old socks. Then hide your iron in the walls, vents, or whereever. The criminals will waste their time with the safe.

 

[justashooter]

really should think about the security of the safe.

not too much cost added to line your safe closet with a welded construction and angle framed expanded metal or sheet metal cage that has a set of pocket doors interlocking on a cutter-proof lock.

keeps anybody who can find it from coming in thru the wall behind, which can be done with a small hammer in new construction.

 

[AStone]

I humbly suggest that there's a bigger theme here:

it's not just about safes v. secret bookshelves,
but about spaces within spaces.

For the truly strategic,
it's about spaces within spaces within spaces...

Now, for security reasons,
I can't share with you my specific strategy.

But let your imagination run wild
with safes, rooms, cases, closets, basements
& other spaces...in all manner of combinations &
permutations....



And then, there's that 9mm in an OWB holster.



Nem

 

[Father Knows Best]

http://www.hiddensafes.com/large.htm

 

[Boom-stick]

Had my eye on one of these but they are $$$$$$

 

[mec360]

If you are building your own, this could be pretty useful:
http://www.safetots.co.uk/item--Magnetic-Locks-2-Locks-1-Magnetic-Key--MagLock1Key2Locks

 

[taliv]

the completely insane part is thinking you'll be able to resist the urge to show everyone you know your cool new secret.

prediction: the whole town knows roughly 90 minutes after you tell your first friend

 

[saboteur]

Boom-Stick, where can I get that? Where did you find it?

 

[Lupinus]

the completely insane part is thinking you'll be able to resist the urge to show everyone you know your cool new secret.

prediction: the whole town knows roughly 90 minutes after you tell your first friend

All the more reason to have two

One to show off and one to have that is really hidden

 

[Chrontius]

I've been thinking about building a bed which hinges up to reveal a rather large safe... add some pneumatics to lift it up after a latch is tripped.

I have a small bronze bust of batman and I though it would be really cool to have to tilt the statue to trip the latch. Kind of my homage to the batcave of the TV series.

Sci Fi City here has Shakespeare busts with the hidden switch in 'em. Could probably use a solenoid lock to keep the bookcases shut...

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would do similar things, except I don't stay places long enough to justify the time investment.

I think it's a great idea. However, you do have to be quite about it or it's for not.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, after I was broken into once and the thief got a few guns I had obvious (thank God he was in a hurry) I started thinking about "the equalizer's" "toy box". I have a recessed area in the bedroom where my dresser fits. I bought some siding and two bys and built a false wall. I've sorta outgown it, can't fit all my weapons in it, but keep my most valued. I keep a couple of mil surp "decoy" guns in the living room on a rack and hide the rest.

I then got broken into AGAIN. They walked past my decoy guns, a spanking new rifle in a box was there I'd ordered for a customer at the time, found a couple of single shot shotguns in my daughters room and ripped THOSE off. Total value of those guns maybe $150, bad enough but it saved my good guns. I doubt seriously anyone would EVER spend the time to find 'em behind that false wall. If you were intellegent and knew there were guns in the house and had the time to search, you could probably eventually figure it out. But, I feel safer with 'em in there than I would with a big safe that I don't have room for in my little house. The more you pay for in a safe, too, the better protection. Those $150 "safes" at WalMart ain't the ticket. I feel like my false wall is better than that!

 

[Soybomb]

To me one of the best things about a safe is having a humidity controlled storage location. It doesn't seem like you'd have much control with a wall compartment.

 

[cpileri]

yeah

Had my eye on one of these but they are $$$$$$

Hey, where'd you find that??!?!?!?!!
That's exactly what a guy WITH A WIFE WHO MUST BE OBEYED might need for his (her) home.
Not me of course... I"M the boss in MY house (hack, cough, ..."yes, Sweetheart, I was just kidding.")
C-

 

[mole]

I know a guy who used to be into guns big time before he changed his mind and got rid of most of them. He built a large king size bed. The headboard had a hidden latch on it that when activated let the "solid" front of the headboard fold down onto the mattress. He could fit a good number of guns in there. I thought it was rather cool.