Gun storage applied around 47 children

[DeadCalm]

I have a National Security gun safe that stores all my firearms. It is virtually bomb-proof. In fact, if my house burns or gets shaken it'll be the last object standing with the chimney. My question is this: I would like to keep a loaded handgun stored on each of the three floors of my house—basement office, main floor kitchen, and small attic bedroom. The catch: 47 piano students, often with parents, K-12, come to my home every week.

I don't want the guns exposed, even with a standard issue chain or cable lock. ("Mommy, I found a gun upstairs in the clothes closet," etc....etc...). These kids are very respectuful of space, many often being sat without parents during lessons.. They have NEVER to date wandered outside their proscribed teaching space. But I sure don't ever want to be a headline because a kid waiting for a lesson got bored and decided to take a walk on the wild side.

The handguns would be full-sized, e.g., 1911 pattern auto, S&W 686 4", and a small Freedom Arms derringer, 6loa mar/ etc. Any thought on small box access , "hides,", anything, are much appreciated. Products must've certainly changed since the last single action only that Ii reviewed them.

Ross Bellingham

 

[torpid]

I've had great luck with these for security and quick access of loaded firearms.

http://www.handgunsafe.com/safes.htm

Built like a tank, yet if you know the simplex lock's combo (which you set) it's just 2 seconds till gun in hand- ready to go. Plus, no batteries to wear out.

.

 

[AK-74me]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=187995

see here.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I have the DAC Sportsafe. It is great. can work on batteries or plug into the wall. This is a pic of it with a 3" Barrel Taurus 65 .357mag and a 6" barrel Ruger GP100 .357mag.

 

[Knob Creeker]

If your going to have children running around, especially that many, you should defiantly keep your guns in a safe. Since those kids are not yours, you don’t know how stupid, curious, or nosey they might be. I would not trust a hide around other people’s children; kids find things no matter how good you think they are hidden.

http://gunvault.com/products/

That being said, check out the safes at the link I dropped. They are small enough to be hidden in cabinets or whatnot, secure enough to keep the crooks and young uns out, and the handprint keypad thingy allows it to be opened fast and in the dark.

 

[svtruth]

On your hip

That is what pax advocates. You can search for her comments.
Good luck.

 

[hso]

If you carry it you are in control of it at all times and there's nothing left to chance.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I've got one of these and am thinking of getting a couple of more....

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=148194

With these, you can place them out-of-reach of the smaller ones, and chances are, no one will even suspect that you have a gun hidden in there. I like the one I have, and my parents will probably get one for their anniversary.

 

[Old Fuff]

Since you have different handguns I think the best answer would be to:

1. Keep the guns that are outside the safe in locked boxes or drawers

2. Or, lock all but one, and pocket-carry that on your person.

3. While I generally dislike them, you might consider buying a handgun with an internal lock, and keep the key on your person.

 

[AJ Dual]

+1 on the push-button gun boxes.

They aren't very sturdy as compared to a "safe", (In reality a RSC or Residential Security Container, to get UL listed as a "real safe" they need to be much thicker/heavier.) but they are more than adeqate to keep a child or an adult without tools out.

Most all models can program the combination button sequence, I strongly recomend programming them to all the same combination so you can easily operate them under stress. If you go with a battery operated model, (most use a stack of AA's) spend the extra money and use long-life lithium batteries.

I'd also put the same type of firearm in all three safes so you're not fumbling with different manual of arms in an emergency. DA, SA, DA/SA, DAO, revolver, semi-auto, whatever, just keep them the same as possible.

If the closest you can come is three Glocks but two are 9mm and one is .40, and one is a compact, use them anyway. Under severe stress you are much less likely to ever notice noise or recoil. However, your muscle-memory reflexes could easily fumble if safties or actions are different.

 

[AVESguy]

Fort Knox makes a nice, sturdy handgun safe. Very heavy, can be bolted to floor, push buttons, no battery.

http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/pistolboxes/

I also like the GunVaults.

AVESGUY

 

[mr_dove]

I own the Fort Knox lockbox. It is bombproof. See the link below for additional comments on other boxes and tons of pictures of the Fort Knox box.

http://www.mrdove.net/guns_lockboxes.htm

 

[SLCDave]

I have a Brinks electronic push-button lockbox that can be found at most major Wal-Martsy type places for less than $25. You aren't going to keep the bomb squad out, but it will keep the honest hands off of your guns.

 

['Card]

I've always liked those fake picture frames, personally.

Now if they'd just make one big enough for my double-barrel 12-gauge...

 

[dav]

[QUOTE='Card]Now if they'd just make one big enough for my double-barrel 12-gauge...[/QUOTE]
'Card, you are familiar with this one, right?

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=180359

 

['Card]

LOL!

No, I have to admit I'd never seen one of those.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to buy one. I almost hate to place the order though, to be honest. I don't think my mailman has forgiven me yet for the 13,436 catalogs I recieved the last time I ordered something from the Sportsman's Guide.

No big deal, I guess. I'll just order the mailman a back brace while I'm at it.

 

[dav]

'Card, just make sure your shotgun will fit... it's awfully short when you read the fine print

 

[mr_dove]

42 inches. That's pretty darn sweet. I want one.

 

[pete f]

If you want to hide them, place them in places that can not be seen or felt unless one has knowlege it is there. I keep several guns located on the inside of closets above the door. In other words if you could walk into the closet, then turn around and look up. Linen closets and small hall closets with shelves in them make it very hard to find but instantly available to one who knows it is there. A shelf built in to the wrong side of the closet door header will work very well too.

 

[DeadCalm]

Thanks to all who responded. The coat rack thing was pretty cool, but appropirate in one location in my house. Just curious: What are these picture frame hides that some have referred to? Thanks.

 

['Card]

Click the link in post #8, DC.

 

[AJ Dual]

The picture frames are in Sportsmans Guide as well IIRC.

Essentialy, they're a very thick/deep picture frame that conceals an area just large enough for a pistol. The frame just swings away from the wall revealing a peg and a shelf for the pistol. The drawback is that stealth (and putting it high up on a wall away from kids) is it's only security.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=148194

 

[V4Vendetta]

I love the coat rack thing. If I was 21 & had a spare $50.00, I'd get one.

 

[whm1974]

f your going to have children running around, especially that many, you should defiantly keep your guns in a safe. Since those kids are not yours, you don’t know how stupid, curious, or nosey they might be. I would not trust a hide around other people’s children; kids find things no matter how good you think they are hidden.

I tend to agree with with this. Kids do have a knack for finding stuff and getting into trouble.

If you carry it you are in control of it at all times and there's nothing left to chance.

This would be better then hiding it. If you open carry and parents complain about it, tell them it's for their kids protection.

-Bill

 

[coylh]

Do a little mental forecasting about how the kid's parents will respond to the excuse "but I thought I hid it really well" when you meet them at the hospital.