Need info on Weatherby safe

[Renard]

Hi, my first posting here. I have been researching safes recently and most every internet search I do pulls up posts from this board/forum with people who seem to know what they are talking about.

I am looking for a new safe and also info on my current safe. It is a Weatherby that is 60x40x25 (approx.), and probably weighs 800lbs, although I was once told 1200lbs (which I don't believe since I can move it with the help of a friend and piano dollys).

Prefix is "GS", which according to Weatherby means it was manufactured by American Security. The number on the tag inside is "BP6526", which brings up some random AMSEC hits on google but nothing specific.

Trying to find out what the fire rating and exact weight is. I found one hit that said the BP6526 was a "BF" model, but I'm not sure if it would have the same specs as current models. I am also wanting to upgrade the door seal as it just has some weather stripping and not any sort of fancy expanding-heat seal like would be required to survive a fire and water.

As for a new safe, I am looking at AMSEC BF7250 and a Liberty Presidential 50. I understand neither of these are TL-30 rated but I am trying to keep everything around or under $4K. If the Weatherby safe is AMSEC, might make sense to keep with the same brand as I like it a lot. If there is a better choice in the same size around $4K I am all ears, but I haven't seen anything.

Thanks for any info!

 

[a1abdj]

I would need to see a photo to see if I could ID it by design. It is not uncommon for safe manufacturers to sell their products under license of another well known product name.

As far as the other safes you are looking at, the BF is superior to the Liberty in many ways.

 

[heeler]

If that Weatherby is an Amsec I would have to believe it's a Chinese import because Amsec does not make a 60x40 in it's American made line of BF models.
Although at least as far back as 2007 the BF could be had in the 60x40 configuration but after that they dropped it in favor of the BF 66X36 a safe I now own.
My 2007 catalog shows the BF 60X40 weight to be 1115 pounds.
Although the Liberty Presidential is a good safe it does not hold a candle to the Amsec BF7250 in fire protection or theft protection and most importantly price.

 

[Renard]

Thanks for offering to take a look. I will try to get a photo uploaded. As for the model/Chinese made, I am not sure. It is dated 1995 and is pretty high quality, so I doubt it is an import. The person I bought it from paid $1500 in 1995, so I think it is fairly high quality.

 

[heeler]

Well the Amsec BF was not being made in 1995 but I do have an Amsec year 2000 catalogue and they made some pretty stout boxes even then.
And some were in 60x40.

 

[Renard]

Here is a pic of the important parts. There are 11 bolts in the door, 5 on each side and one in the top. They measure 1" in diameter. It is lined with drywall but I am not sure with how many layers. The only label is the door sticker other than the serial number.

Thanks again for all the info!

 

[a1abdj]

I'm pretty sure that's an AMSEC. Does the serial number start with either GS or KS?

 

[Renard]

Yes: "GS 121XXX"

 

[a1abdj]

It's definately an AMSEC. They have come a long way with their gun safes since then. Have you seen a BF series in person?

 

[Renard]

I haven't seen a new AMSEC because there don't seem to be any local dealers. I really want to find one to take a look. Do you have any idea what the ratings on the Weatherby might be? Should I contact AMSEC to see if they have an info?

I am curious as to your opinion on fire resistance. Liberty claims their PX50, which is drywall lined, can withstand 2.5 hours at 1200F (with the contents less than 350F, I *assume*). AMSEC BF series, which is lined with a cement-like substance, can withstand 1.5 hours at 1275F (with the contents less than 350F).

I have read about manufacturer's fire ratings extensively on this board and other places, and I am aware that they don't mean much from most companies. Liberty, however, seems to perform a realistic test, where they get a hot fire quickly and keep it at 1200F until failure (this is of course if you can believe their testing procedures but there must be some truth to it or competitors would be saying it is BS). I haven't found any info about AMSEC fire testing, but even if they keep the safe at 1275F until failure, the Liberty wins by an hour, which to me makes a big difference.

FWIW, I keep important papers, CDs, HDs, in a small 1.5 hour "media safe" inside the larger safe; I am aware those items won't survive 350F for that length of time (I am also expecting the media safe to do better than rated inside the protection of the larger safe). Is the superior "fire resistance" of the AMSEC due to their filling that doesn't produce steam during a fire??

The more I read, the more I think I should just buy a used media safe again and be done with it. I had a Diebold 4 hour media safe from a bank with the interior cabinet, but it weighed 5,000lbs and took up half the garage, and it was too heavy to move out of the last house. My wife thinks the new safes look nice and pretty like the Liberty (part of their marketing for sure, and part of the reason I am allowed to buy one!), so I'm sure she would kill me if I showed up with another ugly as hell Diebold and we couldn't park in the garage any more!

 

[heeler]

Well you are definitely on the right track by keeping important paper work,cd's,etc. in a true UL rated fire storage container inside a safe.
I do the very same thing as I am not willing to place that kind of fire bet on a vessel that has no UL rating however much the maker touts it's fire resistance.
Looking at the pictures you posted it looks like the Weatherby safes door thickness is at least a full quater inch steel plate and maybe more.
Hell you barely get that with the currently produced Liberty Presidential.

 

[kell490]

That is an AMSEC I have the same safe but it says AMSEC I bought it in 1995 new at the local gun show from a local safe dealer. It has 7 gauge steel door 3/16" which is axe proof, the fire rating is 60min, but I believe the body is thinner possible 1/8 I don't remember exactly. I recently had a scare someone I know had a small safe pried open. I have been looking for a new safe I thought liberty and browning were good safes, but I'm not sure the thickness is mostly 10-12 gauge which someone can use an AXE to cut though. Looks like 7 gauge will stop an axe. Only the top of the line Liberty is 7 guage which cost a lot more. I like the bolt system on the browning as well. I'm not so sure that sheet metal style which makes it look like it has a thick door but it is hollow. My mother ran a pawn shop for 30 years and they had amsec TL30's those things had about 2 1/2 inch solid thick doors. Probably the only safe that I can stand up to anything. Plus I noticed gun safes don't have relockers in them so if someone drills in the right place they can push the cam release or they can beat the cam to bend it away from the bolt. Check out this video it shows how easy it is to drill in a gun safe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-2ql9gOWzw

 

[user]

$$$

After reading this post I still can't tell what this safe cost today? Can someone tell me a good price for 1996 AMSEC BP6526?

 

[cdk8]

edit-didnt realize date

 

[cdk8]

edit-didnt realize date

 

[kell490]

The local safe dealer offered me $500-800 depending on condition for my old AMSEC. They also offer consignment. These older safes are thicker but no relockers which is a problem for me because a rechargeable drill and a uni-bit cuts through steel like butter looks like a cone with a cutting edge. A tool steel uni-bit can cut super fast even 7 gauge steel. Sturdy safe makes some good options. My suggestion is to get something that fits what your storing also look into NRA insurance.

 

[CB900F]

Mr. Fox;

If you strip out the old seal & replace it, make sure you use an intumescent replacement seal. That will swell under heat & help keep the noxious gasses produced by a fire out of the container.

My personal feeling is that I'd go with another AMSEC BF type before buying a Liberty anything.

900F