celem
Member
A year ago I purchased a cheap in-vehicle lock box - a metal box e/w 4-digit built-in combination lock and steel tethering cable. The box was NOT intended for immediate access or high security. My objective was (1) when I need to leave it in the vehicle, to secure a pistol against smash & grab type thefts; (2) when driving accompanied and not not actively carrying, prevent access by others. I realize that such a box can be easily defeated by a determined thief who has tools and time but, as I said, my goal not to deter expert thefts, which is really impossible, anyway.
After a year of use, I just find the combination lock too frustrating to operate (my eyes have trouble seeing the little numbers), and have decided to try something else. I rejected all lock boxes that require batteries to function. My research convinced me that the reported finickiness of these were as likely to frustrate me as much as my existing combination lock box - plus I would have to be concerned with battery failure, requiring a backup key and, and if I had to carry a backup key I might as well just use a key lock.
With the same objectives as stated above, I homed in on "The Club LB200" as being a a choice that fit my goals. Some, but not all, people dislike the cable detaching when unlocked but, I hope, that it will be acceptable for me. However, I didn't like the lock on The Club - it uses a standard pin-tumbler cabinet lock (flat key) which, in my opinion is simply too easy to defeat. With The Club's inexpensive standard cabinet-style pin-tumbler lock could be easily defeated by ramming in a straight-slot screwdriver and forcing it to turn (may require pliers) of just driving the lock mechanism straight through with your shoe, shearing the cheap pot metal tumblers. Instead, I opted for a clone of The Club that used a tubular (round key) higher security lock. The increase in security may, in fact, be only slight but since I don't have much trouble defeating a cheap cabinet-style pin-tumbler lock, using a tubular lock made feel better - possibly a false sense of security but I feel better, nonetheless.
Anyway, I purchased my Club clone from Amazon and it arrived today. I have pasted a composite photo below e/w measurements. It looks pretty nice and I am confident that it is more secure than my original box and certainly easier to operate. My only complaint upon unboxing is that the edges of the aluminum outer box were sharp and likely to snag clothes or cut a finger. I ran some sandpaper over the edges and all is now well.
BTW - I agree with one reviewer of this product who, upon receipt, immediately painted his box flat black. As he said - how ridiculous it is to have an in-vehicle security box that is shiny silver in color with big letting that says "portable carsafe". I'm thinking that I'll disguise it by wrapping it in the cardboard from a soda carton.
After a year of use, I just find the combination lock too frustrating to operate (my eyes have trouble seeing the little numbers), and have decided to try something else. I rejected all lock boxes that require batteries to function. My research convinced me that the reported finickiness of these were as likely to frustrate me as much as my existing combination lock box - plus I would have to be concerned with battery failure, requiring a backup key and, and if I had to carry a backup key I might as well just use a key lock.
With the same objectives as stated above, I homed in on "The Club LB200" as being a a choice that fit my goals. Some, but not all, people dislike the cable detaching when unlocked but, I hope, that it will be acceptable for me. However, I didn't like the lock on The Club - it uses a standard pin-tumbler cabinet lock (flat key) which, in my opinion is simply too easy to defeat. With The Club's inexpensive standard cabinet-style pin-tumbler lock could be easily defeated by ramming in a straight-slot screwdriver and forcing it to turn (may require pliers) of just driving the lock mechanism straight through with your shoe, shearing the cheap pot metal tumblers. Instead, I opted for a clone of The Club that used a tubular (round key) higher security lock. The increase in security may, in fact, be only slight but since I don't have much trouble defeating a cheap cabinet-style pin-tumbler lock, using a tubular lock made feel better - possibly a false sense of security but I feel better, nonetheless.
Anyway, I purchased my Club clone from Amazon and it arrived today. I have pasted a composite photo below e/w measurements. It looks pretty nice and I am confident that it is more secure than my original box and certainly easier to operate. My only complaint upon unboxing is that the edges of the aluminum outer box were sharp and likely to snag clothes or cut a finger. I ran some sandpaper over the edges and all is now well.
BTW - I agree with one reviewer of this product who, upon receipt, immediately painted his box flat black. As he said - how ridiculous it is to have an in-vehicle security box that is shiny silver in color with big letting that says "portable carsafe". I'm thinking that I'll disguise it by wrapping it in the cardboard from a soda carton.
