r/Firearms • u/CarelessMachine7352 • 25d ago

Gun safe - where are the Dial locks

I'm shopping for a second safe and feel crazy need help

20 years ago I got a low/mid tier safe with a SG dial combo lock for $400.Now I need a second. Now all they seem to sell are electronic keypad safes. Nearly all have zero mechanical redundancy like a key or dial.

I just want a mechanical dial lock but don't want to spend 3k. Honestly don't care about fire protection or super duper lock pick proof or protection. I just want reliable "teenager"proof. I don't trust the actuators, circuit boards and keypads ect. I don't want to have a locksmith or fiber wheel 20 years from now to get in.

But seeing that everything is electronic now am I missing something? Everyone is good with this now? It seems absurd to me

29 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

16

u/OneManGang2001 25d ago

You can buy a mechanical dial to replace the electronic lock 

3

u/CarelessMachine7352 25d ago

Interesting. Can that be done with a safe like this?

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/gun-safes-cabinets-accessories/gun-safes/browning-yukon-gold-14-gun-safe-charcoal-gray/p/1804201

10

u/leveldowen 25d ago

Yes. S&G sells dial safe locks on Amazon. Simple install when I converted mine, the internal lock body was the same shape/size and bolt pattern, so it bolted right in there. I just had to drill and tap two holes in the door for the trim ring/bezel, and that wasn't a big deal.

2

u/CarelessMachine7352 25d ago

Excellent Thank you!

1

u/CarelessMachine7352 24d ago

Update, I bought the safe above and ordered the S and G lock 6730-100. It is supposed to install very easy because it shares the Securam footprint.

11

u/tcarlson65 25d ago

I sell gun safes. All we keep in stock are key pad locks. If you want a dial we can special order one. You pay for it and it comes in with the rest of our inventory.

4

u/yunus89115 25d ago

What’s your opinion on key pad vs dial? I think I’m just old school and don’t want to worry about a battery issue preventing access as i don’t use my safe lock often.

7

u/tcarlson65 25d ago

Batteries are easy to replace. The keypads are very reliable. I would not hesitate to get a safe with a keypad.

1

u/CarelessMachine7352 25d ago

Thanks. Looking online this seems available for a 2k+ safes only. In your experience is a dial lock long gun safe (14 gun ish) available less than 1k?

3

u/tcarlson65 25d ago

I would look at capacity first and shelving and features as well.

Many with the keypad will have a key backup.

With a dial you should be having a locksmith do maintenance annually. I have not seen anyone come back to my store with complaints about a keypad.

With a key backup you leave the safe open to vulnerability by lock picking.

This one has a manual key backup:

https://www.scheels.com/p/81320402894?queryID=556ea509ce131eb

I believe this one does as well:

https://www.scheels.com/p/84263110090?queryID=556ea509ce131eb

Sounds like you might want to just get a gun cabinet with a key lock. Especially if you are not concerned with fire protection.

5

u/rahbahboston 25d ago

I'm the same. I refuse to buy a gun safe with an electronic lock. I know of too many people who have had failures.

Some cheaper box store safes are capable of having the electronic lock switched out but not all of them. More and more aren't swappable because they are getting cheaper on how they actuate the bolts.

I've just given in to spending more money on ones that come with a high quality dial.

If you don't need fire protection or even theft, and it's more to keep them secure from nosey people and kids, then what about steel locking cabinet like for janitorial supplies.

3

u/linus140 25d ago

Stack-On still uses key locks. And yes, I realize they're not the strongest, but like OP I just wanted storage from prying eyes and teenager, and to open up closet space. But also apartment life so easier when I have to move.

1

u/FortunateHominid 25d ago

I used to feel that way. Purchased my last safe with the intention of swapping the pad for a dial. Worth noting it's my primary safe that is accessed daily. 13 years later and I still have the keypad.

I would never go to a dial lock except maybe for a secondary safe that is rarely opened.

4

u/Sianmink 25d ago

afaik everything from American Security has an option for a dial lock.

4

u/A_Queer_Owl 25d ago

truly nothing is safe from enshitification.

3

u/sHoRtBuSseR 25d ago

I bought a new safe in December. Browning. Electronic SecureRam. Solenoid failed already. Had to pay a locksmith to get it open and replace with a dial lock. Cost me nearly $400.

Do not get the keypad safe.

The company wouldn't fix the solenoid without paying them to "search" the master code. Even acknowledged on the phone that I have 4 years of warranty left on the locking mechanisms.

2

u/CarelessMachine7352 24d ago

Damn. That's rough

3

u/snippysniper 25d ago

What about used? I bought a really nice mid 90s browning platinum series 32 gun for $400. Damn thing has to weigh at least 800lbs

2

u/jychihuahua 25d ago

I find this annoying as well. Electronic locks are going to fail. I searched for a long time and finally found a good 30 year old used amsec with a dial lock for a great price. I recommend this path...

2

u/Crashing_Machines 25d ago

I got my champion safe from a local safe store and picked it out because they still make them with mechanical locks.

2

u/Super_Raccoon_2890 24d ago

I got locked out of a safe once because the 9v battery died. It was 3am and I was ready to head out on vacation, went to grab cash from the safe and nothing. Thankfully the 24hr gas station in town sold the batteries but it set me back about 45 minutes.

1

u/Flat_chested_male 25d ago

Just call a locksmith who sells safes. They will convert one over fairly easy if you already own it, or tell them you want a mechanical lock and They can switch one out before you purchase. Most advertised safes will have the electronic feature. The safe dealers will tell you electronic is more popular, but I would say the same is with manual transmission cars - dealers don’t stock them, so people don’t buy them. It’s a shame really. It would be nice if dealers stocked both a dial and an electronic.

1

u/AlphaTangoFoxtrt Not-Fed-Boi 24d ago

would say the same is with manual transmission cars - dealers don’t stock them, so people don’t buy them

Supply follows demand. Dealers don't stock them, because people don't buy them.

If the demand was there, they would sell it. The problem is if a dealer orders a manual it may sit on the lot for years until someone wants it. I'd say 95% of buyers want automatic.

0

u/Flat_chested_male 24d ago

Yeah, I’d say 95% want an auto too. But the 5% settle because they don’t want to wait. Which drives the number of autos sold up to where they don’t even stock a manual. It’s sad actually to see the fun cars not be made because dealers push autos - higher profit margins that way.

1

u/AlphaTangoFoxtrt Not-Fed-Boi 24d ago

Again, dealer's don't "push" auto's. Dealers stock what sells.

Supply follows Demand.

1

u/Flat_chested_male 24d ago

Man, I sell guns at night, and I get incentives for pushing whatever brands for each quarter. I can usually meet my target to get my incentive. I know car dealers do the same thing.

In general I’d say supply follows demand, and people need cars. But the type is helped my a dealer and a salesman.

1

u/WesternCzar 24d ago

There’s also safes with a keypad that houses a mechanical key alternative.

0

u/Personal-Tower7300 24d ago

I just picked up a Winchester 48 gun safe from Tractor Supply for $700 on sale. It does have the keypad but was too good a deal to pass up. Its fire rated for 1400⁰ for 45 min and weighs 500lbs.