XIII. Safety and Security

B. Security

4. The Handgun Box

The Handgun Box was unknown to me until I posted to rec.guns concerning a quick-access box. Someone referred me to R&D Enterprises, the manufacturer and only distributor of the Handgun Box. Basically, it's designed for the same purpose as the GunVault, but provides greater security at the same price. The safe is constructed from a seamless "box" of 3/16 inch thick steel covered with black epoxy. The seamless construction gives it strength because there are no gaps to pry through. They just compressed a tubular piece of steel to rectangular proportions to effect this design. The door is thicker, 1/4 inch steel. Inside is covered with foam rubber, and two packets of silica gel are provided to stave off rust.

Two lock choices are available, a Simplex push-button lock or Medeco key lock, in three different sizes. A newer box incorporates a spring loaded door (which I did not get). The door is recessed, providing less leverage for prying attacks. The whole weighs 20 lbs, and is very solid...the bolt is .25 x 1.25 inches. Mounting hardware is included.

Size	Price
4"x8"x11"	$149.00
4"x8"x14"	$169.00
4"x12"x16"	$194.00
4.75"x6.25"x11"	$169.00

If you like key locks, knock $10 off the price. Notice the only one with a spring loaded door is the last one. I bought the second model, with the Simplex lock. I was able to fit a Glock 19 and an Astra A100 easily in the box, but I doubt I could get another handgun in there. These pistols both have four inch barrels.

The Simplex lock is easy to use and reset; one advantage they cited was the ability to press two or more buttons simultaneously for any combination entry. The knob used to open the safe is coated with 3M antislip rubber...nice touch.

What made me decide to buy the Handgun Box and not the GunVault is the article in Gun Tests Magazine, February 1995. A copy of the article is included in the information packet that they will send you if you call and ask. They tested the two against each other, and could not break into the Handgun Box. The GunVault was easily broken into by their resident safecracker and they had reservations about its electronic lock (batteries failing and all at the wrong moment) and mounting hardware. I figure if the expert couldn't break into the Handgun Box but opened the GunVault without difficulty, there was no real choice. The article says he opened the GunVault with his shoe!

Give them a call and ask them for their information on the Handgun Box, which they will send you for free.

[Maintainer: If you buy one, tell them you read about it in the rec.guns FAQ - who knows, maybe they will give me a freebie!]