Customer Reviews

Gunvault GV1000C-DLX Mini Vault Deluxe Gun Safe

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

I was looking for a gun safe that would allow me to store a handgun in the bedroom in a safe manner but still would allow for quick access. This safe does both of those things. It is solidly built and is well thought out for the job it was designed. (Easy to mount, inconspicuous, and even has an alarm if it gets picked up when it is armed - although I recommend mounting it to something)

Although it is electronic, the combination/latch mechanism is simple enough that I am not that worried about failure. There is also a key release. My fingers fit into the grooves very easily and the safe is very easy to program. The fact that I can program keys in any order as well as any group of keys (I can press down multiple keys at the same time as part of the combination) adds to the ability to create combinations that are simple, but would be difficult to discover.

The safe runs of both AA batteries and an AC adapter. Putting in the batteries the first time is a little tricky, but once you do it once it is not a big deal.

For any prospective buyer of a quick access gun safe, I would definitely recommend this safe. One point though, I ordered the smallest safe which has one tier. This allows for the safe storage of one firearm and one clip and not much else. If you want to store extra ammo or another firearm as well, definitely go for a larger model.

I have gone through two of these. I carry on a daily basis, which means that I am opening this safe at least twice a day. The keyless function stopped working after approximately one year (just out of warranty) one two of them, which suggests a design flaw. The keyless function was the primary selling feature. I will look elsewhere for a replacement.

I purchased a Gun Vault gv1000 std in January of 20006. The first set of batteries I installed lasted 7 months. I thought they may have been old so installed a second set. They Lasted 6 months. I then called the firm and spoke with a tech who informed me that heat has a very negative effect on battery life. The third set lasted 3 months. I then determined that Gun Vault was not acceptinjg their safes for repair and my warrenty was expired. I removed the mechanism from the safe, installed new batteries and tested them daily. I found the batteries losted .1 volts daily with no use in an air conditioned environment. There is an obvious defect with this product which the company is not responding to. I caution against purchasing this otherwise fine looking product.

The child is mobile now, and he's getting into everything, so it was time to not just put guns and valuables on a high shelf, but to lock them away securely while keeping them available. This safe does the job.

On the one hand, this is a sturdy, well-made gun vault that gives me confidence that whatever I put in it will stay there, away from little (and even big) hands. It's small enough to keep on a shelf without taking up too much space, and big enough to hold (in my case) a full-size semi-auto and a compact revolver. The interior light is a nice touch. Also, having a key lock for backup is essential.

On the other hand, the finger pads seem a little picky. During everyday use, I found that I had to use two index fingers to input my combination (1-3-4-1) at the correct pressure and with the correct timing to get the safe open--which does not breed confidence when I consider that one night I might need to open it under stress. OK, I changed the combination to a more finger-friendly one-handed combo and that should do it. It also has me thinking now about the biometric-type locks. Maybe next time.

The keypad and light can be powered by 8 AA batteries and/or an AC adapter. Replacing batteries in the unit is a bit of a hassle, so one thing I'd like to see is a battery recharge feature. The one legitimate gripe I have is that the interior foam lining the "roof" of the safe keeps falling down. It needs to be removable to facilitate battery changes, but doesn't grip enough to stay stuck, so twice a day, every day, I have to press it back into place. It's not really necessary, so I may just remove it altogether.

All in all, a worthy investment.

I purchased the "Deluxe Double." It worked well for 14 months--it was covered by a 12 month warranty. At that time the lock release activated by the keypad quit working. The keypad could not be used and it could only be opened with the key. The company said they would not repair the unit and offered to replace it for $80 plus shipping cost. They said they no longer service old units (14 months old?). For the price of this unit I expected it to last much longer. The company does not stand behind their product. The original batteries lasted longer than the safe.

I have had this safe for several years and it was always plagued with poor battery life so I was using the keys to open it.
When I contacted the company about my now out-of-warranty safe, I was told that the battery life...using Dura-Cells....was 2 to 3 months with opening the safe once a day.
I responded that a max of 90 openings of a safe was completely unacceptable especially in view of the fact that the battery pack is hard to access and the volatile memory then requires re-programming each time.

This safe could be made more useful if I outboard a power supply with a 'Wall-Wart' after drilling a hole in the back to run the power leads out.

I also found that the little finger button was hard to press down as I don't have much strength in that finger so I had to create an opening sequence eliminating that finger.

I have looked at other safes and the newer biometric "Fingerprint" types. They claim much longer battery life, easier replacement and non-volatile memory.

I cannot recommend Gun Vault.

This is an absolutely awesome idea. It only takes a couple seconds to access your firearm yet it's completely secured from prying hands so you can leave it loaded safely. The molded channels facilitate the ability to unlock this safe by touch in low light conditions too. It has knockout holes in the bottom to permanently affix it to something solid if you wish an even higher level of security. If your gun isn't on your hip, it ought to be in one of these, particularly if you've got kids who might get a hold of it inappropriately.

This version is big enough to take a medium sized semi-automatic with an extra magazine or revolver and speedloader. You should, however, practice opening it and removing the weapon with an unloaded firearm several times before counting on it in an emergency. There's a bit of a trick to opening it smoothly and clearing the locking ring quickly but you can easily get the hang of it with a bit of practice.

One final caution: there is no weak battery warning. Be sure to check the operation monthly so that a dead battery won't leave you without access to your weapon when you really need it.

Highly recommended!

Here's my story:

1.) Purchased and shipped fine (retailer was not the issue)

2.) Installed batteries (every bad review you read about battery placement doesn't describe just how incredibly awful this is.)

3.) Plugged in ac backup (It should be noted this does not power the locking device and does nothing to help you open the safe if the batteries fail. So if you need the gun inside and your batteries are dead, you need to run and get the key. FAIL)

4.) 10 days later batteries are out. No warning beep. Nothing. I just went to test the lock and it wouldn't open.

5.) Called GunVault and they told me it was because I didn't use Duracell batteries and to replace the batteries.

6.) Day 11. I replace batteries with Duracell Advance.

7.) Day 19. Batteries out again.

8.) I called gun vault and they said they would ship a new one. When I asked how long, they said 3-4 weeks because they only have one person handling returns.

9.) I just received the replacement. I'll update on battery life, but holy crap, putting the batteries in took 20 minutes and I've done it 3 times now in 2 months.

In summary: no matter how bad you want this product to be what you expect, it isn't. Buy another brand.

Good purchase for me. I hide the vault under the bedside table which is covered by a cloth. If I need access quickly, I feel confident that I can unlock and retrieve the weaapon without a problem. When installing the batteres, I turned the safe up-side down in order to make it easier. Read the instructions carefully for exposing the battery assembly - especially the part about pulling back the foam. I had no problem. Picking and setting the combination was a snap - did it the first time - just read the instructions. I highly recommend this product.

OK, so a gun safe is something that needs to be secure but openable easily when needed. Right? This is what most people would buy this for.

This company's product(s) uses 8 (yes, eight, a lot) AA batteries and if you're lucky will get more than 6 months out of them. Even when the thing sits there unused. So when you go to use it it won't work. The batteries are dead and you cannot open it in a hurry or emergency. Instead you have to go dig up the backup key to open it.

And, to change the batteries (ever price out 8 quality AA batteries,,,,every 6 months!), you have to take everything out, pull out the cover, dig out the battery tray. A REAL PITA.

This is a great idea but the application is very poor. Instead of having an AC system and the batteries for emergency (power failure) back up it uses batteries only. Even the deluxe with AC runs off the batteries and the AC just works if they go dead (which they will after approx. 6-8 months.

Extremely lousy planning and design. Who has the time (or remembers) to change out that many batteries so often. Ridiculous.