Customer Reviews

ADG Sports Secure Vault Electronic Top Load Pistol Safe

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The function of this case is great - although be advised, you cant set a combination that involves simultaneous key presses. You can simply set a 5-digit combination using the buttons labeled 1-5 (3125 possible combos). The safe has a thoughtful extra functions, like the external 9-V battery terminals that let you open it when the batteries have run down (though not with the combo that you originally chose, but with the default one).

Some cons: the battery compartment is inconvenient to load, and requires a shockingly large number of batteries. The programming button is _very_ well hidden and the directions don't exactly make clear where it is. Thankfully, battery installation and code setup are infrequent occurrences. The big con is the smell. Somewhere between roadkill and petroleum, and it's strong. You'll only notice it when the safe is open, but whatever foam liner they use _reeks_. Since the foam could, theoretically, be removed, you might consider re-lining it if you plan to be in and out of it often.

2 problems with this safe.

- you can't open it when you need to
- you can open it when you shouldn't be able to

i don't know how many countless times this has gotten stuck when i entered the correct code with new batteries. it makes a sound like it's unlocking, but doesn't. i hit it several times to see if somethings jammed - but nothing. i eventually have to go get my key to open it which works. now THAT'S gonna do me a lot of good when someone is assaulting my wife in the living room. "ONE SECOND HONEY...LET ME FIND THAT DANG KEY!"

the other thing is....if you pick this safe up and drop it - it opens right up. there have even been specials about safety that highlight this safe. anyone could grab this without knowing your combo - walk out the door with it - and drop it a few times to get whatever you keep inside without knowing the code.

not a good buy. there are MUCH better safes out there.

A top opening safe, it's good for placing in a shallow drawer such as in a nightstand. If you want to place it on top of a nightstand or dresser, be advised it doesn't come with any kind of protective 'feet'. I added some 1/4" thick rubber ones from ACE Hardware that kept it from sliding around like plastic ones or felt would have allowed.

I purchased this safe from a local sporting goods store less than 2 years ago. I liked it for the top load feature and easy accessibility. I had problems with the striker returning to the close position after opening it but I could use a screwdriver to return it to the correct position.

During this time I have opened it occasionally, I estimate a total of 300 openings. Recently it would no longer open, entering the correct code resulted in a loud whirring noise but it wouldn't open. I had to use the key to open it and contacted customer service.

They responded quickly but here is what I was told:

"I do apologize however the cable has broken on the motor to the door. There is no repair for this. The only thing that you can do now is buy a new one or open with key only. I do apologize for that but yes the warranty is out on the safe. The warranty is only good for one year from date of purchase."

So, less than perfect operation when it did work, and after what I consider light use, it's broken and just a key operated safe.

Do not buy this safe. It is not well constructed and the company does not stand by their product.

I like this safe and didn't have any problems with it until about one year after purchase. I bought this for my vehicle to keep my S&W safe and locked up when I am at work. I went to open it with the combination system and it would take my code but would not open. So I used my key and then the next day the key would not open it. The little cables inside broke and I could not get the lid open. This is a nice safe but has problems with the opening system. Even though I like it I don't think I would buy another one. What good is a gun safe when you can't get it open? They need some type of system to get it open when the cables break or they need to replace the cables with solid rods. And for the price it is way to expensive to last about a year, maybe fifty dollars tops..The cables will break and you won't get it open so buyers beware. If they correct this problem I will post again.

Worked well for about a year. Loved the roominess, but not the lack of dependability. Lately it would not pop open as it should (even with fresh batteries). Don't trust your life on this safe.

[UPDATE]
Even though it "stopped" working I did not throw it away and I'm glad I did not. It seems that the malfunction was due to operator error, I forgot that it require 8 batteries and not just 4. Earlier when it "stopped" working I tried to force it open using heavy tools and it only bent the door slightly but did not open. So I can attest to that fact that it is pretty sturdy. I am still a little leery of the electronics flaking out one day.

I have two of these safes. The original one I bought a few years ago came with a set of keys which did not work and I had to send it into the manufacturer which cost me shipping, offsetting any savings by purchasing it online. As another review mentioned, the interior of the safe really stinked when I first got it, but baking soda and years later, it's mostly fine.

I just got another one since other safes I looked at either didn't have controls that worked well for me or were too big dimensionally in one way or another. The second one I got had a lid which is slightly mis-aligned, but still opens. I had to work the key a little bit to get the lid to pop open initially. The "hidden" button to set the unlock code was missing, and after unscrewing the interior housing which holds the lock and electronics, realized that one of the screws which was supposed to hold down the circuit board with the button was broken off because the screw was MISSING from the factory. Fortunately, I could substitute another screw but this was apparently missed by their QA. Although everything works now, I would describe this as shoddy workmanship.

Overall, I'm not sure I can immediate recommend this brand. It serves my needs but based on how it was put together, I'd rate this as a somewhat inferior product.

When closing the lid, IF you gently push lid down until it latches then when you shut the drawer you have it in the lid pops open.( not good if you have kids)
If you push the lid firmly down to insure it is latched then you have to push in your 5 digit code at least 3 times before it opens which is not good if you need to get into it in a hurry.
THe safe is nice and has ample room but unfortunately the mechanism is cheap and makes the safe useless for gun storage. If you push the lid down hard to ensure it is latched and safe from the kids then you wont be able to get into it quickly. AND if you push it down softly so you will be able to get into it quickly then the slightest bump of the box will pop open the lid w/o using the code. Sorry but I would steer clear of this one.

****WHOA!!!! back up the apple cart. I previously posted a positive review based on the fact that we own an ADG Sports Vault.

We received a vault today but it was definitely NOT what was listed or ordered and gives me reason to think that the negative reviews are based on items that are not ADG Sports. Maybe ADG was bought out and the company that is listed on the box is now ADG, but what I recieved was substandard compared to the ADG vault we currently own.

I ordered an ADG Sports Vault which are AWESOME from this site, but received a "Safety Vault, by Boyt". They are the same in size but not in quality. The door does not open as far and the locking bar/mechanism is quite chintzy. If you want a good vault, get an ADG Vault. This one is going back. Besides the fact that the wiring to the battery terminals was broken. Could probably fix it but why should I have to "fix" a brand new product. Some marks on the top of the vault tells me that maybe I was not the first person to have "owned" this and sent it back. Just saying......

I was initially delighted with this. The lock was very easy to use, even in the dark, and the door swings open on springs...makes you feel like James Bond.

Until there came a bump in the night and I wanted to get my handgun out and this didn't work. Once I made sure everything was safe, I turned the light on, fiddled with it, tried the right code, wouldn't work...fiddled with it more, finally got it to open.

It would basically work sporadically, and this was after changing batteries, etc.

I ended up getting rid of it and purchasing a V-line pistol safe that uses a mechanical pushbutton simplex lock.