When you shop for a safe, you are likely to have questions about what type of safe lock is best. You are probably wondering how reliable safe locks are and what happens if yours breaks or you lose your combination. And finally, whatever safe lock you choose, you want to be sure that if something goes wrong with it, it's covered by a warranty. This guide will help answer any questions you might have about safe locks and help you make an informed decision.
Most safe locks come in one of two types: mechanical or electronic. The type of lock you choose should be based on how you will use your safe and your personal preference.
Mechanical locks are great and probably the type of lock that first comes to mind when you think about safes. To open a mechanical safe lock, you turn the dial to the right to the first number of the combination, then to the left for the second number and then back to the right for the final number, just like opening your locker in high school. This type of lock is tried and true and normally has a long lifespan. In fact, this type of lock has been around since the 1800s.
The problem with mechanical locks? There have been few changes in their technology since the 1800s, which means they're easier for an experienced thief to crack the combination - sometimes they can crack it in 15 minutes or less. The other issue comes with entering your combination; if you make a mistake, you need to start all over again. And if you ever need to change your combination, you have to hire a locksmith to do it for you.
Many people opt for electronic safe lock instead. There are numerous reasons for this:
The benefits of an electronic safe lock clearly outweigh its minimal downsides, such as being temporarily locked out of your safe if your batteries die.
When it comes to electronic safe locks, there are poor-quality locks and high-quality locks. Choosing a high-quality electronic lock is always your best option for having the most reliable lock possible, because it's made with heavy-duty components. When speed counts, an electronic safe lock is more reliable than a mechanical lock in an emergency.
An electronic safe lock requires very little maintenance, if any, except for changing its 9-volt battery every 6 to 12 months. Plus you can simply change your code and create or delete codes as needed without having to call a locksmith to do it for you.
Liberty only recommends and installs high-quality safe locks on the safes we sell because we believe our customers deserve only the best. Even though SecuRam is a relative newcomer to the safe lock industry, their innovation and commitment to using the latest technology makes their electronic safe locks stand out from the rest.
Liberty Safe features the following top-rated SecuRam electronic safe locks:
Installed on Liberty Safe’s entry-level USA series safes, this easy-to-use lock features:
Featured on Liberty Safe’s mid-level Colonial and Fatboy Jr. safes, this electronic safe lock features:
This superior electronic lock is used with Liberty Safe’s high-end Franklin, Lincoln, National, and Presidential safes. It features:
Get the best of both worlds with keypad and a spin dial on the best EMP-proof, redundant electro-mechanical safe lock available on the market. This lock features:
If you have researched safe locks online, you might have come across solenoid locks, which are a less expensive lock. Not just cheaper in price, but cheaper in quality. This makes it easier to break into your safe because it is made with flimsy sheet metal rather than the stainless steel used in the locks Liberty Safe sells.
This type of lock is usually manufactured in China or Israel and usually does not have replaceable parts. Even worse, these locks do not have recognizable templates, which makes it difficult to swap your lock out for a new one or to upgrade your existing safe with a better lock. Retrofits will need to be done by a locksmith to replace a foreign solenoid lock with an American lock.
Bio-metric safe locks are gaining in popularity among gun safe owners. This type of lock can be a little bit more expensive than typical mechanical or electronic safe locks. The advantage of having a bio-metric safe lock is that you only need to swipe your finger over the lock’s sensor to open your safe instead of keying or dialing a combination code. A finger swipe can be a faster way to get your gun safe open in an emergency. So, if speed is an issue, a bio-metric lock might be something to consider.
However, bio-metric technology, unless it is military grade, is not fool proof, especially if the lock does not have a high-quality sensor. The bio-metric safe locks Liberty Safe uses feature the ScanLogic Swipe Safe Lock system using semiconductor swipe fingerprint authentication technology. Liberty Safe also sells bio-metric smart vaults that have been rated as the #1 most reliable bio-metric smart vault.
One of the best things about an electronic safe lock is that almost any problem can be resolved by its owner without the need to hire a locksmith. While electronic safe locks are reliable, it is possible that you might encounter one or more of these four common problems:
It is possible to change your lock’s combination whether it is a mechanical or electronic safe lock. If you have an electronic safe lock, it is very easy to change your lock’s combination without the need for a locksmith.
However, if you have a mechanical safe lock, the process to change your combination is trickier. You will need to have the lock’s change key that initially came with it. But even still, it is a good idea to have a locksmith change your manual lock’s combination.
An electromagnetic pulse event could be a nuclear attack or a solar flare that could disable and/or damage electronic equipment. A concern that some safe owners have is whether they will be able to open their safe if an EMP event were to happen if they have an electronic safe lock. In such an emergency, you want to be able to get to your firearms or cash quickly, if needed.
Liberty Safe’s SecuRam Xtreme electronic lock is designed to stand up against EMP. However, all the SecuRam locks sold by Liberty Safe have been tested and certified for being EMP-resistant by Dayton T. Brown Laboratories.
It is important to read the fine print of your safe lock’s warranty. Some lock manufacturers start their warranties at the moment the lock leaves their factory. By the time a safe sells, that lock warranty could almost be over.
Liberty Safe covers the locks they sell for five years to protect their customers.
Liberty Safe does offer an optional extendable warranty for an additional ten years (fifteen years total) for $59.99 or a Lifetime Warranty for $99.99.
