Thread: Who thinks this 'safe' will pass security inspection?

The Great Kelvinator Chest Freezer Gun Safe

So I got offered this chest freezer 'safe' for free. As my other commercial safes are close to capacity, I thought I might be able to use this if there were any future firearm purchases. After all, it's quality double steel construction from right here in Godzone NZ (made before Fisher & Packel was taken over by a Chinese company).

It comes currently with one locking mechanism bolted to the door (I could add another padlockable door bolt), two hinges made with an internal hinge pin of 6mm, and if I just gave it a coat of paint, it would not look out of place bolted onto the wall and floor of my shed.

So, would anybody like a guess if this 'quality gun safe' will be:
a ) - approved as suitable or
b) - not suitable for my security firearms storage?

I've just sent the local Firearm Officer an email with the attached photos to see if this could be a suitable security receptacle.
As soon as I get a response from them, I will include it in this thread.

Curious to see what they come back with. I bet you will not get a definitive answer.

I'm going to say No it won't be accepted, the reason being that the steel is not 3mm thick, I suggested to the arms officer that I would line the inside of my wooden safe with steel to make it compliant, he said the steel would have to be 3mm. I looked up the rules and yes, if you made a safe yourself it had to be 3mm, off the self safes their walls are only 1.2mm but the doors are 3mm, go figure.

Originally Posted by Lambie

I'm going to say No it won't be accepted, the reason being that the steel is not 3mm thick, I suggested to the arms officer that I would line the inside of my wooden safe with steel to make it compliant, he said the steel would have to be 3mm. I looked up the rules and yes, if you made a safe yourself it had to be 3mm, off the self safes their walls are only 1.2mm but the doors are 3mm, go figure.

The below is an extract from the FSA guidelines. Looks like the steel does not have to be 3mm thick as long as it is not flexible.
2. Steel cabinets, containers and receptacles
should have walls and a door of at least 3mm
thick steel. If the cabinet, container or receptacle
is constructed of steel less than 3mm it should
be to a level of construction and installation to
stop the door of the safe from twisting when
properly installed. Commercially built steel safes
with suitable locking systems, a braced door
that is the equivalent strength of 3mm steel
and walls of lesser thickness, when properly
manufactured and correctly installed, meet
these storage requirements for non-prohibited
firearms.

Below is copied from the arms act. My understanding is that there is no requirement for the gun cabinet to be made of steel. as long as it is of "Stout" construction.


The reasonable steps required by subclause (1)(c) are—
(a)

keeping on the holder’s premises—
(i)

a lockable cabinet, container, or receptacle of stout construction in which firearms may be stored; or
(ii)

a lockable steel and concrete strongroom in which firearms may be stored; or
(iii)

a lockable display cabinet or rack in which firearms are immobilised so that none of them may be fired; and

Whether they say yay or Nay, you will need ventilation of some sort as the airtight box will sweat something horrendus. I used to have one many years ago.

Yup, a good wooden cabinet should be fine. In 'arms officer in your house' unreality though......

Well, it's after 3pm and I know the local Firearms Officer leaves work at 3 .... so I'll probably get an email reply about my freezer safe tomorrow.

At first, I agreed with @STC in that the FO will not give a definitive answer... but since it's taking longer for a response, maybe they have decided to look into it a bit more.

Also, can someone educate me on the Police/FSA relationship/collaboration? Isn't it FSA Officers who come around to inspect firearm security, whereas the official authority and final approval of the security and FA license is with the Police?

I'm picking the lock will fail I, but the cabinet itself will be alright.
Local club had its safe inspected and passed, it's a chest freezer stood upright against a solid wall and chained with a double loop round a concrete post. We were concerned it was too thin but he said with all that insulation to cut through as well "good luck with a grinder".

another interesting section in the FSA guide to storing firearms. The takeaway here is the reference to preventing "opportunist" thieves from gaining access to the firearms. Surely this indicates that the storage does not need to be capable of resisting determined thief's intent on getting at your firearms. So therefore any stout lockable cabinet should fit the bill.

6. The Arms Regulations requires all firearms
and ammunition to be stored separately
and securely, so that a person who obtains
access to the firearm cannot obtain access
to the ammunition. Secure, separate storage
will prevent a child, mentally unfit person or
opportunist thief from gaining quick access to
the firearms and ammunition.

You can get a pry bar between door and cabinet. It won't pass.

A large adjustable wrench on that green plate the bolt protrudes in to would spring it enough to release the bolt.
So I wouldn't be confident it would stop stuff getting pinched.
Whether the FSA passed it would depend on the inspector.

I wouldn't approve it. I could be in there in a few minutes with two crow bars.

I just received an email from the Firearm Officer at 8:45,am and the response is set out below:


"I’m having difficulty in accepting that a chest freezer would be considered sufficient to secure firearms.
In my opinion, chest freezers can be easily prised open around the edge where the rubber seal is/was. You will notice gun cabinets have the door set in from the wall edge with a negligible gap. This helps to stop prising as mentioned.

The sheet steel of a chest freezer is typically 16 gauge, which would offer little resistance to an attack and if not braced properly, could easily be twisted/bent.

At this point, I would strongly recommend you look at a commercially made gun cabinet that would meet the current standards.
However, if you wish to proceed with the chest freezer, Police will need to inspect it in place and review its suitability."

Good answer I reckon. I stand corrected.