What’s the Difference Between a Gun Safe or a Gun Cabinet?

A gun safe can range from a small, carriable lock box to a large steel chest weighing thousands of pounds with heavy duty construction on the door and walls as well as complex locking mechanisms. Gun safes can have the traditional dial safe lock or a digital keypad or biometric access. Gun cabinets are most often just secured with a lock and key.

If you’re not worried about burglary, want to display guns in your collection or just want minimal protection to prevent children from easily accessing firearms, a gun cabinet may be adequate, but they are never as secure as a gun safe and shouldn’t really be considered a viable alternative for secure firearm storage.

If you do have children in the house, you should strongly consider purchasing a gun safe due to the less than fortified nature of a gun cabinet. Children have a habit of getting into all types of things, and there’s no guarantee they won’t happen upon the key or even break open the door or lock to gain access to firearms in a gun cabinet.

This is especially true for burglars, who can very easily gain access to a gun cabinet in virtually no time.

There are many collectors who understandably find gun cabinets appealing. It’s a much better way to display a collection of firearms for guests to admire. Wealthy collectors with large vaults or advanced home security systems may be able to comfortably afford that luxury, but for the average gun collector it’s just not a very realistic option.

This is one of the stronger cases for gun cabinets, specifically hidden gun cabinets. For hidden gun cabinets, the security is primarily derived from camouflage. Keep in mind, gun safes can also be similarly camouflaged to provide the best of both worlds.

Hidden gun cabinets come in a variety of types, from hidden compartments behind picture frames, coffee tables and coat racks to wall mirrors, cabinet shelves and clocks. You can even get creative with your own hiding spots with the help of Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc. We can install gun safes anchored into walls, making them very difficult if not impossible to easily remove. You can then add your own hinged cover, such as a picture frame, on top of it.

There are even examples online of people who have built wood cabinets around gun safes so it looks like you have a nice armoire in your room rather than a bulky grey gun safe.

We have extensive experience selling, installing and servicing all types of safes, especially gun safes for Houston area gun owners, and would be happy to consult with you on the best solution for your gun storage needs.