old Herring Hall Marvin - good enough for child safety?

[gloves12]

Hi! I'm looking at using an old, good condition cast-iron floor safe (1000 lbs, 3-feet-by-2-by-2) to keep pistols and ammunition away from children. My other option is to look at a newer safe, say from Amsec, of a similar size.

I've seen people easily whack the dial off a cheap $300 safe; better ones have "relockers", right? Would an old cast-iron safe be vulnerable to a similar lock-smash? I'm worried about an 8 or 12-year-old (lots of friends over, my own kids' friends, etc) watching a video on youtube and grabbing a hammer.

Last question: 1000 lbs seems prohibitively difficult to move. With a roller cart or strong appliance dolly, is it possible?

[74TR6]

That looks like a nice HHM safe; a few more pictures would be good. By the inner door having a bolt system, it is a step above the standard models with a plate steel door and only a key lock

Many HHM used a method of locking the dial onto the door via a steel plate on inner side of door. Plate is lifted to insert dial and lowered to lock it in place. This would make knocking the dial off more difficult. Most have a relocker; all I have dealt with did.

Other than limited space, this safe will serve your plans well, much better than the light weight boxes marketed today. There is a debate on storing ammo in a confined space, but that is another topic

[billdeserthills]

I have moved a few heavy safes, the lightest being 850 lbs and the heaviest 1850 lbs, simply using some 1 1/2" sections of pvc plastic pipe. I cut my sections a couple inches wider than the safe, tip the safe to get a section underneath it, and put another piece of pipe in front of the safe. Once you get 2 pieces under the safe it will steady out, then keep another pipe in front, while you go very slowly forward. Takes a couple of people to do it safely, as you cannot grow back any fingers or toes that become intertwined. My safes were originally on a dirt or asphalt driveway and we used the pipes and some 3" sections as well, to position the safe upon a pallet, to begin and the used a pallet jack to get the safe over the patio. Take your time and remember not to place anything you can't afford to lose between that safe and the ground. Lockmasters sells a plastic board with a plastic rail section to do the same thing.