When it comes to gun safes you can never be too diligent in picking the right one for you. Sometimes it can help when shopping for a gun safe to know a little bit more about some of the common and successful brand names out there. Most of these companies have earned a level of respect over decades of dedicated business practice that have proven them reliable and trustworthy. Whether you buy from a popular brand name, or a new company trying to make its name, is up to you but as always it’s best to stay informed about your options. Here we’ll look at a common safe brand Gardall and check out a little bit of its history and what it has available.

Gardall’s history goes back to the 1930’s in America with the safe manufacturer ProtectAll which was started by George Bloch. This company was successful and respectable for some time but was eventually bought by the Mosler Safe Company for one million dollars. Later, when the original ProtectAll manufacturing plant was closed down in 1949 the financial advisor of ProtectAll, Henry Bluestone, decided to branch out and start his own company Gardall. Though it was initially plagued with financial issues Gardall eventually found stability when partnered with Thor Metal Products and the Falso brothers. Eventually control of Gardall was transferred to the Falso Brothers in 1970 and Henry Bluestone returned to his area of expertise in sales and accounting. From there the rest is history and Gardall has been slowly growing to become a major player in home and commercial safes worldwide.

Gardall, today, is a jack of all trades in the safe world. They offer everything from fire safes, gun safes, media safes, and customized safes. They put a large emphasis on state of the art security with thorough protection of your goods. Underwriters Laboratory has reviewed a number of Gardall products and awarded the prestigious UL security ratings to many of them.

The Gardall difference can be summed up in five simple points.

Premium Quality Manufacturing: Gardall uses high quality materials, and a combination of time tested and state of the art manufacturing techniques.

Varied Product Line: As previously noted there is a lot of variance in the products offered by Gardall. With over 120 safes in the product line and security ratings from RSC, TL-30×6, and UL-2 hour (1850 deg.) you can find almost anything among the Gardall products available.

Innovative Design and Engineering: Gardall stays on the cutting edge with security protection and anti-theft systems.

Superior Customer Service: Gardall boasts incredible customer service in helping you find the right safe and a regular availability to answer any questions you may have.

Nationwide Dealer Network: Today, Gardall has 3,000 dealers in the United States and is various options for purchasing and transporting safes worldwide.

Next time you’re looking for a safe keep in mind the perks of the time tested yet modern American company Gardall and check out its famous product line today.

Hunting is truly one of the great American pastimes. It can be a great chance to get outdoors and spend time with friends and family. Hunting can be both exhilarating and relaxing and yet always a fun time. However, as with any gun related activities, it’s always best to take certain safety precautions. It’s important to practice safe hunting techniques and proper gun safety while enjoying hunting season in the outdoors. Here’s some important safety tips to bear in mind when hunting season rolls around.

To begin, take a look at the 12 golden rules of gun safety. All of these will apply to hunting but for the sake of brevity we will look at hunting specific safety measures (check out a previous post for the golden rules of gun safety).

One important aspect of hunting that may sometimes go overlooked is the importance of wearing an appropriate amount of neon orange. This is usually done with an orange (sometimes reflective) safety vest. This is important so that other hunters can readily identify you and be careful not to shoot anywhere in your general direction. A lot of hunters like to wear camouflage so that they won’t be spotted by the wildlife but this can seriously compromise your safety while hunting.

It is important when shooting at an animal to make sure there are no humans in the general vicinity. This also means, very importantly, looking beyond your target. Should you miss it’s possible for high powered ammunition to travel up to a mile.

When you climb over a fence or into a tree it is important to not do so with a loaded gun. If possible hand your gun to a hunting buddy and climb up or over and then have them hand it to you. If this is not a possibility it is best to make sure it’s not loaded at the very least.

Hunting with a friend or partner is both a better way to have fun but also an important safety precaution. Should anything happen during your hunt it will be nice to have someone there that can help you in an emergency situation. If you cannot go with a buddy it is important to tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you to return.

When hunting it is very important to never shoot at a sound of movement. You need to be able to identify what you are shooting at before you shoot. If you can’t see what you’re planning to shoot you should never fire.

These are just some common tips for hunting but probably your most important way to avoid catastrophe is common sense. Be sure not to impair your judgement with alcohol or drugs. However, also don’t be afraid of the dangers of hunting. If you are prepared and safe it’s not a dangerous sport and you should not be deterred from what can be an amazing experience.

Going to a big gun show can be quite the experience. It can be quite a phenomenal event in which people from all parts of the country come together to share their hobby. It’s an opportunity to either purchase products, learn more about new objects, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of a lot of gun enthusiasts gathering in one place. You can find almost anything related to guns at these shows, ranging from: firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, literature, knives, militaria, and other random odds and ends related to guns and gun accessories. There are a lot of gun shows throughout the United States but here we are going to look at some of the larger annual shows that take place in the US.

The Big Reno Show

This show is located, as you may have guessed, in Reno. This year the show is going to take place for three days starting on the 16th of August. This gun show is special because it focuses more on antique collectibles from the wild west. It’s a great place for buyers, sellers, and collectors and it offers a great opportunity to learn a bit of history about your favorite hobby. The Big Reno show is also famous for its collection of Native American artifacts in addition to antique guns. It’s a favorite for gun enthusiasts so be sure not to miss it!

The Great American Outdoor Show

This annual outdoors show has been a favorite attraction of hunting and fishing enthusiasts for decades. While the main focus of this show is on outdoor activities and sports there is still a large presence of firearms and firearms accessories to keep the gun enthusiasts’ interest piqued. This one is a bit different from the rest because instead of taking place in a large indoor convention center, it takes place outside and instead has an assortment of shooting, hunting, fishing, archery, camping, and boating displays. Next year this is going to take place in Pennsylvania at the beginning of February and will even include concerts and fundraiser dinners. It’s a must see for outdoor enthusiasts and promises to be a great family experience.

NRA Annual Meeting

This is one of the longest running American gun conventions that is brought to you by the biggest name in organized gun clubs. This year will be the 142nd incarnation of this event and will take place in Houston, TX at the beginning of May. It promises to be one of the largest, if not the largest, gun convention in America. This year it will take place in a 400,000 square foot convention center and promises celebrity appearances, educational seminars, and other fun filled events over three days. Here you can find anything related to guns, gun accessories, or hunting. It’s a great place to purchase new equipment and learn about the newest products on the market.

The NRA is the quintessential American gun club. The NRA stands for the National Rifle Association and sectors can be found in any major city and even most smaller towns as well. Joining the NRA is a great way to meet more people with similar interests and learn more about your hobby. The NRA may have a bit of a bad reputation and sometimes catches a lot of flak when guns make the news but the truth is that they preach safety above all and the NRA is a great place to find firearm safety classes and learn more about guns.

The NRA was founded in 1871 as a nonprofit organization. The NRA promotes firearm ownership, police training, firearm safety, marksmanship, hunting, and self defense training in the United States. Being the biggest organization to promote firearm ownership the NRA has a long history lobbying various legislation proposed by the United States government  and independent parties. While often the points of contention can be controversial the NRA is usually fighting for the importance of the 2nd amendment and typically has the interests of American gun owners in mind.

What are the Benefits of Joining the NRA?

When you sign up for the NRA you can get a lot of bonus perks that you might not know about. Of course, you get a subscription to your choice of: American Rifleman, American Hunter, or America’s First Freedom. What you might not know about, however, is about the additional insurance that NRA members get. Annual members get $5,000 of insurance for firearm injuries sustained while hunting and lifetime members get $10,000 for the same. Police officers killed in the line of duty that are NRA members get $25,000 in coverage. Members additionally get $2,500 of coverage for their firearms, air guns, and bows.

Additionally the NRA, because of their long history lobbying gun legislation, has a large staff of capable lawyers that may be willing to take your case should you fall into disputable legal trouble. This is usually reserved for veteran members but it certainly never hurts to have a bit of assistance when you need it most.

Lastly, by joining the NRA you are effectively showing your support of the 2nd amendment and helping to retain its status in America. If you like guns and believe them to be an integral part of American society joining the NRA may be the best way to vocalize your sentiments. Anyone is welcome to join for a reasonable annual fee or a one time lifetime membership fee.

While it’s not necessary to join the NRA to enjoy your 2nd amendment right there are a lot of perks that you may not have heard about before to consider.

There are a lot of different home safes on the market for a lot of different purposes. All of them have different prices and most of them boast of different safety ratings. On your way to purchasing a home safe it is important to understand exactly what some of the more common security ratings mean. For the most part these security ratings are assigned by independent third-party organizations so that they can provide a truly unbiased assessment of a safe’s qualities. We’re going to look at one of the more common set of safety ratings provided by Underwriters Laboratory or UL.

Residential Security Container (RSC)

This is one of the more common and basic security ratings assigned by UL. In order to attain a Residential Security Container rating, a safe must withstand attempted entry for 5 minutes of net working time. During this test, common burglary tools are used to assault the safe from all angles (besides the top and bottom) for 5 minutes. It must withstand drilling, prying, chiselling, punching, and any other sort of tampering for the allotted time. For the RSC rating there is no minimum thickness nor other criteria other than the ability to withstand assault for 5 minutes.

TL-15 Security Rating

This test is also conducted by Underwriters Laboratory and means that the safe can withstand an assault for 15 minutes from all sides. The tools used in the test are a little bit more sophisticated than those used for the RSC test and include high powered drills and saws. The safe walls must be at least 1 inch thick to comply with this safety rating. Engineers are often employed during this test to search for weaknesses before beginning to work on it with tools.

TL-30 Security Rating

This is a very similar test to the TL-15 but, as you have probably guessed, safes with the TL-30 rating must be able to withstand assault for thirty minutes of net working time. These tests have a few more tools than the TL-15 and a lot more time. Engineers, as with the TL-15 test, can look at blueprints to find weaknesses before they begin assaulting the safe. Both the TL-15 and TL-30 are recognized by insurance companies for their advanced security features.

Additional Ratings

Lastly there are some additional security ratings that boast even higher credentials than the TL-30. For example, the TL-30×6 is the same test as the TL-30 but all 6 sides can be assaulted during the test. Additionally, there is the TRTL-30 which is the same test as the TL-30 but with the addition of a torch to try and break the safe open.

Guns and children are certainly not the most savory of combinations. This is one of the reasons we buy gun safes. In fact, many states will require guns to be stored in locked containers when children (under 18) are present in the household. The truth, though, is that gun safety around children is about much more than keeping it locked away. Education will go a long ways in protecting your child in the long run. The natural curiosity of a child will often be piqued by forbidden boxes so it may be worth your while to sit down and explain some of the basic concepts behind firearms to your child when you feel that they are mature enough to treat the subject with the seriousness it deserves.

Keep it Locked Up!

Bear in mind that this is no reason to get lazy about locking up your gun. Keeping your gun safely locked away is the surest way to keep your child safe and should be adhered to religiously. In fact, in most states, you will be guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony should your child (under 18) obtain your gun and either carry it in a public place, injure someone, or kill someone. The cardinal rule of gun safety and children is that you can never be too careful. Even if you don’t have kids there is always the chance that a relative’s child may come to visit so it’s important to practice safe gun ownership at all times. This includes storing your gun unloaded and locked away with ammunition kept in a separate container.

Talk to Your Child

While keeping your gun locked up is the first line of defense in preventing unwanted accidents there are additional methods for keeping your family safe around guns. When you feel that your child is of age to take the conversation seriously it may be time to talk about guns. By talking about it you can dispel some of the mystery around them and lessen the natural curiosity of your child. Make yourself open to any questions and emphasize the dangers associated with guns as well as the responsibility necessary. It may be important, depending on the age, to make a strong distinction between make-believe and reality. Should your child come across a gun at some point he or she will at least know something about it and the dangers it presents and hopefully not be so inclined to figure it out for themselves.

Lead by Example

Lastly, it is important to lead by example and exercise proper gun ownership. Should you teach one thing and do another you will be sending mixed signals that may undermine the basic safety fundamentals of gun ownership. Should you ever use your gun around your child be sure to diligently practice the proper safety measures and demonstrate responsible gun ownership. And, again, always remember that when it comes to children and firearms you can never be too careful.

As with all safes there are a million and one things that you need to consider before making your purchase. Some things are common enough — say, what size is the safe — while others are more complex — how much does it weigh and how are you going to get it into your second story apartment.To make sure that you are happy with your purchase, especially a purchase that can set you back several hundred dollars (if you opt for one of our bigger models), take some time and consider all the different options you have!

Size – small, big, or bigger. Think about all the things you’ll need to store in your safe (do you want to just store your gun collection or do you want to leave room for some important papers or jewelry?). Please also consider whether or not your collection will grow in the future as you may want to leave a bit of room for growth.

Capacity – this has less to do with the size and more to do with whether or not the safe has been formulated to fit specific things. For example, many of our gun cabinets have the perfect dimensions for the storage of rifles and other long-guns.

Weight – if you are going to install your safe on a second or third floor, you will want to think about how you are going to get the safe into the space. Do you need to carry it up the stairs? will your floor be strong enough to take the weight of a heavy safe?

Fire-safe – It’s important that gun safes are fire-safe because everyone knows that fire and firearms do not mix well. Especially your ammo needs to be kept in a fire-safe safe to make sure that there is no chance of explosion.

Burglar-safe – some people like keeping their firearms in a burglar safe while others don’t see the need. For most people, gun safes are used to make sure that small children don’t run across a gun and accidentally fire it. Fire-safes will keep your kids out of your safe but they may not be up to snuff against experienced thieves who will have all sort of tools necessary to crack a safe.

Key mechanism – there are now all sort of locking mechanisms in the safe industry — from biometric safes to traditional turn dial safes to electronic safes. There are pros and cons to all of these so it’s really up to you to decide what works best for your home and circumstance.