The version on walkabout at SHOT was the polymer Defender version, which is lighter than the Armor series.
The ArmsReach Safe isn’t an unfamiliar concept. Many gun owners keep a firearm secured close to where they sleep. Some of us keep them all over the house. Securing them in lock boxes and bed-side safes is the norm, and biometric swipe locks have made entry into these things faster and more reliable.
The ArmsReach does two things differently. The first is its positioning. The safe is designed to rest on the edge of the mattress, with its tail wedged between the mattress and box spring. That way, when something goes bump in the night, you simply reach down, just off the side of the bed, and find the biometric pad. It keeps you from having a boxy lock box on the bedside table, where it can draw unwanted attention from kids, and others.
And it is that last part that I find most compelling. The unwanted attention. Biometric locks are designed to allow some people in and keep some people out. Seems obvious. But this lock also keeps track of people (and I mean friends and family) who may try to get in. It has a tattletale feature that will record the prints of those you don’t want getting into the box. If they do try to get in, the ArmsReach will record that attempt and alert you to it. No denying it.
Now obviously these aren’t going to withstand an all-out attack. There are two versions of the safe right now, and one of them is made of a heavy polymer. It is a major deterrent to theft and malicious intents, but it isn’t Fort Knox. Nor was it intended to be. It is a secure storage option designed for rapid access. And it is meant as a solid layer of security to ward off those prying hands.
The cost for these? $199 for the polymer Defender, and $299 for the steel Armor version. To order one, or to learn more about the story behind the safe’s design, click on over to ArmsReach Safe .
In addition to the polymer and steel versions, ArmsReach is looking at other, more portable designs.
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The slat that slides under the mattress.
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The ArmsReach control panel where alerts are issued.
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It doesn’t have an obtrusive footprint.
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There is a key backup, too.
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You can tether the ArmsReach down, too, making it difficult for it to wander off.
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There may be more color choices available soon.
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The inside is large enough for one full-sized gun.
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An early concept drawing of the safe.
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More sketches of the original idea.
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Thanks for that! It’s just the answer I nedeed.
This gadget seems great! Thanks for sharing! Storage Palmersgreen Ltd.
I understand that for many, a quick access gun ‘safe’ device is their only option for gun security. I believe all of these can be easily stolen or compromised given a burglar’s time and energy. Instead, I view these devices as a means of having your firearm out of your large, secure gun safe and at your bedside — and most importantly, keeping young hands off of the weapon during that time. I would simply keep this device in my large gun safe when away from the house. Ditto, if used in a media room or family room. Quick, safe access when I am in need; but stored away when not being relied upon.
I have yet to see one of these types of safes, that can’t be defeated in seconds with a butter knife or small screwdriver.
Safe(r) for young children? Sure. Thieves? Only for about 10 seconds!
Thank you ArmsReach for offering another solution to keeping a gun close by yet out of the reach of children while out of the room. During the day I can just take it with the gun inside and put it in the big safe. As a couple other folks mentioned there are numerous other solutions, each of us needs to do our research, access our needs and find what works best for you. This will fit my needs for safe night time storage while still giving me fast access and protection of my loved ones in more ways then one.
A sweet piece of security and availability. I would really love the tattletale. This feature alone would help a parent to have a special talk with a child who isn’t mature enough to understand how firearms are handled. It would reenforce positive training for the youngster and understanding how serious it is. Fantastic!
What are yoru requirements to become a dealer?
I had a gun inside one of those little steel lock boxes once, cable-locked to the heavy bed frame. I went out for 3 hrs for drinks and came back to find all the dogs cowering and the house messed up, broken window, etc. The burglars had found tools from the kitchen, broke the box open, stole the loaded gun and used it to shoot 6 people – one fatally. Unless you plan on taking the gun in this little ‘safe’ with you whenever you leave, don’t think of it as secure.
those cable gun boxes are really not designed to be safe when you LEAVE ALL THE TOOLS THE BURGLAR NEEDS TO BREAK IN TO THE BOX. You can buy gun boxes that can be bolted to the floor of your car and home……….
I like these and they are perfect for some folks, but, for the same or less money I prefer the metal between the studs flush wall safes that hide behind a picture or similar.
Installed, you have a picture or mirror on the wall beside your bed. Behind it is a safe sized anywhere from one handgun to a couple of long guns, your choice, that opens with a bio-metric finger print pad, electronic keypad or cylinder lock, again, your choice.
While I have to stand up to access it, it’s not in the way when making the bed, I’m not hitting my knees on it, no one knows it’s there and they can’t walk off with it if they find it. I have timed my access and it takes my old body about four-seconds from hearing a sound to having the gun in my hands. I need that to get conscious enough to focus and identify a target anyway.
Where can I find a dealer who sells the polymer defender in the Tampa Bay / St Petersburg / New Port Richey Florida area?
Do you run any web sale specials on this or other Armor products or have any exclusive web sellers? If I’d seen the polymer Defender before Xmas I’d have given them as Xmas gifts to my children. Fire arm safety is as important as having a fire arm available when needed, isn’t it?
Check out the company’s website (provided in the above article). They have online ordering and a phone number to find possible local retailers. I like the concept but want to see some reviews from actual users – especially regarding the dependability of the biometric function. I’m still leery of electronic locks – which is why I’m still using my pushbutton VLine box for now at least.
Disclosure: I am friends with a family member of an employee in this company. I purchased 3 when they first came out–one for my son and one for each side of our bed for my wife and I. First one took ten minutes to set up (read through the instructions first) for 8 fingers–wife’s and my index/middle on both hands. The next one was 2 minutes.
We have experienced a couple of times when a finger swipe failed to open the lock: once was after a power interruption and clicking one of the code keys resolved that. Two other times were related to dry finger (similar to the iPhone). Simply moistening the finger resolved it on the next swipe. The greatest value is the piece of mind knowing our weapons are secure and easily accessible. I have recommended these devices to my entire family, one of whom is a retired LEO.
I like my pistol gun safe. It is bolted to the floor next to my bed, just a reach away. You can program it to open with the lighted key pad, a swipe of any card with a the metalic strip… even a debit card, rewards card and the key. And you can set it up to take all of these opening options if you want… And it comes with a battery back up you can plug into it to use the key pad or card swipe……and the key is 4 bladed kind of like an X or cross shape.. It can be easily inserted to open up the safe in the dark as well………
Hello,
We are just online at the moment. We are work on our distributor location as we speak but currently do have anyone in FL.
Thank for looking and have a Responsible Day.
Chris