Display security question

[Steve Flanagan]

Hello guys,
Over the years Ive built up a decent representative collection of German sniper rifles. They stay in the safe the majority of the time. I would love to be able to display them and have them secure at same time, thought about running cables through triggerguards and attaching them to the racks mounted securely to the walls. House is equipped with very nice security system, including Rottweiller. Any of you come up with anything that makes a great horizontal wall rack display that will stop or delay a thief long enough to make it impractical for the attempt. My police response is usually two minutes or so.

[muddinman04]

Steve,
I have invested in a product called "Burglar Bomb". It is a small canister of very potent OC spray that is discharged when triggered.

They have a couple different models including infrared and are very affordable. I bought the one with the tripwire and plan on running it though the trigger guards on my K98 and Arisaka collection I am placing on the wall.

Like you, I am tired of everything always being in the safe. I would love to display the rifles that I have, but have always been worried about theft.

I got an insurance policy through Collectibles Insurance Agency to help put my mind at ease as well. My regular homeowners insurance would not even cover a fraction of the cost of my collection.

Here is the url to their site
burglar bomb

Good luck and lets see some picture once you get your display completed!!

[Gene]

"Police response? Not Needed" Love it!

[Steve Flanagan]

Da Bomb

I am all over this! This is perfect,,,,thanks Muddin!

[muddinman04]

It's the least I can do!

Good luck!

[pitts duncan]

my solution

sorry this is so long and involved but i have given this a lot of thought and my solution is as follows. contact american panel in ocala florida. ask if they can build you a walkin cooler without the refrigeration about 2 and a half feet deep and say 12 feet long. specify stainless steel interior and exterior. specify that you want display windows two feet wide every six inches across front. specify that you want lexan instead of glass for security reasons. specify that you want a heavy locking door also in stainless. then order and add the oc spray system as a backup if they get in the door. the stainless is incredibly strong and interior and exterior is double good. these come in 2 to 3 foot sections and are assembled on site. this would give you display, gas security, stainless steel security, lexan panels security and a nice presentation. i think i would feel comfortable displaying in this. and by the way if you got home invaded you could go inside and have gun access and time to call police? what ya think? i think its pretty good . the american panel company manufactures all over the world etc and is tops in cooler design to exact specs. don't forget to price lighting.

[pitts duncan]

my solution

sorry this is so long and involved but i have given this a lot of thought and my solution is as follows. contact american panel in ocala florida. ask if they can build you a walkin cooler without the refrigeration about 2 and a half feet deep and say 12 feet long. specify stainless steel interior and exterior. specify that you want display windows two feet wide every six inches across front. specify that you want lexan instead of glass for security reasons. specify that you want a heavy locking door also in stainless. then order and add the oc spray system as a backup if they get in the door. the stainless is incredibly strong and interior and exterior is double good. these come in 2 to 3 foot sections and are assembled on site. this would give you display, gas security, stainless steel security, lexan panels security and a nice presentation. i think i would feel comfortable displaying in this. and by the way if you got home invaded you could go inside and have gun access and time to call police? what ya think? i think its pretty good . the american panel company manufactures all over the worlf etc and is tops in cooler design to exact specs. don't forgat to price lighting.

[Steve Flanagan]

Security

A good combo!

[tracman]

You may also want to consider having a display room built in your home, specifically one that uses the slab as its base, with a steel-reinforced door frame, vault door, steel-framed windows with lexan glass, and with reinforced walls. Consider brick or concrete block with concrete stucco as facing for the lowest level of the house, since it's a trivial matter to get through siding. There are some very heavy duty plywood materials that can make for good wall material: you don't want to have drywall attached to 2x4s, anyone can get through those with a good cutter.

A good builder should be able to provide you with options on how to do this, and a structural engineer can make sure you aren't doing anything that compromises your home's integrity: combined with an alarm system and fire control, you are unlikely to have issues, and if you do, it would be tough for your insurance to find fault with your setup. You may even want to talk to an insurance agent specializing in museum insurance and the like for some ideas.

[KdF1]

If you are willing to spend those kind of dollars, you could also use it as a Tornado shelter if the need arises, and maybe get a deduction on the 'ol home Insurance. Just sayin......

[Steve Flanagan]

Security

True but good security suggestions for all budgets!!

[blinky]

If you don't want to rebuild your home, bolt a good heavy panel into the wall studs to secure your rifle rack to. Then get a good 1/2" thick acrylic (or if you want to spend the $ Lexan cover) and secure it to the panel with security screws and a lock. The average burgler isn't going to carry a set of bits for the various security screws and a smash and grab is hard to do with acrylic that thick. If you're extra paranoid you could secure the rifles to the racks with cables or even wire up the case with an alarm. Less of a chance of an accident, it gives the police more than enough time to respond to an alarm, and it doesn't cost a fortune.

[Johnny Peppers]

I don't think you are much closer to enjoying seeing your favorite rifles hanging on the wall. Encapsulated behind layers of security glass with wires running in and out of them is not too far removed from keeping them in a gun safe, plus they are easier to get to in the gun safe when it is play time.
One of the most workable and inexpensive solutions I have heard was from a collector that built simple gun racks on the wall of his gun room. During the week while he was gone most of the time he kept the rifles locked in gun safes, but on the weekends or other special occasions when he was home he hung the rifles on the racks.
The other solution was a gun and security room with reinforced concrete walls, floor, and ceiling done in a single pour. There were plenty of gun racks on the walls, and a couch and desk. As someone mentioned previously, it served double duty as a storm shelter. Not cheap, but effective.

[panzerguy]

insurance - gotta have

collectors insurance. Pay it and forgetaboutit and enjoy the toys!

[Steve Flanagan]

Security

Id rather have the toys instead of the money, these things get harder to find!