Introduction
Steelwater safes are designed to cover the security, fireproofing, and reliability that is needed in a gun safe. After leaving the manufacturing plant and before they’re dispatched to you all Steelwater gun safes are removed from their packaging and inspected thoroughly for imperfections, defects, or damages.
Here are the best Steelwater gun safe reviews. Here I provide hands-on reviews of the top three Steelwater gun safes for rifles and handguns.
1. New and Improved Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 Long Gun Safe
Steelwater 20 Long Gun Safe Summary (AMSW592818)
| Overall Score: | 4.6/5 |
| Security Rating: | Exceeds California Department of Justice regulatory standards for residential security containers |
| Fire Rating: | 1 hour of fire protection at 1875ºF |
| Locking Type: | EMP Proof Electronic lock system with High security Double sided bypass key lock |
| Ext. Dimensions: | 59” H x 28” W x 18” D (Add 3” for the handle) |
| Int. Dimensions: | 55 ¾” H x 25 ¼” W x 14 5/8 ” D |
| Capacity: | Maximum Long Gun Capacity 20 (10/10) |
| Weight (lbs): | 453 lbs |
The Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 Long Gun Safe is a new, improved model.
With an average capacity of 12-16 long guns, this safe has been designed to protect its contents from fire and attack. This safe is well suited for home use for gun enthusiasts.
It features a heat-activated door seal that is designed to seal out smoke and expands to 8 times its thickness in the event of a fire.
It has a gear drive system providing extra security from pry, punch and drill attacks as opposed to the cam drives found in some other safes.
This safe is constructed with a 12-gauge steel plate and designed to withstand severe attacks. Even if someone cut the hinges off completely, 9 pins will keep the door from being removed.
The digital keypad is EMP-proof, and the safe also comes with a double-bitted high-security bypass key for emergencies, such as a power failure.
In addition to the gun rack, the safe includes adjustable shelves which can be used for handguns or to store other items such as documents.
It also features a door organizer made of a heavy-duty material, which is still soft enough to protect your valuables from damage.
Steelwater has covered many bases with this safe. Even the pre-drilled ½” diameter anchor holes have been reinforced with a steel plate for more security when the safe is bolted to the floor.
It is heavy at 453 pounds, and unlikely that it could be carried away by two people. You should also consider this if you need to move it up or downstairs when you first purchase this Steelwater gun safe.
The weight also means that this model cannot be delivered to some remote locations such as islands as it is carried on a tractor-trailer.
Pros
Cons
2. Steelwater Cabinet Gun Safe - 2 Hour Fireproof Office and Document Safe
Steelwater Small Gun Safe Summary (AMSWS-610)
| Overall Score: | 4.7/5 |
| Security Rating: | No U.L. Listing |
| Fire Rating: | 2 Hour fire rating at 1850ºF |
| Locking Type: | Group II Key Changeable Combination Dial with Vision Guard Lock |
| Ext. Dimensions: | 22 ¼” H x 18 ¼” W x 18 3/8” D |
| Int. Dimensions: | 14 ½” H x 12 1/2 “ W x 12 ½” D |
| Capacity: | 1.45 Cubic Ft |
| Weight (lbs): | 195 lbs |
The Steelwater small gun safe AMSWS-610C is ideal for home and office use to store guns and documents. It is a heavy-duty safe with a 2-hour fire rating.
Featuring external hinges which allow the door to swing open past 180º, it is easy to get full access to the 1.45 cubic foot capacity of the safe.
It is therefore easy to get things in and out, especially items with odd shapes.
This Steelwater safe has a removable non-adjustable tray located at the top of the safe as well as an additional removable shelf below it.
The safe has big ½” diameter pre-drilled anchor holes so that it can be anchored to the floor for increased security. It is heavy at 195 lbs, which would make it difficult to remove.
The AMSWS-610C Steelwater gun safe comes with a Group II combination dial with a vision guard lock.
If you prefer the quick access and the ability to set and change your codes, there are two options of locks with digital keypads.
The safe also comes with a secondary key-operated day lock and two keys.
This product is shipped by tractor-trailer and cannot be delivered to some remote areas such as islands, areas accessible only by toll bridge or ferry service and to places in New York with zip codes beginning in (100-104) and (110-119).
This is something you should check before ordering to prevent delivery issues.
Pros
Cons
3. Steelwater File Cabinet Gun Safe
Steelwater File Cabinet Gun Safe Summary (AMFFC-200)
| Overall Score: | 3.7/5 |
| Security Rating: | No U.L. Listing |
| Fire Rating: | 1-Hour UL Fireproofing protection |
| Locking Type: | Key lock |
| Ext. Dimensions: | 30” H x 21 ¼” W x 26 5/8” D |
| Int. Dimensions: | Drawer dimensions (x2) 11 ¼” H x 15 ¼” W x 20 ½” D |
| Capacity: | 2.03 Cubic Ft |
| Weight (lbs): | 372 lbs |
Pros
Cons
This Steelwater file cabinet gun safe is essentially designed for documents, however, the drawer rails sit on steel rollers, which are “U” shaped, making it suitable for heavy items, which I wouldn’t consider putting into a regular file cabinet.
I feel it is a bit of a stretch calling it a gun safe although it is fair to call it burglary resistant.
It is not a high security safe and was largely designed for the storage of documents. I would think twice before storing guns in it.
Each large legal-sized drawer has its own local and four locking bolts for added security. Each drawer can be locked individually with a robust locking bolt system.
However, it is also possible, with the flip of a lever to unlock both drawers, but the top drawer must be slightly open for this to work.
It comes standard with legal-sized drawers, but if you prefer standard-sized drawers, you can customize these on your order.
This safe cannot be bolted to the floor, like other gun safes and trying to add a bolt through the safe may hinder the drawers from working correctly.
It is very heavy at 372 lbs, and I think it is unlikely that it could be carried out by 2 people. You should also consider this if you need to move it up or downstairs when you receive it.
This product is shipped by tractor-trailer and cannot be delivered to some remote areas such as islands, areas accessible only by toll bridge or ferry service and to places in New York with zip codes beginning in (100-104) and (110-119).
This should be checked into before ordering to prevent delivery issues.
Buyer’s Guide – How to choose a Steelwater gun safe and why?
The decision to buy any safe must be considered based on what you need to put in it, what those items are to be protected from, as well as environmental issues.
Are you protecting the guns from burglars, from fire or water damage, perhaps from curious children? Do you need to access them in a hurry? What other items do you want to store in the safe?
What to look for in a Steelwater gun safe?
In this guide, I have outlined some key considerations. These include:
Weight: Secure safes are of course made from heavy steel. A vital benefit of this is that many of them can not easily be lifted and carried, even by two men.
That needs to be considered regarding where you want to place/install it. If you must move it up or downstairs, you will need to think about how you will do that.
Delivery: Because of the weight, these safes are delivered by full length (53’) tractor-trailer. The size of these vehicles may limit how close they can get to your premises, and the driver may not be able to enter your drive. It will be your responsibility to move it from there to its location indoors.
Locks: If you collect or are known to have several guns, you may become a target of professional thieves who have skills in picking locks.
They may have tools such as a device that emits an electro-magnetic-pulse (EMP), which can revert a safe to its factory default settings, with a password they are likely to know.
Steelwater offers a variety of locks to meet your needs in a balance of quick access when you need to open the lock, as well as protection from professional criminals.
Fire and water protection: Fires happen and whatever the cause, you need to know that your guns are safe.
If you live in an area where there is a high fire risk, it is worth considering one that includes the heat-activated door seal that expands up to 8 times its size.
Having done that, it will also protect against water, for example, from a fire hose or extinguisher.
If you are in an area which floods or has high humidity, some Steelwater safes are pre-drilled with holes to enable the installation of a dehumidifier.
Why buy a Steelwater gun safe?
The Steelwater gun safes I've reviewed cover a variety of use cases from long guns to documents. Steelwater has an extensive range of gun safes, designed in America and constructed to their specifications in China.
The owner of the company started working in law enforcement, where he saw evidence of the results when people purchased safes that weren’t of appropriate quality to meet their owners’ needs.
He has since spent the last 22 years servicing, repairing and opening safes and the designs reflect the benefit of that experience.
Steelwater stands behind their safes with a lifetime fire and theft protection warranty, PROVIDING the safe is anchored to the floor.
This is something a buyer should consider in the case of the Fire Cabinet Gun Safe, because anchoring could distort the shape of the cabinet such that the drawers might not open and close.
They also provide free delivery, which is great because usually heavy, bulky items come with high freight costs.
Steelwater long gun safes come in a wide range of capacities, but you need to consider their dimensions and customization.
For example, if your guns have scopes, they will take up more space than guns on their own. Don’t just assume that a 20-gun safe will hold 20 guns.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, these Steelwater gun safe reviews will cover the bases for you of things you need to consider.
This is not the sort of purchase you could quickly ship back if it doesn’t meet your needs.
As they say caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware.
Do your homework to avoid disappointment. Do your homework, and you can have the confidence that your guns will be safe from people and elements.
If none of these options are quite right for you, try my simple 7 step guide that guarantees to find the right home safe for you!
Alternatively, check out my other gun safe reviews.
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. You will not pay any extra. More details here.
