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Amsec FS149 Fireproof Home Safe
Overall Product Rating: 
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Write your own review!
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| AMSEC FS149 review |
| Reviewed by: Mike Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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Would you recommend the FS149 Fireproof Home Safe to a friend? YES
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Purchased From:
Review: I have never seen a product line whose information on the internet is so poorly described and lacking in accuracy and detail as the security safe, especially the smaller residential type. After trying and being thoroughly confused, I finally made trips to several locksmiths to get a hands on knowledge. After looking at the Gardall, Hayman, Sentry, Wilson, Hollon and others, I decided to purchase the Amsec FS149. I thought it was the heaviest in its size class, felt more solid and I preferred the mechanical lock because it's reliable and I liked the dual lock feature. It's an imported safe and made in China. I will describe this safe with actual facts and will include some of the incorrect information I found on many sites on-line.
1. Locks - Combo plus key. The combo must be open before the key will retract the single bolt. The bolt is very loose fitting, thereby reducing it's shear strength ability. There are two fixed deadbolts on the hinge side which engage when the door is closed.
What it's not - The key is not an over-ride. Both combo and key locks must be open in series. The combo cannot be changed. There is only one active bolt on one side of the door, not two, not four, or more on other sides. The key lock is not hi-security type.
2. Handles - When the key is turned you must pull on the key to open the door.
What it's not - There are no handles to retract the bolt and open the door. It's not "handle operated"
3. Door - The door is described as "an impressive 1/2 inch thick" everywhere including the Amsec site and literature. The door is actually 2-1/2 inches thick, including insulation. I tried to find out where the 1/2 inch came from without success. The manufacturer says it has a 1/2 inch steel plate inside. Every locksmith I spoke to told me that's not true. What else would the 1/2 inch thickness refer to? Without cutting into the door I can't answer that one. An unecessary mystery.
4. Weight - The actual shipping weight is 92 pounds. It's right on the box, how can you screw that one up? I weighed it to be sure.
What it's not - It doesn't weigh 130, 126, or 96 pounds, as found on some sites including Amsec.
5. Fire rating - The fire rating is 350 deg. and is good protection for paper. Insulation type N/A.
What it's not - It's not a data safe which needs 150 deg rating for cd's, mag tape, flash drives, etc.
6. Burglar rating - The sheetmetal box is 20 ga (according to Amsec) seamless construction. The bolt receiver hole in the door jamb has a cup welded to the sheetmetal. Door may have 1/2 inch steel plate inside?
What it's not - It has no burglar rating. The body is sheetmetal not plate.
Now there's no reason why the above info can't be consistant and readily available at every site for every safe.
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