Save Money! These 6 Modular Gun Safes Can be TAKEN APART

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The best all-around modular gun safe goes to the SecureIt Agile Model 52! It is easy to access, is backed by a fantastic company, and its lightweight design means you can easily tear it down and build it back up whenever and wherever you want. That said, it does have thinner steel and is an imported safe – if that is a concern for you, the Steelhead Outdoors Nomad 38 is a fantastic alternative for a more traditional gun safe experience.

With that said, as of right now, there are six great modular safes on the market, and at least one of them should be right for you! So let’s get into it.

Why should you trust me? Modular Gun Safes have long been my favorite type of safe; I have recommended them for years, both when I sold safes professionally and for quite a long time on the web. Having had hands-on experience with these safes, and having heard plenty from gun safe owners, the brands themselves, and more, have helped me become an expert on the topic.

1. SecureIt Agile Model 52

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While the SecureIt Agile Model 52 may not have a fire rating, it easily gets the top spot on my list of the best modular gun safes. This safe forgoes all the heft and additional features you see on so many safes and gives you precisely what you need—a reliable, high-quality modular safe at the right price.

If you move regularly or live in an apartment, this safe should also be at the top of your list. While it may not have a name-brand locking mechanism, it is built by one of my favorite companies, so this gets a pass.

In addition, its interior (CradleGrid) is one of the best in the industry and can be customized entirely with firearms storage, bins, pistol hangers, and more at a moment’s notice.

You might have heard of this brand, as they have been pushing the narrative (rightfully so) that there are plenty of different gun safe companies out there touting high security, thick doors, and incredible fire ratings, of which none of them are proven.

Instead, they created this gun safe (essentially a cabinet), giving everything you need but nothing you don’t. You get exactly what you get, nothing more and nothing less. There is something to that that should give peace of mind.

2. Steelhead Outdoors Nomad 38

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I won’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Steelhead Outdoors, as they are a relatively new company on the scene! That said, if you are looking for a high-quality, modular gun safe that is USA-made, this is hands down the best option. While their prices are pretty high, they no doubt will pay off!

While they offer a range of options, my favorite is the Nomad 38, as it does a great job of having impressive security features and plenty of storage without being overly expensive. It’s right in the middle, perfect.

This thing will be hard to beat with a seven-gauge door and two – 12 and 20-gauge layers elsewhere. As expected from an American-made safe, you can choose four exteriors and three interior colors. You can also select an S&G electronic lock or a Group 2 Mechanical lock, which are highly rated.

As for moving the safe into your home, the safe comes in pieces (as you would expect from a take-apart safe), and none of the components are over 165 pounds, meaning two people should be able to handle this safe with no problem.

While everything leads to the Steelhead Outdoors safes being a fantastic safe, it might be difficult to stomach the price, as they are costly.

3. Snapsafe Super Titan XXL

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Before SecureIt was well-known in the industry, and before Steelhead Outdoors ever existed, there was SnapSafe. This company has been making imported modular safes since 2009, and I have always been quite a fan of them. While the first safe they built was a smaller unit (don’t worry, we’ll talk about that one in a moment), they created this XXL Double Door to fit those that need a large capacity but still need it to come to their door in pieces.

If you are looking for a more traditional style safe with a fire rating, thicker steel, and heft, then a Snapsafe should be your go-to. The XXL here is my favorite with its large capacity, nine-gauge steel, excellent fire rating (fire material is a blanket style rather than a fireboard), and double-door design. 

This double-door design allows easy access to everything in the safe (just not quite as good as the SecureIt Model 52 above), whereas single-door safes are much harder to access at this capacity. It is a great deal at about half the price of an American-made safe of this size.

The major downside to this one is how it achieves the nine-gauge steel we discussed earlier. While it may technically be nine-gauge, this is achieved by combining two plates of fourteen-gauge steel to make it happen at a reasonable price.

If you can get past that, these safes are incredibly impressive, and they have worked out the issues over the years of production on this one.

4. SecureIt Agile Ultralight Model 40

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If you liked the Model 52, you saw it at the top of our list but wish it was a smaller or lower price, its little brother – the Agile Model 40, might be for you. 

While it loses 12 inches in height, allowing it only to fit smaller firearms, it makes up for being more compact and easier to store in tight spaces. Of course, it maintains a high-quality lock, modular design, and fantastic cradle-grid interior technology. If you want a quality but compact gun safe, this has to be it.

One of the best things about this Model 40 is that it can be bolted to the top of a Model 52. This means you could technically start with the Model 40 if you are on a budget and then get the Model 52 found earlier in this article once you have saved up more, and you won’t lose any additional floor space in the meantime (make sure to bolt everything down well).

Just like the Model 52, the interior of this safe is incredible, with countless configurations of pistol pegs, bins, rifle slots, and so much more. If you are looking for a versatile safe on a reasonable budget, this is a fantastic one to look at. They even have an impressive return policy, so there is less risk than elsewhere.

5. SnapSafe Titan

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No, you aren’t seeing Dejavu; this is another Snapsafe Titan on this list. This is the original Titan from the company, which is quite different. If you are looking for a compact yet impressive modular safe with a fire rating, this will be a great bet.

It forgoes the double-door design (and massive size) of its big brother but maintains the nine-gauge steel, the excellent fire rating, and of course, the tear-apart design that is the hallmark of the SnapSafe safes.

This safe is also much lighter, with smaller panels, meaning its easier to tear down, and put back together.

All of that said, you are limited with space on this safe, as it has a bit more compact sizing but suffers from being a bit less optimized than competitors like the Model 52 found earlier in this article, as it uses a standard u-shaped rack, rather than something comparable to Cradle-Grid.

6. Zanotti Armor X1

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While I prefer the USA-made Steelhead Outdoors safes near the top of this article, the X1 from Zanotti makes it onto this list as my favorite modular home safe (with the bonus of being USA-made). Not to mention they have been making their safes since 1985.

The home safe is for you if you don’t need a massive capacity but need hand-built security, fire resistance, and thick steel. This is industry-leading protection with 1/8 steel on the walls and 3/16 everywhere else.

While its styling may be lacking, nothing is better in the modular safe category on the market. Just don’t be surprised by the price; it is higher than some of the competition on this list.

I appreciate that Zanotti is willing to offer a modular home safe; At the same time, it may be a niche product, but it is undoubtedly a fantastic alternative for someone who couldn’t get a safe into their home otherwise.

What is a modular gun safe?

Modular gun safes are take-apart gun safes. These safes are received in pieces; you can quickly build the safe wherever you want to place them in your home. The most significant components are generally under 100 pounds (but can get close to 200 on larger safes) and can easily be carried through the house by one or two people.

This tear-down feature is a huge benefit, as you can easily take your gun safe upstairs, downstairs, or into cramped hallways without worrying about the weight of a welded safe.

So how do modular safes deliver to you at your home? These safes will appear at your door (via curbside delivery) and are laid flat. This is a huge benefit over regular safes, as no one has to know that you just received a gun safe at your home, as would be expected with standard safe delivery. 

Modular safes come in various styles, ranging from a gun cabinet with no fire rating to more traditional styled safes with fire ratings, thicker steel, and more.

What are the benefits of modular gun safes?

1. A great option to install on upper floors (make sure to check your home can hold the assembled weight)
2. Easy to install in closets with smaller models
3. Arrives in discreet crates so nosey neighbors don’t know you have a safe
4. No need to hire expensive moving companies (Spend the savings on a better/bigger safe)

What are the downsides to modular gun safes?

1. Limited options on the market
2. More expensive than comparable safes

What should you look for in a modular safe?

1. Build Quality

When you do a quick search, plenty of “modular gun safes” are on the market. However, you will quickly notice that most of the “modular safes” on the market aren’t modular or deficient. That is why I only included brands on this list that I know and trust on this list. I have personally talked with every brand found above and explored their features. 

2. Locking Mechanism

Look closely at the locking mechanism of the modular safe you buy! Plenty of low-quality locks are on the market; an easy way to know is if they need a brand name. Most high-quality locks will have a name like SecuRAM (what Snapsafe uses) or S&G (in the case of Steelhead Outdoors).

If a brand name is absent, you will want to look closely at the company behind the safe to determine its quality. If they lack a reputation online (outside of the retailer you are shopping at), you can assume they lack a reputation for their locks. Keep the lock quality high, as this is one of the essential parts of your safe.

3. Steel Gauge

Not everyone needs 3/16″ steel throughout their safe; however, this is an essential aspect of your safe. If you need a lightweight safe primarily used for basic storage, 14 gauge may not be an issue. However, consider thicker steel if you want something that can withstand hours of tool attack. 

It is also worth mentioning while steel is a significant portion of the weight of a safe, the fire-resistant material can be the more important reason why most safes are heavy. Because of this, don’t worry too much about going up a bit on the gauge of steel if you are worried about weight.

4. Fire Rating

One of the first things that most manufacturers of modular safes do is forgo the fire rating. This can work well for many people, especially if you are close to a fire station or have other methods of suppressing a fire. 

However, if you are someone that does need a fire rating (if you are far from a fire station or maybe near a volunteer station), then make sure that that is available for you (Snapsafe or Zanotti, for example). That said, I also put together a complete guide for you, so you can figure out what fire rating you need (you can find it here).

5. Budget

I will always tell you to stay within your budget! Before you even start your shopping journey for a safe, you should figure out your budget and stick to it. Make sure to account for any moving costs (shouldn’t be too much on a modular safe), shipping costs (most retailers offer free shipping now), and taxes when setting that budget, and find a safe that fits within that price point. Plenty of modular safes include a range of budgets on this list!

Who should buy a modular gun safe?

Modular gun safes are fantastic options for quite a few people!

1. People move often and need to take their safes with them.
2. Individuals living upstairs or downstairs don’t want to spend money on professional movers.
3. Firearm owners that want to build the safe into a closet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Modular safes are my favorite category, as they offer flexibility that no other type of safes can do. With plenty of options, ranging from budget gun cabinet style safes to thick-gauge steel, USA-made safes, you should be able to find a modular safe that fits your lifestyle.

If it were me, I would purchase a heavy-duty modular safe and then get the Model 52 at the top of this list (Paid Link) to distribute your items throughout your home for easy access.