Rider888 wrote:I have a small spike H Cat safe that I travel with around the country and use as storage. However I note that the safe only has 2 mounting holes at the bottom so when I am in NSW, how do I go about meeting the excessive requirement of 4x90mm bolts when the bottom of the safe only has two holes?
Thanks
Devilcv8 wrote:I have the same safe and just drilled 2 extra holes. I may need to setup a camera to record the safe inspection as it should be hilarious watching a fully equipped cop access the safe.
boingk wrote:If your current setup is diagonal corners try and mirror that so you end up with all four holes equal spaced. This will give the highest strength and avoid a weak point that will render it susceptible to a pry attack.
boingk wrote:Hey mate,
The constabulary will likely send local rookies or other disintrested parties out to check your safe. In some instances they will appoint a licencing sergeant and assistant(s). Either way, neither will really know or care about the diameter of the bolts you use to secure it so long as they are there.
They will mainly look that it is an appropriate, secure safe of a solid construction. Bonus points if it doesn't look like it was home-made, converted from another item (eg locker / filing cabinet) or have a Chinese looking label peeling off the front. If it doesn't move when they give it a good yank thats a plus.
Most won't bother questioning if it looks legit. It's not possession, as commonly thought, but a veneer of legitimacy that makes up nine tenths of the law. They will ask to look inside and see the firearms, see that they are appropriately stored (ie rendered safe) and then tick them off their list and get going. They likely have another dozen to get through, or otherwise call-outs (stealings, break-ins, domestics) mounting up in their list. The chatter on their radios will attest to this if so.
Blue-suited firearm enthusiasts will have a chat about what you have if it is distinctive, interesting, or similar to something in their collection. Don't take it as a threat, they are just people and have interests other than locking people up. By the same token, don't share anything that you wouldn't want law enforcement to know - they likely won't appreciate tales or sights of careless ownership. A safe answer to how an aggressive/unique looking or otherwise modified (but legal) firearm came to be that way is "I bought it like that".
Keep your equipment clean, well organised and in a safe condition. Same for ammunition - well organised is the ticket. Ensure any external lock-boxes are appropriately located and locked. Make sure that if you have multiple firearms there is an appropriate space to examine them and check serial numbers. A made bed, spare table or cloth-covered shed floor are all fine - the main thing is ease of organisation and keeping your firearms undamaged. Feel free to hold and show them the serial number as they request by firearm, or work through what you have. They'll let you know which they prefer if theres a few. If a piece is antique, unique, valuable or otherwise special to you feel free to insist that no other person touches it but that you are happy to show them what is required for the inspection.
Lastly, ensure any other residents DO NOT show the key / code for the safe to the Police. Unless licenced, they must not have access - contravention may mean seizure of your firearms and a court date or fine. The inspection will likely be arranged with you beforehand but sometimes you may happen to be away when they call by. Simply ensure others know that they are just to answer they do not know the access to your safe, and to call back when you are home.
Hope that helps. Honestly, 99% of the time, its usually just another meeting with curious fellow humans.
- boingk
Rider888 wrote:Here's another one for comments and thoughts:
If the POL does an inspection on my safe, what will they be looking for in particular?
Asking because I have a small H-Cat safe and the mounting holes at the bottom will not fit a 10mm Dynabolt hence I wont be able to use this size bolt to secure. I have since mounted my safe with 8mm Dynabolts which will also do the job but is there anyway the POL would know they are 8mm's just by looking at the bolts (top part of the Dynabolts)?
I dont really want to go through the trouble of enlarging the holes on the safe.
Thoughts? Comments?
boingk wrote:Hey mate,
The constabulary will likely send local rookies or other disinterested parties out to check your safe. In some instances, they will appoint a licensing sergeant and assistant(s). Either way, neither will really know nor care about the diameter of the bolts you use to secure it so long as they are there.
- boingk
Rider888 wrote:Great read thanks for the info. I doubt I will be able to meet their 10x90mm requirement anyway as the 10mm bolt is too large for the holes in my safe. Key thing for me is that if it is secure, as you have said, it will be fine.
Cheers
Oldbloke wrote:Rider888 wrote:Great read thanks for the info. I doubt I will be able to meet their 10x90mm requirement anyway as the 10mm bolt is too large for the holes in my safe. Key thing for me is that if it is secure, as you have said, it will be fine.
Cheers
If your still worried put a bolt or decent screw into a something solid 3/4 up the safe. Near the top. Into a solid beam or framing timber.
Only bolting to the floor is crappy IMO.
Then will pass inspection no worries.
Rental property I mean sorry for the confusionOldbloke wrote:Your still having trouble???
Normally this is an easy job.
Is it a rifle safe? No it's a small H Cat safe - Spika's smallest one
What is the rental?? Can you describe it.
Oldbloke wrote:Yes, I know. Is it a house, high rise unit double story etc?
Rider888 wrote:Oldbloke wrote:Yes, I know. Is it a house, high rise unit double story etc?
I just dont get how 4 screws into timber upstairs is as secure but this is due to my inexperience
yoshie wrote:Rider888 wrote:Oldbloke wrote:Yes, I know. Is it a house, high rise unit double story etc?
I just dont get how 4 screws into timber upstairs is as secure but this is due to my inexperience
Coach bolts are quite secure, just make sure you get a stud or noggin
Rider888 wrote:Will speak to my handyman again friday as he is coming to try again. The issue wasn't drilling through the slab. The issue was that after he put the safe down and marked the holes, removed the same and drilled the holes then put the safe back on and the holes did not line up and he couldn't get the dynabolts in
Larry wrote:Rider888 wrote:Will speak to my handyman again friday as he is coming to try again. The issue wasn't drilling through the slab. The issue was that after he put the safe down and marked the holes, removed the same and drilled the holes then put the safe back on and the holes did not line up and he couldn't get the dynabolts in
Perhaps it is time for a new handyman. Maybe drill the holes in the concrete with the safe still in place. If the safe restricts the drill size use the biggest possible with the safe in place then move it out of the way and enlarge them to the size required for the bolt. I would use the anchor bolts not the dyna bolts I find them to work much better. Just get all the dust out of the hole so the bolt can fet to depth.