Take security upgrades, for example. 

If your home has a security system, do you really need a safe? What about the opposite scenario? Isn’t only one of these options good enough? Let’s take a look at which security option is better for you, or if investing in both is the best decision.

Advantages of a Safe

Home safes are ideal for keeping valuable belongings secured. At the top of the list are firearms, ammunition, jewelry, cash and important documents. While a security system will alert you to suspicious activity, it won’t do much for physically protecting your most important belongings. Here are some of the other security advantages a safe provides:

• Portability: A safe can be delivered and installed in the location of your choice
• Flexibility: bolt down the safe to the floor or wall, or leave it freestanding. 
• Variety: There are a wide variety of safe sizes and features available today.
• Superiority: When it comes to protecting belongings in a fire, flood or burglary attempt, nothing provides safety and security like a safe (especially with the right safe rating). 

Advantages of a Security System

Security systems don’t physically protect belongings, but they do give you awareness and an extra layer of support in the form of a monitoring company. Using your preferred settings and features, you can set up your home security in a way that gives you superior peace of mind—both at home and on the road. Here are some of the other security advantages a security system provides:

• Visibility: you can install cameras and point them anywhere you’d like.
• Safety: A team of professionals will be ready to alert the authorities should something suspicious happen and trigger an alarm on your property.
• Affordability: Many security systems are more affordable than large or advanced home safes and there are different levels of systems for different budgets.

Benefits of Both

Of course, as a professional security company, we’ll recommend that you invest in both a safe and a security system, if your budget allows. This isn’t just bias; you’ll be able to keep your most precious and valuable items locked away in a well-rated safe while keeping the rest of your home monitored and ready to alert you (or the team monitoring your system). A consultation with a professional locksmith is all you need to determine what your situation requires, and they’ll be happy to recommend certain models, brands or systems.

If you’re in need of a new safe or security system, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our DFW-area locations. 

But did you know Browning is also a top-tier name in the safe world?

Let’s take a look at how the company got started, when it started producing safes and what Browning safe options are available today (plus where you can get one).

How It All Started

As mentioned above, John Browning founded the company with his brother Matthew Browning in 1878. They started out in Ogden, Utah, where they initially had the goal of promoting John’s innovative firearm designs—which included pistols, shotguns and rifles. John’s designs have since been manufactured by several other companies (e.g. Winchester, Colt, Remington) and Browning as a company has expanded to other products like fishing gear, knives, bicycles, bows and more. But they started out with firearms.

The Transition to Safes

One area the company expanded to after it started experiencing success was security. As a predominantly firearm and ammunition company, it makes sense that Browning would want to create safes for storing guns and ammo. A few decades ago, they did just that, contacting another Utah company, Provo Steel & Supply (aka ProSteel) to team up and start making a line of gun safes. 

Browning ProSteel Safes (as the partnership was called) separated itself from other safe manufacturers with a unique door storage system that allowed for the storage of long guns on the door of the safe itself. Another unique feature of Browning safes is a patented door-locking system that deflects force, making it more secure. Because of these differentiators, Browning rose in popularity among firearm owners looking for a reliable gun safe.

Browning Safes Today

Today, Browning and Liberty safes are among the most respected in the industry. Ask any professional locksmith about the brand of safe that they’d recommend and you’ll hear Browning or Liberty more often than not. Browning safes come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, prices, security levels, finishes and ratings. No matter your need or budget, there’s a Browning safe that’s right for you. 
If you’re interested in a Browning safe (or another well-respected safe brand), visit any of our DFW-area locations or browse our online selection today.

From fire safes and burglary safes to gun safes and jewelry safes, there are different types of safes for different needs. Let’s take a closer look at each type and how they protect your valuables.

1. Fire Safes

As implied by the name, fire safes keep your valuables protected in the event of a fire. These safes have a fire-resistant design and are perfect for storing important documents, memorable items from your family’s history and other high-value items. Many of these safes have warranties and guaranteed protection against fire, so be sure to ask about it when you’re shopping. (Liberty and Browning are two trusted brands for fire safes, FYI.)

2. Burglary Safes

While fire safes are designed to protect against more natural disasters, burglary safes are designed to protect against thieves. Many of these types of safes feature tamper-proof technology and extra levels of security, such as multiple entry methods (e.g. combination, keypad, fingerprint, etc.) and superior materials. Put simply, burglary safes are also designed to store valuable items that you don’t want stolen. It’s also possible that a safe can be both a burglary safe and a fire safe. 

3. Gun Safes

A third type of safe is the gun safe. These are obviously designed to store firearms and can be large depending on the type of firearm(s) they’re storing. Handgun safes will usually be smaller and can feature one, two or more compartments. They can also be designed to mount to a wall, under a desk or stand alone. There are also bigger gun safes for storing rifles, shotguns and entire gun collections. Gun safes are also designed for restrictive access, and, as such, feature multiple entry options including quick-access options which don’t compromise security..

4. Jewelry Safes

Finally, the last general type of safe is the jewelry safe. These are designed to both protect and organize your valuable jewelry. Many jewelry safes are beautiful to look at as well. They’re specifically engineered with jewelry in mind, so you can maintain the luster, color and condition of your favorite pieces. As with gun safes, many jewelry safes are also fire- and burglary-proof. 

If you’re in the market for a new safe (or need help with delivery or installation), give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at 972-284-7500 and we’ll answer any questions you may have.