SecureIt’s Fast Box Model 47

FAST, QUICK & READY

We all want to keep our guns away from small hands and unwanted grubbies when we’re not around, but we also want them ready and waiting when they’re needed. The simplest route is to always have it on you. But simple doesn’t mean easy, and this is double true when it comes to long-guns. This security calculus has been the basis of gun safes and access control since the invention of arms.

The Fast Box Model 47 from SecureIt initially piqued our interest because it’s a unit used by Marine Security Guards for weapon access control in embassies around the world. And while under a bed is different than inside a hardened building surrounded by machineguns, it does mean that it stands up to regular and repeated use — and that’s not nothing. Let’s explore more.

WHAT IT IS

The Fast Box Model 47 is listed by SecureIt as a Modular Fast Access Gun Safe. With its sheet metal body and smaller locking rods, it’s better to think of it as a controlled access cabinet for defensive weapons than any sort of safe, but this is better than some random Cabela’s cabinet. With internal dimensions of 47 by 6 by 12 inches, the Fast Box 47 is long and slim. It weighs about 40 pounds so it’s a little awkward but not unmanageable for an able-bodied adult to move around. It’s here we should say that SecureIt also has a Model 40, which is the same product but is only 40 inches long, so a bit more squat.

If you use the included cradles and stock bases you can fit two slick rifles vertically in there, but the reality for many is that it’ll hold a single decked-out rifle or shotgun.

WHERE YOU CAN FIT IT

SecureIt made the Fast Box series specifically for modular mounting — you can tuck it into a lot of places. It’s for long-guns, but it’s not huge (external dimensions are close to internal at 47.25 by 6.5 by 14 inches), so it can go under a bed, upright in the back of a closet, in a small space in an RV, inside a truck toolbox, etc.

No matter where you put it, it’s gotta be securely mounted. About 40 pounds plus whatever’s inside isn’t enough weight to keep it from shifting in a vehicle nor from preventing it from walking off. Further, it’s much easier for someone to pry it open if they can choose their leverage point, so consider placement carefully.

There are ¼-inch mounting holes on every side of the Fast Box but the front. After you pick your placement, check your materials and head to the hardware store for appropriate fasteners.

We go into further depth on home-defense storage solutions and placement in CONCEALMENT Issue 27 in the article “Safe Gun Storage for Apartment Dwellers.”

FAST ACCESS

The Fast Box can be unlocked with a digital code, fingerprint, or override key. Yes, fingerprint readers can skeeve people out, but digital locks did at one point in time too. For whatever it’s worth, the reader on the Fast Box Model 47 has worked well in our testing, unlocks in about a beat, and rarely requires a second read.

Still, there are those for whom fingerprint readers simply don’t work. And those people should be using the keypad instead. The keypad only has four digits (1 to 4) so it’s limiting, but the codes can be programmed to be between 3 and 12 digits long.

These units use a lock-and-knob setup, meaning the knob on the front is what actually does the business of locking, and the keypad/fingerprint unlocks the knob itself. After a registered fingerprint or keycode is entered, the knob will be able to open and close for 5 seconds. After that time, you can rotate the knob closed but will have to re-enter the code to unlock it again (only an issue if you inadvertently close it while the door is open).

Like other digital locks, there’s a programming button on the inside of the door. But unlike many others, this button has a threaded brass protector on top, meaning that someone can’t simply stick a wire hanger in there to reset the whole mess — a very nice touch.

The keypad has a backlight, but you can toggle it on and off. There’s a loud keypad sound, but you can turn that one on and off too. If you don’t like the idea of a fingerprint reader, it can also be disabled.

AVOIDING WEIRDNESS

Doing the right things in the right order helps keep the gremlins at bay, so here are our recommendations for avoiding any electronic weirdness with this (or any other) electronic safe/cabinet/access control unit.

Test all the electronics before installing and securing. That way if there are any issues you aren’t uninstalling the entire business to get it figured out.

If there’s anything electronic related to guns, you have to be mindful about your batteries. The Fast Box Model 47 runs on a single 9V. The first thing you should do is pick up a brand-new, name-brand battery. Normally, we bias to lithium batteries, because they’re long-lasting and don’t leak, but SecureIt specifically states in their literature to not use lithium batteries or rechargeable batteries, so alkaline it is. 

Programming user codes and fingerprints can be a bit of a chore, but the good news is that if you do it right you only have to do it once. Start by putting the instructions in front of you. After installing the battery, perform a factory reset to ensure you’ve got a fresh slate. Keep in mind that when it comes to fingerprints, orientation matters; if the Fast Box is going to be mounted vertically, program your prints with it vertically.

During physical installation, keep the override keys in your pocket. Sometimes battery doors can come loose during a process like that. And while you can tape it shut and there’s an emergency USB-C power option, the physical keys are an ease.

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS

If you’re concerned about sizing, measure the rifle you want to use. Forty-seven inches is damned near musket-length these days, and even a 16-inch rifle equipped with a silencer can fit inside the shorter Model 40. However, with that extra space comes room to grow, and SecureIt sells things like shelves and pistol racks that can be easily integrated.

 If you’ll be mounting horizontally or inside a vehicle, our recommendation is to glue a carpet square to the inside/ bottom to not only prevent scratches but also reduce unneeded noise. A little 3M spray adhesive helps here.

LOOSE ROUNDS

SecureIt has other models in the Fast Box line, from pull-out drawers to smaller handgun units and even under-body vehicle units. We like this one enough that we’re using it. It’s not perfect, but provided you understand the limitations this is a great bit of access control for home defense that can complement your other security measures.

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