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As the gun safe reviews guy noted, there are a fair amount of used "real" safes on eBay and other sale sites, TL-30 and TL-15 UL safes, often for the same price as a new "gun safe". Some of them are TL-30 x 6 even.

The hitch is that you usually have to move them yourself, so you have to search of ones that are in your geographic area, and then find a company or some unsuspecting friends to move it.

I find picclick.com to be a good way to quickly find safes. Just type in "TL-30" or "TL-15" in the search bar and poof! Dozens of pictures of safes for sale pop up. The down side is I haven't found anyway to limit the search to a geographic region. I just look for a likely looking safe (e.g. tall enough to hold long gun), then click on it and see how close it is. Not quite ready to pull the trigger on one yet, but I keep looking to have an idea of what the market is like, and by doing this I have discovered a couple dealers in second-hand safes that are not too far from where I live.

Ruark wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2019 4:59 pm This is all making me nervous. We will probably be investing in a good safe soon, and I've always been leery of newfangled electronic mechanisms. Connections fail, batteries die, wires come loose, etc. I always assumed a mechanical device is more reliable. After reading this, though, I'm not so sure. What about other brands, like Liberty?

I recommend you go read what this guy has to say about gun safes, especially locks:

https://gunsafereviewsguy.com

Folks here might find this useful: What to look for in a gun safe: Gun Safe Locks

He recommends 1) S&G, 2)Kaba Mas/La Gard, and more important than brand name is a UL-rated lock.

He also notes that mechanical locks (and the whole locking mechanism of the safe) should be inspected and lubricated every 5 years.

From what I've read mechanical locks need periodic maintenance (like every few years) as well. A safe tech should clean them and check for correct operation. Also, who makes the lock is important. Some brands are more reliable than others.

A locksmith can drill the safe lock then replace the lock and repair the drilling damage so the safe is not ruined, ..but not for free. :)

He may have a few other tricks up his sleeve before drilling.

Look for someone who is member of Safe and Vault Technician’s Association or National Safeman’s Organization