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I go way back with the GunVault people, and they let me borrow the
first prototype to make this video. I'm still as excited about this fingerprint gun safe as I was on that day:
SPECS AT A GLANCE
- Outside Dimensions: 8"H x 11"W x 2"D
- Convenient Biometric Fingerprint Opening
- Small compact size for easy transporting
- Attractive design is perfect for bedside table or nightstand
- Matte black textured electrostatic powdercoat finish
- Key-accessible in case of battery failure
- Security cable provided to secure to stationary objects
- The biometrics let you access your weapon in complete darkness and stealth -- no need to turn on a light or fumble with a key!
The MicroVault MVB500 stores your handgun securely away from thieves and children.
John's MicroBioVault MVB-500 Review:
I'm impressed with the GunVault MVB-500 pistol box and I'm proud that we carry it. This GunVault is a smaller pistol box with a biometric lock and some key features and a great price that sets it apart from the rest.
DESIGN
When people come into our stores looking for
"the hand safe", I always know exactly which safe they mean. That's because the keypad on the MicroBioVault is a formed handprint with buttons at the tips of each finger. To open the safe, you simply put your finger on the keypad, right in the handprint, press the button under your index finger and slide it over the biometric sensor. Bingo, the safe pops open.
The biometric sensor on this GunVault sits
under your index finger (but you can use
any finger you like.)
With the MicroBioVault, the first two fingerprint entries are called "administrator positions". After these two positions are filled, it takes an "administrator" to add any additional prints. I'm not sure that I want 120 friends to be able to open my safe, but it would be good to have an associate be able to open it in case something happens to me. (But if you did have a special application for your Gunvault where you wanted a large number of people to have access - yet only them - you could do it.)
Programming the MicroBioVault is easy with
the dedicated buttons.
Programming the MVB-500's lock is quite simple. The MicroBioVault has clearly marked "delete" and "learn" keys and a bright LED that lights up green or red to let you know whether you're programming it correctly. It's pretty idiot-proof. (You won't need help, but if you do, just call us at 800-827-7534 and we'll walk you through it.) The MicroBioVault also has an override key in case you need to replace the batteries. (Note that the key should be stored somewhere secure - and definitely not inside your MVB-500. Doh!)
Hopefully you'll keep the key in the big safe you already bought from us. That's what I recommend. :-)
CONSTRUCTION
The locking mechanism on this unit is very interesting. It latches very similar to how the trunk of your car would lock. It's a little spring-loaded toggle that is considerably stronger than the camlock or little pins that devices of this size normally use. It's excellent.
The biometrics on the MVB-500 run on 9-volt battery that goes into the battery compartment. (The unit also opens with a key if the batteries ever fail.)
The hinge on the door has a non-removable pin. And you can't get a good angle of attack on it to remove it, which is pretty important in a security device. The body is a "formed" body, meaning they put a piece of steel between a male and female die, put it in a multi-ton press and it forms the metal in the same way that car body parts are made. Then they added reinforcement as needed. In my opinion GunVault got it right. There are much cheaper ways to make small gun safes, but they simply will not be as secure as a formed body.
The paint on the MVB-500 is black electrostatic powder coat. It's tough and durable, has a nice tactile feel to it. The textured finish repels fingerprints and makes it easy to grip and carry as needed.
Securing the GunVault MVB500 to a stationary item is easy with the supplied cable.
The rubber feet on the bottom remove
to reveal pre-drilled mounting holes.
The inside has foam on the bottom that is glued in that goes across the hinge and covers the top to protect your piece. It also has a slide out egg-crate type piece of foam in case you have something that you want kind of squished in there for better protection. It works nicely, and also comes right out. For larger guns you might need to remove it.
The Gun Vault MVB500 has rounded corners so you don't poke yourself on the hard edges. It's light-weight, only five pounds, so it's really easy to carry with you. Biometric locks have come a long way they first came out, and this one is very easy to program and use.
CAPACITY
Closed, the Gunvault MVB500 has a low profile which lets it slide into a briefcase or backpack for travel.
MY "TWO CENTS"
The "dirty little secret" about biometric gun safes is that for a long time, a lot of them weren't all that good. Even today, there are more than a few fingerprint safes that Dean Safe will never carry, simply because they don't work reliably. That's not a good thing when you need fast access to your weapon!
Well, GunVault raised the bar with the MVB-500. They created a fingerprint pistol safe that you can count on, and my family and I can stand behind.
Fort Knox it's not, but it's great for protection against the opportunist who sees something lying there. That guy will get nowhere with this thing. It's also Department of Justice approved.
I give this safe big points. Sometimes engineering beats raw steel thickness, and I think that this is a good example. It's secure without looking like a big ugly box that your wife makes you keep in the closet. The MVB-500 is a real gunsafe, yet it can sit on your bedside table and look like it belongs. It's been a big seller for us, and it's a winner.
Thanks for reading.
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