Vaultek 20 Series vs Fort Knox Original Pistol Box

Vaultek 20 Series: 16-gauge steel; anti-pry bars, interior hinges and two anti-impact latches, per Vaultek; 7.2 lb. Fort Knox Original Pistol Box: 10-gauge steel body; 3/16 in wrap-around door with a concealed continuous hinge, per Fort Knox; 22 lb.

Gauge runs backwards: a lower number is thicker steel. The Pistol Box is 14.8 lb heavier, which helps once it is bolted down and hurts on delivery day. Approvals stated on the pages: Vaultek 20 Series, no UL or California DOJ line on the page; Fort Knox Original Pistol Box, no UL or California DOJ line on the page. A listing we can't read on the seller's page is one we can't count. Bolt down whichever you choose.

Neither page claims a fire rating. Quick-access and lightweight storage is built to control who opens it, not to resist heat.

If fire matters, keep documents in a separate fire chest, or look at the fire-rated safes we rank. Our gun safe fire rating guide explains what the minutes mean.

Vaultek 20 Series: fingerprint scanner (80 fingerprints with ViSN), 5-digit backlit keypad and a front keyway; WiFi app alerts. The Nano Key fob is not included. Power: 3 AAA batteries (not included). Fort Knox Original Pistol Box: simplex mechanical push-button lock, "over 1000 possible combinations", no batteries. Power: none needed: the lock is mechanical.

More ways in means fewer bad surprises: a key or a mechanical lock still works when a battery is flat. Whichever lock you choose, the code and the keys stay with the adults; the guide to California DOJ approved gun safes links the official child-safety advice, and storage laws differ by state.

On November 13, 2026: Vaultek 20 Series $312.99 at Vaultek, Fort Knox Original Pistol Box $299 at Fort Knox ($345 regular). That is $13.99 between them.

Warranty: Vaultek 20 Series, 2-year limited warranty, 3 years if you register the safe, per Vaultek's refund policy page; Fort Knox Original Pistol Box, lifetime warranty for the original purchaser on materials and workmanship; the lock and the gas strut are covered separately, per Fort Knox's warranty page. Returns: Vaultek 20 Series, 30 days with a prepaid return label; the original shipping charge is not refunded, per Vaultek's refund policy; Fort Knox Original Pistol Box, no return window on the pages we read. Delivery: Vaultek 20 Series, no delivery terms on the pages we read; Fort Knox Original Pistol Box, no delivery terms on the pages we read.

Full reviews: Vaultek 20 Series review and Fort Knox Original Pistol Box review. Both appear in our ranking of the best gun safes, biometric gun safe, handgun safe, american made gun safes.

Other head-to-heads: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe vs Vaultek 20 Series.

Still deciding what kind of safe you need? Read our guide: Gun safe fire ratings explained.