The author's oversize Fort Knox safe holds 50 long guns in addition to a large selection of handguns.

Next comes a fixed-metal box that permanently and securely attaches to a nightstand, bed or some other piece of furniture. Some models can be installed in a car or recreational vehicle. GunVault is one well-known product of this type. Four different GunVaults are available. Standard Mini and Multi models have 16-gauge steel walls and No-Eyes four-finger keypads for quick, easy access. Deluxe versions sport motion detectors with audible alarms, along with interior lights to illuminate the safe's contents.

The programmable electronic keypad has a built-in computer that blocks access after repeated invalid entries. An indicator also notifies you of attempts to open the GunVault in your absence. One of my sons has used a GunVault for years and says it's been highly reliable.

Taking things up another notch, wall-mounted steel cabinets like those offered by Secure Logic and American Security Products are designed to fit between studs 16 inches apart.

Installed in a closet and screened by hanging clothes, they keep guns out of sight, yet quickly accessible. Depending on the model, these can be opened by entering numbers via a keypad or triggering a sophisticated fingerprint sensor.

This AC-powered Goldenrod dehumidifier has long been a standard accessory to prevent guns rusting in safes.

While these wall-mounted units are pretty much childproof, most won't protect your guns from fire. They're primarily designed to keep handguns from unauthorized persons but quickly accessible by you. Stack-On offers free-standing pistol cabinets with pre-drilled holes for mounting to a floor, ceiling or wall--or to another Stack-On cabinet. These modestly priced units are fitted with conventional key-operated locks. Stack-On's more robust free-standing safes come equipped with combination locks.

Nosler now offers full-size gun safes.

If fire is a concern, you'll need to invest in a heavier safe offering some degree of fire protection. American Security (AMSEC) offers a sturdy wall safe with a 5/8-inch-thick door and a one-hour fire rating. Stack-On's personal fire-resistant safes are similarly UL-certified to withstand a full hour of 1,700-degree temperatures without allowing temperatures inside the safe to exceed 350 degrees (paper chars at 450 degrees).

Notice I didn't say fireproof. I'm not aware of any gun safe that claims to be fireproof. Small, lightweight personal safes like those I've mentioned provide a minimal amount of fire resistance, if any. For your guns to have really serious protection from fire, you need a heavy, full-size safe.

The ability to keep contents reasonably safe from burning varies widely with model and price. Light handgun cases like those V-Line offers, quick-access GunVault safes and most cabinets that mount flush with the wall guard against children or theft but offer nothing in the way of fire protection.

On the other hand, handgun-size safes from Stack-On, AMSEC, Cannon and others offer fire protection varying from 40 minutes at 1,200 degrees (the temperature of the average house fire) to two full hours at 1,850 degrees.