There has perhaps never been a better time to be in the market for a quality gun safe. Several top-tier manufacturers are currently competing for their own share of this growing market, which has spawned a wealth of recent development.
Of these companies, few are as renowned as Cannon and Liberty, both of which have served as pillars of the gun safe industry for quite some time.
Today, many who are in search of the best gun safe for their money, find themselves torn between the purchase of a Cannon or Liberty safe. Admittedly, this can be quite a difficult decision to make, as both manufacturers turn out some of the most secure, well-made safes on the market.
The following guide will compare Liberty and Cannon’s various product offerings, in a bid to assist you in finding the best possible safe for your particular application.
Table Of Contents
Size Considerations
The product lineups of both Liberty and Cannon include safes of many sizes, providing consumers with suitable options to meet almost every need. From compact to all-encompassing, Liberty and Cannon have something to offer for every gun owner.
In fact, for the average firearm enthusiast or collector, it is difficult to go wrong with a purchase from either manufacturer, as both market safe’s of quite sizable proportions.
However, for those who own a vast array of firearms, Cannon carries a slight advantage in terms of maximum size. While Liberty offers several particular models with a 60 long gun capacity, Cannon’s massive American Eagle safe is rated to hold a maximum of 72 similarly sized firearms.
This might also be of value to those hoping to expand their already sizable gun collection soon.
Structural Integrity
In terms of overall build and structural integrity, Cannon and Liberty each have a lot to offer. Both companies manufacture sturdy home safes that are more than capable of withstanding break-in attempts, from even the most determined of burglars.
However, those looking for a high-quality safe that is nearly indestructible, are likely to find favor in several of Liberty’s top-tier offerings. Several of these safes are somewhat more robust than similar models marketed by Cannon.
The majority of Liberty Safe Company’s heaviest safes are constructed of 7-gauge steel, while the vast majority of Cannon Safes utilize 12-gauge steel in their construction. This gives Liberty a slight edge over Cannon in terms of overall structural integrity, though one would be hard-pressed to find fault in the build of either company’s safes.
On a side note, all Liberty brand safes are manufactured in the USA, while Cannon’s manufacturing efforts are based in Mexico.
Fire Rating
Another factor worthy of comparison is the fire rating of Liberty and Cannon’s numerous gun safes. This rating directly relates to how a safe will fare, if exposed to the significant heat generated by a house fire.
Outside of a safe’s security features, few characteristics are as valuable as those relating to fire protection. In this regard, there is no question as to which of these two gun safe manufacturers reigns supreme.
Liberty’s premium safes carry some of the highest fire ratings in the entire industry, many of which are designed to withstand temperatures of 1,200 degrees for up to 2.5 hours. On the other hand, Cannon’s fire ratings are more in line with the industry average.
Cannon’s most robust safes are engineered to provide 90-minutes of fire protection, though the manufacturer’s website does not specify a maximum temperature specification.
Security
Both Cannon and Liberty offer some of the most hearty home security safes on the market today. These safes feature a wealth of cutting-edge technology, which makes them largely impervious to both pry bar and “cut-in” style attacks.
Both companies now primarily utilize electronic lock mechanisms, which are inherently tougher to circumvent than standard mechanical locks. Likewise, each company now offers biometric locking mechanisms on an optional basis, which provide the ultimate level of protection for your long guns, handguns, and ammo.
Cannon and Liberty safes are also available in several different locking bar and locking bolt configurations. However, Liberty seems to have a slight edge in the number of locks and bolts utilized in the design of their safes.
While the bulk of Cannon safes feature 10-12 locking bolts, Several of Liberty’s top-tier offerings include as many as 18 locking bars.
Warranty
It is hard to argue against the merit of the warranty policies offered by both Liberty and Cannon. Each manufacturer offers a complete lifetime warranty, which covers material and workmanship defects, as well as damage incurred during break-ins, attempted break-ins, and fire.
This provides consumers with peace of mind, knowing that purchase from either company is a purchase for life.
Of additional note, is Cannon’s stellar coverage of components related to its various locking mechanisms. While Liberty warrants the locking mechanisms found on their safes for a period of 5-years, Cannon covers such components for life.
In terms of warranty coverage, this likely gives Cannon a slight edge.
Additional Features
Today, gun safes are far from the basic vaults that they were twenty years ago. Quite the contrary, gun safes of the modern era feature numerous premium features, which are implemented to simplify use and storage.
Safes offered by both Liberty and Cannon are well equipped in this regard and are quite rich in features.
Most Liberty safes now come equipped with integrated dehumidifiers to ward off moisture, as well as structurally mounted electrical outlets for additional versatility. In the same vein, the vast majority of Cannon safes feature internal lighting and power outlets.
However, Cannon appears to have taken their tech a step further, with the addition of a power supply media box, complete with USB and Ethernet ports.
Price Range
Gun safes, while never cheap, serve as a sound investment for any firearm enthusiast. However, one cannot help but consider the price of various gun safes, when shopping around.
In such regard, there is certainly a point to be made for Cannon safes. On average, Cannon’s safes can be purchased for 20%-30% cheaper than those of a comparable size offered by Liberty.
This is a point that is likely to be appreciated by those on a tighter budget.
It does, however, pay to carefully compare the construction, dimensions, and features of both company’s offerings, before casting judgment as to where the best value lies. After all, the true value is largely in the eye of the beholder.
Therefore, a cheaper safe is not always the best deal, if it does not meet your every need and expectation.
Overall Evaluation
There is no doubt that the majority of consumers would be more than proud to own a safe from either Liberty or Cannon, without exception. However, each manufacturer’s offerings carry their specific merit, when measured against the needs of a particular consumer.
In essence, one might find greater favor in one of these two manufacturer’s lineups, based on their own personal preferences.
In general, Cannon manufactures several sizable, feature-rich safes offered at a reasonable price point. While not as robust in construction as those safes offered by several other manufacturers, Cannon safes do tend to be quite rich in tech and advanced beyond many competitors’ offerings.
Additionally, Cannon’s largest American Eagle series vaults carry among the most sizable capacity of any safe in the industry, even basting the Liberty Fatboy’s 60 gun rating.
On the other hand, Liberty produces a host of extremely robust, well-built safes that are engineered to withstand a wide range of abuses. Most of the company’s premium safe’s are constructed of ultra-durable 7-gauge steel and feature up to 18 locking bars in total.
However, it is worth noting that this rugged construction does come with a heftier than average price tag. Though every dime of such costs can be easily justified, purchasing a sizable Liberty safe will dig deep into the average firearm enthusiast’s pockets, though smaller Centurion series safes can be purchased at a more modest retail price.
