So here was my dilemma:
I'm used to keeping my carry gun + extra handgun in a high dresser drawer. Its near the bed in our bedroom, so its very accessible, but high enough that any "babies" or small children couldn't access it. I didn't want to keep it in the locked gunsafe, as its located in my home office and can't be reached in a hurry.
All that has changed. I now have a 2.5 year old that loves to climb. However unlikely, I fear that he could be able to weasel his way up to the drawer and open it. He's shown no interest in doing such things, but I'm pretty sure he's capable.
So now I start thinking of various ways to secure my firearms from unauthorized users, while still being able to access them quickly, and possibly in the dark. I'm not necessarily looking for something that would be 100% theft proof, as in a bolted down heavy safe ($$$).
Of course, I know there are many places out there that make quick-access safes specifically for this purpose, and that is probably what I will finally come around too. However, I wanted to lock these puppies down ASAP, and I wanted to do it as economically as possible, for the time being.
So my redneck brain starts thinking. . . . and here is the "quick-fix" solution I came up with.
Here is your basic chest of drawers. Its got crap all over it, and I hang my work clothes on it. Pretty basic.
Here is the drawer I'm wanting to secure. Top right.
I grab a few tools. Specifically a drill, tent stake, washer, and electical tape.
I then mark a spot on the inside of the chest, just above where the top of the drawer comes to. (this was tricky, and I had to mark it 3 times)
Then I drilled a small hole from the inside out. This is what it looked like from the backside.
Then I inserted the tent stake from the back of the chest, with the small "L" piece going in first, leaving just the rod tip sticking out. I twisted the "L" piece to point down, and hooked it over the top of the drawer inside, keeping it from being able to be pulled out. I marked around the tip sticking out. Then I started wrapping it in electrical tape to create something for the washer to sit against so the rod wouldn't go any further into the hole.
Finished tent stake, with tape and washer in place.
I also put a small nail on the inside of the drawer, to give the "L" piece something to stop against when its turned properly into place.
So then I close the drawer fully. I then insert the rod into the hole, with the "L" piece being horizontal. When it slides over the top of the drawer inside, I then twist it 90 degrees until the "L" piece is pointing straight down (vertical). This locks the drawer into place, and keeps it from being opened.
And here is a backed-off shot of the whole mess.
Redneck Diagram (side view):
The idea is that the drawer cannot be opened by simply pulling on it. The operator must first reach around to the back and "unlock" the drawer by twisting the tent stake 90 degrees. Then the drawer opens like normal. And the lock is completely hidden, as its on the back of the dresser out of sight. This would be very simple to operate under stress and in the dark. Plus, if for some reason, under the stress of the situation, I needed to get into the drawer RIGHT NOW, I could give a hard enough pull to rip the washer through the fiberboard backing completely and the drawer would open, but this kind of force could not be applied by a child, or someone casually looking through your underwear drawer. . . .
This is a temporary solution, but I think rednecks everywhere would be proud!!
I'm used to keeping my carry gun + extra handgun in a high dresser drawer. Its near the bed in our bedroom, so its very accessible, but high enough that any "babies" or small children couldn't access it. I didn't want to keep it in the locked gunsafe, as its located in my home office and can't be reached in a hurry.
All that has changed. I now have a 2.5 year old that loves to climb. However unlikely, I fear that he could be able to weasel his way up to the drawer and open it. He's shown no interest in doing such things, but I'm pretty sure he's capable.
So now I start thinking of various ways to secure my firearms from unauthorized users, while still being able to access them quickly, and possibly in the dark. I'm not necessarily looking for something that would be 100% theft proof, as in a bolted down heavy safe ($$$).
Of course, I know there are many places out there that make quick-access safes specifically for this purpose, and that is probably what I will finally come around too. However, I wanted to lock these puppies down ASAP, and I wanted to do it as economically as possible, for the time being.
So my redneck brain starts thinking. . . . and here is the "quick-fix" solution I came up with.
Here is your basic chest of drawers. Its got crap all over it, and I hang my work clothes on it. Pretty basic.
Here is the drawer I'm wanting to secure. Top right.
I grab a few tools. Specifically a drill, tent stake, washer, and electical tape.
I then mark a spot on the inside of the chest, just above where the top of the drawer comes to. (this was tricky, and I had to mark it 3 times)
Then I drilled a small hole from the inside out. This is what it looked like from the backside.
Then I inserted the tent stake from the back of the chest, with the small "L" piece going in first, leaving just the rod tip sticking out. I twisted the "L" piece to point down, and hooked it over the top of the drawer inside, keeping it from being able to be pulled out. I marked around the tip sticking out. Then I started wrapping it in electrical tape to create something for the washer to sit against so the rod wouldn't go any further into the hole.
Finished tent stake, with tape and washer in place.
I also put a small nail on the inside of the drawer, to give the "L" piece something to stop against when its turned properly into place.
So then I close the drawer fully. I then insert the rod into the hole, with the "L" piece being horizontal. When it slides over the top of the drawer inside, I then twist it 90 degrees until the "L" piece is pointing straight down (vertical). This locks the drawer into place, and keeps it from being opened.
And here is a backed-off shot of the whole mess.
Redneck Diagram (side view):
The idea is that the drawer cannot be opened by simply pulling on it. The operator must first reach around to the back and "unlock" the drawer by twisting the tent stake 90 degrees. Then the drawer opens like normal. And the lock is completely hidden, as its on the back of the dresser out of sight. This would be very simple to operate under stress and in the dark. Plus, if for some reason, under the stress of the situation, I needed to get into the drawer RIGHT NOW, I could give a hard enough pull to rip the washer through the fiberboard backing completely and the drawer would open, but this kind of force could not be applied by a child, or someone casually looking through your underwear drawer. . . .
This is a temporary solution, but I think rednecks everywhere would be proud!!
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