Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault
Pros
- SecuRam UL Approved High Security Biometric Lock
- UL RSC Burglary Rating - 12 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- 85 Minute Fire Rating at 1400 Degrees with Intumescent Door Seal
- Door Panel Organizer and Electrical Outlet Included
- Lifetime Warranty From a Reliable Company and Made in USA
Cons
- Stripped Down Version of the Ironworks AIW Series
- Way Overpriced for 12 Gauge Steel
- Biometric Fingerprint Scanner Difficult to Use
Bighorn is a sub brand of Rhino Metals who also makes the Ironworks gun safes and several other models here in the USA. Unfortunately, the Bighorn brand takes the reputation of the Rhino Ironworks AIW series and reduces all the features that made it one of the best gun safes in the industry. I am not a fan of anything sold on Costco because they strip out all the most important features of a gun safe and provide you with an illusion of security. In this review, I will help you understand why the Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault is overpriced and nowhere near as good as the Rhino Ironworks AIW6033 it copies.
Lock
First and always most important for any gun safe is the lock used and the Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault comes with a UL Approved Type 1 High Security Biometric Lock made by SecuRam. This is actually a very high quality lock, reliable and durable so long as you only use the electronic keypad. The biometric scanner on this keypad is difficult to program and not reliable for emergency situations. I overall don’t typically recommend this lock even though it is UL rated and would recommend just a standard keypad electronic lock. Protecting the lock internally are three layers of armor plating called hardplate and re-locker fires during a drill attack to keep the bolts in place. The lock is tested and certified to survive EMP attacks as well.
Security
The Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault is UL approved as a Residential Security Container which is the standard burglary rating and capable of withstanding light attack. It earned this with its 12 gauge steel door and body, thirteen 1.25″ thick steel locking bolts and UL rated lock. The security on this gun safe is adequate and much better than the average gun safes sold on Costco. Unique to Bighorn is the door bolt throw which extends 1.75″, 40% more than the typical gun safe. When you compare this Bighorn Ironworks to the Rhino AIW Ironworks, all of the differences are not seen from the outside. The steel thickness is reduced from 1/4″ plate on the door to 12 gauge and 10 gauge body to 12 gauge body. This is a significant reduction in steel thickness and even the locking system, internal clutch and ball bearing drill plate are weaker but you wouldn’t notice any of this from the outside of the safe which is the classic Costco strategy.
Fire Rating
The Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault comes standard with an 85 minute fire rating at 1400 degrees which is 65 minutes longer than the standard house fire. This is a factory test and claimed fire rating, not independently tested by a certified agency like ETL or UL. We have to trust Rhino Metals that this fire rating is accurate but considering they are actually a high quality brand, I would expect this gun safe to survive the standard house fire. An intumescent door seal is also included that expands to multiple times its size during a fire to keep out both smoke and heat. This is another variation from the Rhino Ironworks AIW gun safes which come standard with a 130 minute fire rating.
Style and Function
The Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault comes finished in their incredible antique finish which looks like something out of the 1800s. The cast iron wheel handle accents the safe perfectly but is no better than other handle styles when it comes to security. The interior is a carpeted gray with split gun rack and adjustable side shelves. This is also different from the leatherette interior used on the Ironworks AIW Series. The door features a door panel organizer capable of storing pistols and other small items. This gun safe also comes standard with a UL Rated power outlet perfect for plugging in a light kit or dehumidifier inside the safe.
The Bottom Line
While the Bighorn Ironworks 26.04 Cu.Ft. Executive Vault has the UL RSC burglary Rating and an 85 minute fire rating it is grossly overpriced for a 12 gauge steel gun safe. The Stealth UL28 gun safe offers all of the same security features at nearly half the price.
