Security for your collections

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

I enjoy watching a lot of random youtube videos, and one of the channels I enjoy is a guy named Bosnianbill. He is a lock-geek that is an expert at picking, disassembling & defeating locks. I think he works for some sort of law enforcement agency (I don't think he's a LEO, but maybe a consultant or something?) - he really knows security. In addition to the youtube channel, he also has a website, and on it he has some very good articles on home security. The "OpSec" section of this article seems like it would be useful for many AAPK members: https://locklab.com/home-security/the-threat/

And, yeah, I know there will be responses that you're armed to the teeth and ready & willing to defend your castle - most of us are - but Bosnianbill does a good job explaining how that is just one piece of home security. Being armed does you absolutely no good if the bad guys arrive when you aren't home!

Enjoy!

[tongueriver]

I will be reading that. Meanwhile, I suspect that most folk think they will be ready when someone comes in. Perhaps not. If they get the jump on you and you have this ginormous safe, they might ask you to open it, and they probably won't be kidding. Those safes are best when you are NOT home. I do have a big bad safe, but it is not at my house, and it is highly unlikely that home invaders would figure that one out. I keep a few items here that would be of interest to them and hopefully that will do the job. Lots of other stuff can go wrong, though; this should be an interesting thread.

[zzyzzogeton]

Assuming I am not at home,

First, any person considering using the five-finger discount method of Christmas shopping first needs to go past the security cameras (so I track their fuzzy tails down after they leave). The internet is great for remote monitoring as well, but I still gotta call the Sheriff's Department on my own nickle.

Then they must get past the first security fence/gate, easily accomplished with cutting torch, hacksaw and/or bolt cutters.

The next obstacle is the second gate around back. Since that gate's primary purpose is to keep the dog in the backyard, all they have to do is unclip the chain wrapped around the post.

Then they must evade the cattle dog, easily bribed with most anything remotely resembling food.

Then they gotta get into the shop. They'll need a cutting torch to get inside. It's all metal, with high security locks. I've already had all my tools stolen before. They're gonna have to work for them this time.

And then the last obstacle - picking which safe has the good stuff and which safe is full of paper. If they waste time on the wrong safe, then there's more time for the deputy sheriff to get there if they failed to notice/disable the alarm systems.

Not that the deputies will get there in time. On a good day, they are at a minimum 30 minutes out.

The unpredictable part of my security system is the various Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes slithering around the property. Very active during the warmer portions of the year, but from now until March, they will be unreliable. Most of the time, they are hiding under stuff, along stuff or across stuff or hibernating in their dens. On occasion, they have been found sleeping off a mouse dinner under one or more of the safes. Since the shop is kinda heated, during really cold weather, they may try to set up shop in the shop.

But that explains why around here, no one really expects rapid assistance from the local LEOs and said perpetrators had better hope no one is home because all my neighbors believe in the "shoot-shoot-look" method of ATW.

[mrwatch]

The ambulance took my neighbor to the hospital. A state trooper watched me putting the biggest Master padlock he could find on the hasp at the back door. let's see, hmm? 90+ year old wood with 4 little wood screws? I said biggest padlock he could find, a crow bar will pop it right off! He laughed. Then he watched me putting his key in a Mason jar and put it in the can of dry cat food.

[bestgear]

Having grown-up outside the insurance Capitol of the world (Hartford CT), I understand the concept of loss, peril and risk. I've also come to learn in my 61 years on Earth that if a bad guy wants what a good guy has, he's going to do whatever needs to be done to get it. In other words, locks, safes, guns etc. may or may not slow or stop the bad guy depending on the circumstances.

I sleep like a baby knowing that my gun and knife collection is fully insured with Collectible Insurance. For less than $1/day, if I suffer a loss, I can file a claim and be paid WHAT I STATED MY COLLECTION IS WORTH. To me that's a lot of piece of mind for the price of a couple of fine dining dinners.

[Montanaman]

knife collection is fully insured with Collectible Insurance.

Same here, covers shipping too. The people in my life are what matter most, I couldn't care less about my stuff.

[tongueriver]

Wow! Ten years of that insurance for $10,000, give or take? I would have to think about that one. Another thought. I have made knife related purchases here and there by mail for some 10 years. Every seller had to have my mailing address. That is a flaw that I can't easily remedy. Oh, well. On a related note, some folk who wish to buy from me would like to pay with check or similar. There again they now have my mailing address. And when I send them something with a return address on or within the package they once again have my mailing address. These are all weak points in security. How about when we tell the world on the knife forums that we are leaving town or going hunting, etc., etc.? Better maybe to tell a trusted person in an email or pm. Everything we post is available to the good and the bad. Loose lips sink ships, as they say. I knew a man who had enheirited a collection of genuine Luger pistols worth a great deal of money. He plastered them up into a wall. He was so proud of this cleverness that he must have casually mentioned it to a close friend (who obviously had a friend, who had a....ad infinitum). One day they disappeared in about two minutes flat. Old parable number two: If you have a secret with someone else, you no longer have a secret. There is wonderful advice in the links given in the O.P. One not mentioned and not available to most people. Go live in a very low-crime area. Those fires in California are major tragedy. The treasure that is burning up there is, like another member has suggested, is nothing compared to the hurt to people.

[Montanaman]

Wow! Ten years of that insurance for $10,000, give or take?

In my experience, 50,000$ of extremely good insurance costs about 155$ per year, give or take 20$. Collectible Insurance is quite popular with high end collectors, with very few complaints. I ship a lot and receive a lot of expensive knives, if I had to pay insurance at the PO, it would carry a high cost. With CI, it is always insured in transit, just needs signature confirmation.

[Railsplitter]

Wow! Ten years of that insurance for $10,000, give or take?

In my experience, 50,000$ of extremely good insurance costs about 155$ per year, give or take 20$. Collectible Insurance is quite popular with high end collectors, with very few complaints. I ship a lot and receive a lot of expensive knives, if I had to pay insurance at the PO, it would carry a high cost. With CI, it is always insured in transit, just needs signature confirmation.

Thanks for that info, Kris. I've been using Collectable Insurance for about a decade and I didn't realize they covered shipping too. I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever ship an expensive knife.

I've never had to file a claim but I think their premiums are very reasonable. My annual premium has never been more than the cost of dinner for two at a fancy restaurant ($70-$80) but the value of my collection is probably less than most.

[zzyzzogeton]

Wow! Ten years of that insurance for $10,000, give or take? I would have to think about that one. Another thought. I have made knife related purchases here and there by mail for some 10 years. Every seller had to have my mailing address. That is a flaw that I can't easily remedy. Oh, well. On a related note, some folk who wish to buy from me would like to pay with check or similar. There again they now have my mailing address. And when I send them something with a return address on or within the package they once again have my mailing address. These are all weak points in security. How about when we tell the world on the knife forums that we are leaving town or going hunting, etc., etc.? Better maybe to tell a trusted person in an email or pm. Everything we post is available to the good and the bad. Loose lips sink ships, as they say. I knew a man who had enheirited a collection of genuine Luger pistols worth a great deal of money. He plastered them up into a wall. He was so proud of this cleverness that he must have casually mentioned it to a close friend (who obviously had a friend, who had a....ad infinitum). One day they disappeared in about two minutes flat. Old parable number two: If you have a secret with someone else, you no longer have a secret. There is wonderful advice in the links given in the O.P. One not mentioned and not available to most people. Go live in a very low-crime area. Those fires in California are major tragedy. The treasure that is burning up there is, like another member has suggested, is nothing compared to the hurt to people.

Being the AR individual that I am, I believe you might be off by a factor of 3 there.

If IP (insurance premium) < $1/day
then
AP (annual premium) = IP x 365 days = <$365/year
and
DP (decade premium) = AP x 10 = <$3,650.

Which is still pricey, if you don't have a "high end" collection. I suppose the premium is variable and based on claimed value of the collection in question?

[Railsplitter]

Being the AR individual that I am, I believe you might be off by a factor of 3 there.

If IP (insurance premium) < $1/day
then
AP (annual premium) = IP x 365 days = <$365/year
and
DP (decade premium) = AP x 10 = <$3,650.

Which is still pricey, if you don't have a "high end" collection. I suppose the premium is variable and based on claimed value of the collection in question?

Correct. The premium is based on claimed value.

[gino]

My security systems consist of the following

1. Safes - not shown
2. Choice of any of my firearms - my newest current S&W 357 640 pro (not my pic) never without it, on my nightstand while I sleep
3. My best bud Blitz my faithful Doberman - always there

Good luck

[treefarmer]

Treefarmer

[philco]

Gino my security system is very similar. I have a German Shepherd on duty on the outer perimeter and two small dogs on watch inside the house. My goodies are stored away securely and I'm armed at all times. In addition to all that I've carefully cultivated the reputation of being the crazy old b*****d you don't want to mess with cause he'll kill you. So far it has worked.

[gino]

Hahaha lol
I like it Phil

[royal0014]

In addition to all that I've carefully cultivated the reputation of being the crazy old b*****d you don't want to mess with cause he'll kill you. So far it has worked.

I have a hard time believing that, you cuddly 'ol bear you.....


I've tried the same thing over the years. Not sure if it has worked.
My wife, on the other hand . . . . . .

[djknife13]

I've always said my security system is foolproof. I always have several dogs and we a bunch of kids and I'm an accumulator. Even I don't know where my good stuff is. I don't have much for high end stuff, and usually if it's old and rare, it looks really old. The foolproof part is that the dogs I mentioned , along with the kids have rendered much of what did have value when it arrived here not worth wading through the dogs and kids to steal. The dogs have decided most of what is here to be their personal chew toys. I'm reminded of Pat McManus's story about the guy that broke in to his house to steal hit "famous" gun collection and couldn't find anything that wasn't worn out or custom checkered by McManus, and looked like a beaver had chewed it up. (I haven't customized any of my old stuff, it came looking that way) If they made me open my safes, they would have to have enough patience for me to try to remember the combinations, or where I might have written them down, or if I wrote them down or if I just told one of my kids or which one. They don't live here anymore so I'd have to call them. Geez, now I better see if I can remember. My old safe is probably worth more than what's in it. Kind of like the guy who left work every night with a wheelbarrow of sand and security was sure he was smuggling something out of the plant and sifted through the sand every night. Found out he was stealing wheelbarrows. If someone wanted to steal my safe, they'd have to empty if first. I took five of us to get it in here. Also I am armed. I'm just not sure where I put that darn gun either.___Dave