Gun Safes · Fort Knox
Fort Knox PB1 Original Pistol Box
3.9/5 Best Safe Score (how we score)
My pick for one handgun: a 10-gauge steel pistol box from Fort Knox with a Simplex push-button lock, so there are no batteries to die, and four bottom holes to bolt it into a joist or a sturdy shelf.
$300.00 Price as of Nov 7, 2026, 7:59 PM UTC In Stock
Details
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Who it's for
- Best handgun safe for a mobile home in Best Gun Safe for Mobile Home – 5 Picks by Weight and Floor Load: Owners who keep one handgun by the bed or in a closet; at about 22 lb it adds almost nothing to the floor, but the combination is not something you change at home.
- Best American made gun safe overall in Best American Made Gun Safe – 5 US-Built Picks You Can Order Now: An owner who keeps one or two pistols by the bed and can bolt the box to a floor or a solid nightstand; at 22 lb with no key override, the code you set is the only way in.
- Best Simplex lock pistol safe overall in Best Simplex Lock Pistol Safe – 5 No-Battery Picks Sorted by Steel: An owner who wants one or two pistols at the bed and can bolt the box to a floor or solid furniture; it weighs 22 lb, has no cable hole and no key override, so the code is the only way in.
- Best drawer safe for a handgun in Best Drawer Safe – 5 Picks Sized for Desk and Nightstand Drawers: Handgun owners who want the gun in a deep nightstand or desk drawer and never want to think about batteries; at 4.25 in tall and 22 lb it needs a deep, sturdy drawer.
- Best battery-free RV gun safe in Best Safe for RV and Motorhome – 6 Picks to Bolt, Tether or Carry: An RVer whose handgun stays in the rig, including months in a hot or cold storage lot, and who can bolt a top-opening box to a floor or cabinet base; it will not fit under a sofa.
- Best to bolt into a truck in Best Gun Safe for Car – 6 Picks by Lock, Mount and Pistol Fit: A truck or SUV owner who leaves a handgun in the vehicle for a full shift and can bolt a box to the floor or a bracket; it opens from the top, so it cannot go under a seat.
- Best no-battery nightstand pick in Best Handgun Safe for Nightstand Use: For a homeowner who wants one full-size handgun behind a battery-free lock on a nightstand or in a drawer; the Simplex code has about 1,081 combinations, so it suits keeping a gun from curious kids and smash-and-grab thieves rather than a determined attacker, and it is heavy at 22 lb.
- Best overall in Best Pistol Safe – 4 Quick-Access Picks for Home and Travel: For a homeowner who wants one handgun secured in a nightstand or closet with no batteries to fail; it is heavy for its size and the combination is not something you change at home.
What we like
- Simplex mechanical lock, no batteries or electronics
- 10-gauge body and 3/16 in wraparound door, the thickest steel here
- Four pre-drilled bottom holes for bolting down
- 10-gauge body and 3/16 in plate door, the thickest steel here (Fort Knox)
- Gas strut holds the lid open; four 3/8 in anchor holes
- Made in the USA with a limited lifetime warranty
What to know first
- Heavy for a one-pistol box (listings give 22 to 24 lb)
- Changing the combination needs Fort Knox support or a locksmith
- No key override, so a forgotten code means a call to Fort Knox
- At 22 lb it slides on a smooth top unless you bolt it down
- No key override and no hole big enough for a cable (Lucky Gunner)
Product details
| Brand | Fort Knox |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FORT KNOX INC. |
| Part number | PB1 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.5 inches x 10.37 inches x 4.5 inches |
| Item weight | 22 pounds |
| Color | Black |
| Size | 12.5 x 10.375 x 4.25 inches |
| Lock | Simplex mechanical push-button lock |
| Steel | 10-gauge body, 3/16 in wraparound door |
| Exterior | About 12.5 x 10.4 x 4.25 in (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 22-24 lb (listings vary) |
| Fire rating | None |
| DOJ listing | Sold as California DOJ certified |
| Interior | 11.75 in W x 9.75 in D x 3.5 in H (Fort Knox) |
| Bolt-down | Four 3/8-inch pre-drilled holes |
| State listing | Sold as California DOJ certified |
| Mounting | 4 pre-drilled holes in the bottom (Pew Pew Tactical) |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime (Fort Knox) |
| Made in | USA (Fort Knox) |
Top rows from the Amazon listing; the rest from the maker pages we checked.
About this item
- Dimensions: 4-1/4"h (5-1/4"h with buttons and knob) x 12-1/2"w x 10-3/8"d
- 10 gauge steel body
- Gas-strut-assisted heavyweight door
- Fast opening pushbutton Simplex mechanical locking device
- Made in USA with a Limited Lifetime Warranty
- 3/16" Door, Tamper-resistant, Wrap around
- Reinforced Lock Backplate
From the product's Amazon listing, as of Nov 7, 2026, 7:59 PM UTC. The seller writes this text, not us, and Amazon may change it.
What owners say
Summarized from 14 owner discussions and review pages we read.
Praise
- The Simplex lock keeps working after years of daily use
- Feels far sturdier than the cheap electronic boxes owners replaced
- Owners call Fort Knox pistol boxes the standard for mechanical boxes
- Quiet, smooth buttons with a subtle click as the pins move
- Years of flawless use, with nothing to charge or replace
- Holds two full-size pistols, a spare magazine each and a small light
Complaints
- Heavy and hard-cornered for its size
- The combination cannot be changed at home
- An XDTalk reviewer found the box slid backward on counters and floors as the heavy lid opened
- No fire rating, as the same reviewer points out
- Heavy, with no cable hole and no key override
- A Northwest Firearms shopper relayed reviews calling the buttons sloppy; an owner replied his were fine
Sources: Walmart customer reviews: Fort Knox PB1 · Gunsafes.com: Fort Knox PB1 Original Pistol Safe · USCCA: Review of the Fort Knox Original Pistol Box · Dean Safe: Fort Knox FTK-PB · XDTalk, Fort Knox FTK-PB (PB-1) Pistol Vault Review · r/handguns, looking for a good bedside pistol safe
Guides that include it
- Best Gun Safe for Mobile Home – 5 Picks by Weight and Floor Load
- Best American Made Gun Safe – 5 US-Built Picks You Can Order Now
- Best Simplex Lock Pistol Safe – 5 No-Battery Picks Sorted by Steel
- Best Drawer Safe – 5 Picks Sized for Desk and Nightstand Drawers
- Best Safe for RV and Motorhome – 6 Picks to Bolt, Tether or Carry
- Best Gun Safe for Car – 6 Picks by Lock, Mount and Pistol Fit
- Best Handgun Safe for Nightstand Use
- Best Pistol Safe – 4 Quick-Access Picks for Home and Travel
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