Handgun & Bedside Safes · Steelhead Outdoors
Steelhead Outdoors Fast Access Pistol Box
3.7/5 Best Safe Score (how we score)
My pick for a box that moves between the nightstand, the car and a hotel room: 12-gauge steel throughout, a genuine Simplex lock, four mounting holes and an optional 6,000 lb rated cable.
Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
You buy on Amazon; stock and delivery are shown there. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We research products from maker pages and owner reports; we have not tested this one ourselves.
Who it's for
- Best Simplex pistol safe for home and car in Best Simplex Lock Pistol Safe – 5 No-Battery Picks Sorted by Steel: An owner who needs one box for home and travel and wants a cable option; it is just under 15 lb and has no gas strut, so you lift the lid yourself.
- Best no-battery gun safe for seniors in Best Gun Safe for Seniors – 5 Picks for Stiff Hands and Dim Light: An owner with a sharp memory and workable fingers who distrusts electronics; you must recall a button sequence and press each button, and at just under 15 lb it is a lift.
What we like
- 12-gauge steel throughout, TIG welded in Shakopee, Minnesota
- Four base holes plus an optional 6,000 lb rated, 1/4 in cable
- California DOJ approved FSD and TSA compliant (Steelhead)
- Genuine Simplex push-button lock; no batteries, no electronics
- 12-gauge steel throughout, made in Shakopee, Minnesota
- Four mounting holes; optional 6,000 lb rated cable
What to know first
- No gas strut, so the lid is lifted by hand (Pew Pew Tactical)
- Just under 15 lb, heavy for a travel box
- Needs a remembered code and a press of each button; no tag or fingerprint shortcut
- Simplex has only 1,081 codes (Pew Pew Tactical), and it weighs about 15 lb
Product details
| Brand | Steelhead Outdoors |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Steelhead Outdoors |
| Model | SLC-8512C |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.1 inches x 8.6 inches x 3.8 inches |
| Item weight | 15 pounds |
| Color | Black |
| Size | 13.1 inches x 8.6 inches x 3.8 inches |
| Lock | Genuine Simplex push-button mechanical lock |
| Exterior | 8.5 in W x 12.25 in D x 3 in H (Steelhead) |
| Interior | 8.08 x 9.38 in full height, plus 2 in half height under the lock |
| Steel | 12-gauge throughout (Steelhead) |
| Weight | Just under 15 lb (Steelhead) |
| Mounting | Four base holes; optional 6,000 lb rated cable |
| Fire rating | None claimed |
| State listing | California DOJ approved FSD (Steelhead) |
Top rows from the Amazon listing; the rest from the maker pages we checked.
About this item
- Security Features: Full 12 gauge construction with included 1/4 inch security cable coated to 5/16 inch and rated at 6,000 lbs, 1/4 inch welded and staked hinges feature integrated punch guard, fully enclosed lock is punch resistant, California Approved FSD
- No Electronics or Batteries: Genuine Simplex lock features 1081 possible combinations and provides access in seconds with no batteries or electronics required
- Interior Protection: 2 layers of 3/8 inch foam in the base with thick convoluted foam in the lid to hold contents securely in place, large size holds 2 average sized handguns or one large handgun with holster and accessories, anchoring holes in the base
- Travel Compliance: TSA compliant design allows for secure transport of firearms according to airline regulations
- Made in USA: Laser cut, formed, TIG welded, powdercoated and assembled in Shakopee, Minnesota with quality American craftsmanship
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 5 owner discussions and review pages we read.
Praise
- The Simplex lock opens about as fast as a fingerprint reader
- Owners call it insanely well made and durable
- Built so well owners say it will outlast them; roomy inside
- Quick to open with a fully mechanical lock, nothing to charge
Complaints
- No piston to hold the lid open
- Simplex has only 1,081 codes, and the box weighs about 15 lb
- Heavy for its size at just under 15 lb
- The Simplex lock has a limited number of codes
Sources: Reddit r/liberalgunowners, bedside quick access safe (search excerpt) · Reddit r/handguns, good bedside pistol safe (search excerpt) · Reddit r/pistolcalibercarbine, fast access storage (search excerpt) · Pew Pew Tactical, best bedside handgun safes · Shoot On, Steelhead Fast Access Pistol Box review
