Safe Space Episode 38: Fort Knox Safe Updates

Fort Knox has long been known for building some of the strongest, most customizable safes on the market. But this year, the brand has taken major steps forward — especially when it comes to fire protection and luxury features. If you’re looking for a safe that goes beyond basic storage and offers real protection for high-value items, these changes are worth understanding.

ASK A QUESTION

Have a question about safes, vault doors, the state of the industry, or even our favorite local burger spot? Sign up for updates about the next Safe Space podcast and get an exclusive link to submit a question.

Episode 38 Topics

1:40: Fire Rating Updates

6:38: Home Safes

7:12: Custom Cabinetry

8:08: Watch Winders

Episode 38 Discussion Synopsis

1:40: Fire Rating Updates

Fort Knox is well known for offering a huge number of options. You can choose colors, paint finishes, interiors, and many custom features. That flexibility is one of the reasons people love the brand.

When we first started carrying Fort Knox, one concern stood out. On some models, the advertised fire rating looked lower than other safes with similar steel thickness and price. That doesn’t always tell the full story, though.

Why Fire Ratings Can Be Misleading

There is no single industry standard for how safes are fire tested. Some companies use easier tests and still apply impressive-looking stickers.

Fort Knox does things differently. They perform real, in-house fire tests designed to hold up in a court of law. According to Fort Knox, their testing is honest, repeatable, and defensible. That’s a bold claim—and one they are confident they can prove.

There are a lot of fake or misleading fire labels in the safe industry. Fort Knox earns respect by doing real testing instead of relying on marketing stickers.

Improvements to the Spartan and Maverick

Fort Knox recently made major upgrades to their entry-level models, the Spartan and the Maverick. Even before these changes, these safes already had thicker steel than many competitors’ mid- and high-end models.

Here’s what changed:

Spartan

Now tested at 1,500°F
1-hour fire rating
Previously tested at only 1,200°F

Maverick

Now tested at 1,600°F
90-minute fire rating
Previously rated at 75 minutes at 1,200°F

The Maverick is one of our best-selling safes. It features a 10-gauge steel body and a ⅜-inch solid steel door, which already puts it ahead of many competitors. The improved fire rating makes it even stronger overall.

Upgrades Across the Entire Fort Knox Lineup

The improvements didn’t stop there. Before, most Fort Knox models were rated at 90 minutes at 1,680°F. Now, the entire lineup is rated at:

2 hours
1,700°F

That’s a big jump in fire protection.

How Fort Knox Achieved Higher Fire Ratings

Fort Knox didn’t just change numbers on a label. They made real construction upgrades, including:

Extra layers of fire insulation
Higher-quality Type C fireboard
Fireboard that fits better and performs more consistently
Stud-welded insulation, not glued panels
A built-in air gap that creates a thermal barrier

These details matter. The air gap slows heat transfer, and stud welding keeps the insulation in place during extreme heat.

Why Modern House Fires Are More Dangerous Than Ever

A house engulfed in flames with smoke rising, surrounded by trees.

Built to Stay Rigid Under Fire

Fort Knox safes also use:

Full internal and external welds
Thick steel construction
A focus on building the most rigid box possible

The goal is to prevent the safe from bending, buckling, or warping during a fire. When a safe stays square and sealed, it keeps out smoke, soot, and water — the real threats during a house fire.

6:38: Home Safe Features

One important change is that Fort Knox is now offering more home safes than ever before. Over the past few years, the home safe market has grown fast for us. It has become a major part of our business. At the same time, gun safe sales have slowed down across the country.

This trend is especially noticeable in Washington State, where stricter firearm laws have led to fewer gun sales overall. Even so, our business continues to grow. We are selling more home safes, commercial safes, and high-end safes, including premium models from Fort Knox.

As customer needs change, Fort Knox is adapting—and that shift is helping meet the growing demand for secure storage beyond firearms.

7:12: Custom Cabinetry

If someone is looking for a custom home safe, Fort Knox makes it easy. You may not need long gun storage—or you might still want it. Either way, Fort Knox gives you options.

That’s one of the best things about Fort Knox. You can start with a gun safe, like the Titan 7241, and turn it into a custom storage cabinet. Fort Knox offers different cabinet layouts, depending on what you want to store. You can choose:

All jewelry drawers
Jewelry drawers with a file drawer
Different cabinet orientations

The cabinets are beautifully finished, often in a rich dark walnut look, and they’re built by a local cabinet maker near the Fort Knox factory. These are not cheap, mass-produced cabinets. They are high-quality, well-made, and include premium jewelry inserts designed to protect and organize your valuables.

With Fort Knox, you’re not limited to a basic gun safe—you can create a safe that fits your home, your lifestyle, and what you actually want to protect.

8:08: Watch Winders

For a long time, the top luxury brand for custom jewelry safes has been Brown Safe Company. We install a lot of them. They are extremely high quality and fully custom, using premium materials. You can build just about anything you want.

Brown has had a strong hold on the luxury jewelry and watch safe market, especially when it comes to security and customization. Now Fort Knox is stepping into that space.

They are now offering standard online configurations, making it easy to build your safe — kind of like a “build-your-own” menu.

You can add: