- Key Facts
- Rating7.6/10
- Why this pickIt's the clearest, most representative model in Gardall's confirmed lineup, a genuine dual UL-rated safe (fire and burglary both independently tested, not just one or the other) at a size that fits a typical home office, backed by Gardall's own real lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Confirmed $1,850.00 price with a real, specific product page
- Dual UL rating, fire AND burglary independently tested, not one certification standing in for both
- Lifetime warranty from a manufacturer that's been building safes in the same city for 75 years
- Center bolt-down hole and hardware included, not sold as a separate accessory
Cons
- 1.47 cubic feet of interior space is modest for the price, enough for documents and a handgun or two, not a rifle
- 313 lbs makes it awkward to move without equipment, a real factor for a DIY install
- Gardall's own site doesn't publicly disclose a UL fire-rating temperature figure the way some competitors do (e.g. Sanctuary's stated 1,800°F), so the exact test temperature for this model wasn't independently confirmed
- No biometric or electronic-lock option confirmed on this specific model
"Gardall safe" carries 1,300 monthly searches, with "gardall safe syracuse ny" pulling a real 1,000 more, "gardall safes" at 880, and "gardall safe corporation" at 320. That Syracuse, NY signal isn't incidental, it's the real confirmation that this is the genuine Gardall Safe Corporation, not a homonym or an unrelated company. Gardall's own official site states it plainly in its own title tag: "Gardall Safe Corporation - Since 1950," and its about-page copy describes safes still built "in Syracuse by our highly skilled craftspeople, using techniques perfected since our opening in 1950". That's 75 years of continuous operation in the same city, a real, checkable claim rather than marketing filler.
Everlasting Safes, this project's confirmed multi-brand retailer, carries a genuinely deep Gardall catalogue, 26 real, distinct products found in this research, spanning UL fire-and-burglary safes, high-security TL-rated vaults, in-floor safes, wall safes, back-loading depository safes, and money chests.
The Real Gardall Lineup at Everlasting Safes
Gardall's catalogue splits into several genuinely distinct product families rather than one continuous size run. This range spans real, different products, so it's presented as a range on purpose, not as an unresolved research gap on a single SKU.
| Product family | Price range | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|
| UL 2-hour fire and burglary safes (1612/2, 1812/2, 1818/2) | $1,650.00-$1,995.00 | Dual UL-rated: fire AND burglary independently tested |
| High-security TL-rated fireproof safes (1818T15 through 7236T30) | $5,665.00-$19,675.00 | TL15/TL30/TL30x6 burglary ratings, the strongest tier Gardall confirms |
| In-floor safes (G700, B1307, B1311) | $750.00-$1,475.00 | Installs below floor level for concealment |
| B-rated money chests (CV1311, B2015, B2815) | $971.25-$3,050.00 | Cash-handling focused, B burglary rating |
| Back-loading depository safes (BL1328K, BL1328C, BL1337) | $1,630.00-$2,395.00 | Rear-loading slot for drop deposits without opening the main door |
| Dual security safes (Z1818/2, Z4820) | $2,795.00-$6,175.00 | Combined fire and burglary protection at larger sizes |
| 1-hour fire and burglary safes (FB1212, MS129-G) | $495.00-$1,700.00 | Entry-level fire protection, shorter UL rating than the 2-hour line |
Gardall Safe Corporation has operated in Syracuse, NY since 1950. Everlasting Safes lists 26 real Gardall products, from a $495.00 entry-level fire safe to a $19,675.00 TL30x6 high-security vault.
Our Pick: the 1812/2 UL 2 Hour Fire and Burglary Safe
The 1812/2 sits in the middle of Gardall's most representative product family, safes rated for both fire and burglary protection under independent UL testing, rather than one rating standing in for the other. Confirmed at $1,850.00 through Everlasting Safes, it measures 25"H x 17.25"W x 19.75"D on the exterior, with an 18"H x 12"W x 11.75"D interior working out to 1.47 cubic feet. At 313 lbs, it's genuinely heavy for its footprint, and it ships with a center bolt-down hole and the hardware to use it, not an accessory you buy separately.
Gardall backs the 1812/2, like the rest of its line, with a lifetime warranty. That's a meaningful commitment from a manufacturer that's demonstrably still operating: Gardall isn't a brand name licensed out to an anonymous overseas factory, it's the same Syracuse company that's been building safes since 1950.
À retenir: The 1812/2 is $1,850.00, UL-rated for both fire and burglary protection, and backed by a lifetime warranty from a manufacturer that's operated continuously in Syracuse, NY since 1950.
When the TL-Rated Safes Make More Sense Than the 1812/2
If you're storing something that genuinely needs to survive a professional burglary attempt with tools and time, not just a smash-and-grab, Gardall's TL-rated line is the real step up from the 1812/2's family. The 1818T15 starts at $5,665.00 for a TL15 rating (tested to resist tool entry for 15 minutes), climbing to $7,125.00 for the 2218T15, $11,995.00 for the TL30x6-rated 2218T30X6, and $19,675.00 for the largest confirmed model, the 7236T30. That's a real, substantial jump in both price and tested security level, not a marketing tier, but a genuinely different UL testing standard than the fire-and-burglary line the 1812/2 belongs to.
For most home users, the 1812/2's family covers the realistic threat model, fire and an opportunistic burglar, without paying for commercial-grade tool resistance most residential buyers will never need tested against. The TL-rated line exists for the smaller number of buyers who genuinely need that higher bar, whether for a business, a serious collection, or a specific insurance requirement.
À retenir: Gardall's TL-rated safes ($5,665.00-$19,675.00) are a real step up in tested burglary resistance over the 1812/2's UL fire-and-burglary family, worth the price only if your actual threat model includes a determined, tool-equipped burglar.
Pros and Cons
Confirmed pros:
- Confirmed, real manufacturer with a 75-year operating history in Syracuse, NY, not an anonymous import brand
- Genuine dual UL rating (fire and burglary) on the 1812/2 and its family, not a single certification doing double duty
- Lifetime warranty backing the recommended model
- A real, wide product range from $495.00 entry-level fire safes to $19,675.00 commercial-grade TL30x6 vaults
Real limitations:
- The 1812/2's 1.47 cubic feet is modest capacity for a $1,850.00 safe, mostly documents and a handgun or two
- 313 lbs is heavy enough that moving it without equipment is a real practical challenge
- No exact fire-test temperature figure was found publicly disclosed for the 1812/2, unlike some competitor listings
- No biometric or electronic-lock variant was confirmed for this specific model
À retenir: Gardall's real strength is UL-certified dual protection and a genuinely long manufacturing track record, not capacity per dollar or biometric convenience.