Academy Sports + Outdoors has recalled Redfield 12-gun and 18-gun fireproof safes. According to the company, the recall is due to a serious injury hazard and risk of death. While the language sounds alarming, the danger the company is referring to comes from a security deficiency, leaving your firearms at risk of unauthorized access. 

On December 25, approximately 6100 safes among these two models were recalled because the mechanical internal locking plates were found prone to alignment failure, allowing unauthorized users to open the safes, generally placing others in danger if the firearms inside should find their way into the hands of a child or someone intent on criminal action.

The recall involves only the two models mentioned, both manufactured overseas in Vietnam. Both models affectedwere sold at Academy stores and online at academy.com between February and August 2024 and priced from $350 to $600. The 12-gun fireproof safe, measuring 53” high by 15” wide by 16” deep, is model number 179498, and the 18-gun fireproof safe, measuring 55” high by 18” wide by 18” deep, is model number 179499. The model name and serial number are located on a red label at the bottom right corner of the safe’s door, with “Redfield” printed on the door above the number pad.

The Texas-based company urges consumers to stop using the safes immediately and return them to any Academy Sports + Outdoors store for a free replacement or refund. Consumers are also encouraged to contact Academy’s customer care department to receive help arranging for a replacement or refund.

At this time, there have been no reported incidents, making the risk warning a cautionary rather than a reactionary measure. Academy carries additional Redfield safes in various capacities that were not affected by this manufacturing defect.

While the mention of serious injury or death sounds much more unnerving than the actual issue at hand, keeping your guns secure from children is a real concern, and nobody wants to see their collection go missing, so if you own either of these safes, please have it replaced as soon as possible. 

To see more official information, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission webpage for the recall. Consumers may contact Academy Sports + Outdoors toll-free at 888-922-2336 from 7 AM to 10 PM. CST, or email them at [email protected]. You can see the recall on Academy’s website at www.academy.com/product-recalls.

18 COMMENTS

  1. Has it dawned on Redfield/Academy that safes are heavy, and not all their customers own a truck? “Bring it back to the store” is a poor plan when getting it home in the first place involved some special arrangements.

  2. Honestly most if not all safes/lock boxes for guns are kind of a joke honestly.

    As an example my 12YO just goofing around could pick the lock from a Snapsafe lock box using a steel zip tie. I’ve seen videos of similar locks opened with a wooden coffee stir or packing tape. I refitted the locks of the two I have with Abloy type locks. No they’re not 100% pick proof but they’ll keep a rando with an object that fits into the key hole from opening them probably. It would have probably only cost the makers of these boxes 1-2 bucks extra if that to put them in too. It goes to show these boxes are mostly to keep honest people honest, to keep people in compliance with whatever laws are out there and to hopefully keep someone’s kids from doing something that they shouldn’t.

    • I gave up on firearms safes several years ago and turned a walk in closet into a gun room. It cost about 3 thousand dollars in material and I did all the construction myself. I sold both of my safes to offset some the cost. It keeps everything in one centralized area plus giving me room to work on other projects.

      • Ran into a YT where someone used a used 20ft shipping container ($2500) as the core of a walk in gun safe. Might be a good solution for someone building a new house with a basement or some other scenario. Build a 2×4 wall around it with a hidden door to make it even better.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOHrDYf1ETA

    • I won’t touch any safe with an electronic locking mechanism. Give me an old school heavy tumbler.

    • Overseas manufacturer who isn’t concerned with quality control just getting the product out the door.

      • My safes were made by local (downunder) manufacturers. CMI and Fox. Unfortunately the CMI is no longer legally compliant for firearms with only two locking points and is now used for ammunition storage. The legal minimum is 4 as far as I’m aware. The Fox has five locking points.

  3. Depends on the model. Not just the manufacturer. The safe companies will manufacture safes to the box stores specs if they buy enough of them. Bought a full size, name brand, safe a few years ago for my son’s birthday. Tractor Supply. I noticed it was much lighter than safes I had bought at LGS. Of course, that was reflected in the price. The best an even good safe can do is slow down a determined thief. Time, noise and light are the enemies of thieves. Forget the fire rating. If your house burns down around your safe, your firearms are probably ruined.

  4. LOL.
    So the USA quits buying stuff from China(a communists country) and now buys stuff from Vietnam(a communist country).
    What’s up with the USA always supporting communist countries?

  5. Has anyone smoked a real Cuban cigar. They are really good.
    How come we can’t have Cuban cigars and Cuban sugar here too?
    I guess America only supports slant eyed communists countries?
    Sometimes I think I’ve got it all figured out but then a red bird flys into the window.

  6. X, I had a friend give me a real Cuban Cohiba once. Made me ill. Never understood the appeal of tobacco. Besides, they’re nothing special outside the United States. Take a vacation in the Bahamas. You can buy them anywhere for chump change. Just don’t try to bring any home. Kind of like Coors back in the day. Everyone wanted it easy of the Mississippi; until they could. Now it’s EH. It sells, but it’s not even close to AB and Miller. Even some of the imports beat them out.

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