Fortress Safe recalled about 61,000 of its Biometric Gun Safes. The Consumer Products Safety Commission said it is aware of a recent lawsuit alleging a 12-year-old boy died from a firearm obtained from one of the safes. 

According to a press release from the CPSC, unauthorized users could open the lock on a Biometric Gun Safe, posing a serious injury or death. “Consumers can believe they have properly programmed the biometric feature when, in fact, the safe remains in the default to open mode, which can allow unauthorized users, including children, to access the safe to remove hazardous contents, including firearms,” said the CPSC.

The recalled safes were sold at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Scheel’s, Sportsman’s Guide, Optics Planet, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gander, Rural King, Lowe’s, other stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com from January 2019 through October 2023 for between $44 and $290.

Consumers are urged to stop using the biometric feature, remove the batteries from the safe, and use only the key for the recalled safes used to store firearms. Fortress Safes will provide instructions on disabling the biometric feature and customers will receive a free replacement safe.

The recalled gun safes are portable lock boxes, personal safes, pistol vaults, and gun cabinets with brand names Fortress, Cabela’s, Gettysburg, and Legend Range & Field. Model numbers are above the barcode on the label on the back of the safe and on the top right corner of the original packaging. The model numbers with descriptions include:

  • 11B20 – Fortress Portable Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 44B10 – Fortress Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock
  • 44B10 – Legend Range & Field Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock
  • 44B20 -Fortress Medium Personal Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 55B20 – Fortress Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 55B30 – Fortress Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 55B30G – Gettysburg Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 4BGGBP – Cabela’s 4 Gun Safe with Biometric Lock
  • 55B30BP- Cabela’s Biometric Personal Safe

Photos courtesy of Fortress Safe