Handgun safe · No. 5 of 15
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe
2 mm steel · Fingerprint + keypad + key · 8.6 lb
8.8/10Very good$299.99Nov 13, 2026
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe vs Vaultek 20 Series
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe or Vaultek 20 Series? They finish 0.2 apart in our formula: pick on the detail that matters at home.
$299.99at Barska, Nov 13, 2026
Check price at Barska
Handgun safe · No. 7 of 15
Vaultek 20 Series
16-gauge steel · Fingerprint + keypad + key + phone app · 7.2 lb
8.6/10Very good$312.99Nov 13, 2026
Short answer: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe wins this one, 8.8/10 against 8.6/10, mainly on steel thickness and published approvals. Vaultek 20 Series answers with lock and ways in.
What really separates them?
$13 apart, and closer than their reputations suggest. Barska states 2 mm steel, a little thicker than the Vaultek's 16-gauge, plus "DOJ Approved: Yes" and free shipping; its upright shape puts the grip in your hand. Vaultek answers with the better lock (80 fingerprints against 20, an app, WiFi alerts), a 2-year warranty against 1 and a published 30-day return window. The Barska wins our formula on approvals and shipping. If phone alerts or the longer warranty matter to you, the Vaultek is worth the extra few dollars.
Decide
Which one is for you?
Choose the Barska AX13092 Desk Safe if
- Steel thickness comes first: 2 mm steel, against 16-gauge steel
- You want the approvals in writing: CA DOJ, against no UL or California DOJ line on the page
Choose the Vaultek 20 Series if
- You want more ways to open it: fingerprint + keypad + key + phone app, against fingerprint + keypad + key
2 safes in this table: scroll sideways to see them all
| Safe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Handgun safe | Handgun safe |
| Capacity | 1 handgun | Handgun size |
| Body steel | 2 mm steel | 16-gauge steel |
| Fire rating | Not fire rated | No rating claimed |
| Ways to open | Fingerprint + Keypad + Key | Fingerprint + Keypad + Key + Phone app |
| Approvals stated | CA DOJ | None stated |
| Locking bolts | Not stated | Not stated |
| Weight | 8.6 lb | 7.2 lb |
| Outside size | 3.8 × 7.6 × 13.5 in (depth × width × height) | 11.5 × 9 × 2.75 in |
| Inside size | Not stated | 11 × 5.75 × 2 in |
| Made in USA | Not stated | Not stated |
| Warranty | 1-year | 2-year |
| Returns | Not stated | 30 days |
| Shipping | Free | Charged or quoted |
| Sold by | Barska | Vaultek |
| Where to buy | Check price at Barska | Check price at Vaultek |
✓ marks the better figure. "Not stated" means the seller's page doesn't publish it. Fire ratings and capacities are the brands' own claims. Prices checked November 13, 2026 at the seller named in the table.
Which one is built stronger?
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe: 2 mm steel, per Barska's spec table (no gauge given); 8.6 lb. Vaultek 20 Series: 16-gauge steel; anti-pry bars, interior hinges and two anti-impact latches, per Vaultek; 7.2 lb.
Gauge runs backwards: a lower number is thicker steel. The Barska AX13092 is 1.4 lb heavier, which helps once it is bolted down and hurts on delivery day. Approvals stated on the pages: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe, CA DOJ; Vaultek 20 Series, no UL or California DOJ line on the page. A listing we can't read on the seller's page is one we can't count. Bolt down whichever you choose.
Which one protects better against fire?
Neither page claims a fire rating; Barska goes further and states "Fireproof: No". Quick-access and lightweight storage is built to control who opens it, not to resist heat.
If fire matters, keep documents in a separate fire chest, or look at the fire-rated safes we rank. Our gun safe fire rating guide explains what the minutes mean.
Which lock is easier to live with?
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe: fingerprint scanner (20 fingerprints), one PIN code and 2 backup keys; silent mode and a low-battery alarm. Power: 4 AA batteries (not included). Vaultek 20 Series: fingerprint scanner (80 fingerprints with ViSN), 5-digit backlit keypad and a front keyway; WiFi app alerts. The Nano Key fob is not included. Power: 3 AAA batteries (not included).
More ways in means fewer bad surprises: a key or a mechanical lock still works when a battery is flat. Whichever lock you choose, the code and the keys stay with the adults; the guide to California DOJ approved gun safes links the official child-safety advice, and storage laws differ by state.
What do they cost, and what cover do you get?
On November 13, 2026: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe $299.99 at Barska, Vaultek 20 Series $312.99 at Vaultek. That is $13 between them.
Warranty: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe, 1-year limited warranty, per Barska's spec table; Vaultek 20 Series, 2-year limited warranty, 3 years if you register the safe, per Vaultek's refund policy page. Returns: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe, no return window on the pages we read; Vaultek 20 Series, 30 days with a prepaid return label; the original shipping charge is not refunded, per Vaultek's refund policy. Delivery: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe, free shipping on orders over $60, per Barska's store banner; Vaultek 20 Series, no delivery terms on the pages we read.
Where to go from here
Full reviews: Barska AX13092 Desk Safe review and Vaultek 20 Series review. Both appear in our ranking of the best gun safes, biometric gun safe, handgun safe.
Other head-to-heads: Vaultek 20 Series vs Fort Knox Original Pistol Box.
Still deciding what kind of safe you need? Read our guide: California DOJ approved gun safes.
By Grant Holloway, editor, gun safes · updated November 13, 2026
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe or Vaultek 20 Series: quick answers
All head-to-headsIs the Barska AX13092 Desk Safe better than the Vaultek 20 Series?
In our formula, yes: 8.8/10 against 8.6/10, with the edge on steel thickness and published approvals. The Vaultek 20 Series is ahead on lock and ways in, which may matter more in your home.
Which is cheaper, the Barska AX13092 or the 20 Series?
The Barska AX13092 Desk Safe: $299.99 against $312.99 on November 13, 2026.
Which has the thicker steel?
Barska AX13092 Desk Safe: 2 mm steel. Vaultek 20 Series: 16-gauge steel. A lower gauge number means thicker steel.
Is either one fire rated?
No. Neither page claims a fire rating.