Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a family-owned American manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and handcrafts high-security gun safes, home safes, vault doors, pistol boxes, and accessories in Orem, Utah, selling exclusively through a certified authorized dealer network across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersOrem, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fort Knox does
Fort Knox Inc. is a privately held, family-owned American manufacturer of high-security safes, vault doors, home safes, gun safes, pistol boxes, and security accessories, founded in 1982 by Tom James and headquartered at 993 North Industrial Park Rd., Orem, Utah. The company designs and handcrafts products in the United States using American steel and labor, with a product portfolio spanning eight gun safe tiers (Maverick through Legend, $2,759 to $24,052 starting price), three home safe tiers (Marquise, Legacy, Treasury), in-swing and out-swing vault doors, multiple pistol and security boxes, and an accessory line including dehumidifiers, LED lighting, watch winders, door organizers, anchor kits, and lock retrofit kits. Its core technology centers on heavy-gauge steel construction (10-gauge to 1/2-inch tri-layer on the Legend), proprietary ArmaKnox AR500 ballistic steel upgrades, Type-C fireboard with welded anchors (rather than glue), Palusol fire seals, and Simplex mechanical combination locks, with fire protection ratings up to 1,800°F for 2.5 hours and comprehensive lifetime warranties covering forced entry, fire, flood, and manufacturing defects.
The company operates an exclusively channel-based go-to-market, selling only through a certified authorized dealer network across the United States; customers use the online Build & Price configurator to customize specifications, after which quotes are routed to the nearest dealer who finalizes pricing, arranges delivery, and handles professional installation. Accessories and branded apparel are sold directly via the ftknox.com storefront. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time hardware sales, with no subscription, software, or service revenue streams. The customer base is distributed across gun owners and collectors, homeowners with valuables (jewelry, watches, documents, cash), and high-security room conversion buyers (panic rooms, storm shelters, walk-in vaults), and the business is currently managed by the second and third generations of the James family following the early-1990s leadership transition from Tom James to his son TJ James.
Fort Knox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fort Knox
- Legal name
- Fort Knox Inc.
- Website
- https://ftknox.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Fort Knox is a family-owned American manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and handcrafts high-security gun safes, home safes, vault doors, pistol boxes, and accessories in Orem, Utah, selling exclusively through a certified authorized dealer network across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fort Knox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Safes and Vaults
- NAICS
- Other Metal Container Manufacturing (332439)
- SIC
- Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Firearm Storage & Safety Retail (Safes, Cases, Locks) (CRAMAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Alarm Systems & Monitoring Kits Retail (CRAIAMAG)
Keywords
Where Fort Knox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Orem
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fort Knox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Safes and Vault Doors: Fort Knox manufactures and sells custom high-security safes, vault doors, home safes, and gun safes. Products are built to order based on customer specifications through the online Build and Price tool. Pricing ranges from approximately $2,759 for entry-level Maverick to $24,052+ for the flagship Legend model. Sales occur exclusively through authorized dealer network.
- Accessories and Components: Aftermarket sale of accessories including dehumidifiers, LED lighting systems, door organizers, pistol boxes, watch winders, carpeted pedestals, anchor kits, touch-up paint, lock retrofit kits, and replacement parts. These are one-time purchase add-ons that complement the core safe product.
- Apparel and Merchandise: Sale of branded apparel including Fort Knox hats and t-shirts through the online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gun Safe Models (8 tiers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home Safe Models (3 tiers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vault Doors (2 configurations) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pistol Boxes and Security Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Fort Knox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fort Knox handcrafts high-security American-made safes, vault doors, home safes, gun safes, and pistol/security boxes in Orem, Utah using proprietary steel, fireboard, and locking technologies. Products are custom-built to order through an online Build & Price tool and sold exclusively through a certified U.S. dealer network that handles delivery and installation. A complementary line of accessories (dehumidifiers, LED lighting, watch winders, lock retrofit kits, etc.) and branded apparel is sold direct online.
Product overview
Fort Knox offers a comprehensive portfolio of American-made security safes and vault products organized across three main categories: gun safes (Maverick, Spartan, Defender, Protector, Executive, Guardian, Titan, and Legend models ranging from entry-level to flagship), home safes (Marquise, Legacy, and Treasury with luxury features like jewelry cabinets and mirrored panels), and vault doors (in-swing and out-swing configurations). The product lineup also includes pistol boxes and security boxes (Original, Personal, Auto, Shotgun, and CAB), plus a full range of accessories (watch winders, dehumidifiers, LED lighting, door organizers, anchor kits, pedestals, and lock retrofit kits) and branded apparel. All products feature Fort Knox's core differentiators: thick American steel construction (ranging from 10-gauge to ArmaKnox AR500), advanced fire protection with Type-C fireboard, comprehensive lifetime warranties, and extensive customization options through their online Build & Price tool. The company sells exclusively through certified dealers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Maverick Gun Safe Entry-level gun safe with 10-gauge body steel, 3/8 inch door edge, fire rating to 1600°F for 1.5 hours, and 9-11 locking bolts. Starting price $2,759, sold through authorized dealers.
- Spartan Gun Safe Entry-level gun safe with 3/16 inch body steel, fire rating to 1500°F for 1 hour, and 12-14 locking bolts. Starting price $3,370, sold through authorized dealers.
- Defender Gun Safe Mid-range gun safe with 10-gauge body steel, 1/2 inch door edge, fire rating to 1700°F for 2 hours, and 11-13 locking bolts. Starting price $4,061, sold through authorized dealers.
- Protector Gun Safe Mid-range gun safe with 3/16 inch body steel, 1/2 inch door edge, fire rating to 1700°F for 2 hours, and 11-13 locking bolts. Starting price $4,378, sold through authorized dealers.
- Executive Gun Safe High-security gun safe with 1/4 inch body steel, 5/8 inch door edge, fire rating to 1700°F for 2 hours, and 13 locking bolts. Starting price $5,272, sold through authorized dealers.
- Guardian Gun Safe High-security gun safe with 5/16 inch body steel plus 10-gauge carbon steel liner, fire rating to 1700°F for 2 hours, 18-22 locking bolts, corner bolts, and LED lights. Starting price $6,758, sold through authorized dealers.
- Titan Gun Safe Premium gun safe with 3/16 inch carbon steel outer body bonded with 3/16 inch ArmaKnox AR500 inner liner, 3/4 inch door edge, fire rating to 1700°F for 2 hours, and 18-22 locking bolts. Starting price $8,776, sold through authorized dealers.
- Legend Gun Safe Flagship gun safe with 1/2 inch three-layer body (carbon steel, 10-gauge stainless steel, 3/16 inch ArmaKnox AR500), 1 inch door edge, up to 28 locking bolts, visible rack and pinion gear system behind tempered glass, and 1700°F/2-hour fire rating. Starting price $24,052, sold through authorized dealers.
- Marquise Home Safe Home safe with 3/16 inch body, Reinforced Fire Liner, fire rating to 1800°F for 2.5 hours, 11 locking bolts, and a built-in jewelry cabinet with felt-lined drawers and mirrored back panel. Starting price $7,458, sold through authorized dealers.
- Legacy Home Safe Premium home safe with 3/16 inch ArmaKnox AR500 steel liner, Reinforced Fire Liner, fire rating to 1800°F for 2.5 hours, and built-in jewelry cabinet. Starting price $9,024, sold through authorized dealers.
- Treasury Home Safe Top-tier home safe with ArmaKnox AR500 and 10-gauge stainless steel liners, Reinforced Fire Liner, fire rating to 1800°F for 2.5 hours, and built-in jewelry cabinet. Starting price $11,492, sold through authorized dealers.
- Out-swing Vault Door Vault door that opens outward at 180 degrees, with 3/16 inch face frame, 24 locking bolts, two layers of fireboard, pull handle, and inside release handle. Starting price $8,185, sold through authorized dealers.
- In-swing Vault Door In-swing vault door ideal for panic rooms and storm shelters, with 19 locking bolts. Starting price $8,326, sold through authorized dealers.
- Original Pistol Box Top-opening pistol box with 10-gauge steel body, 3/16 inch wrap-around door, Simplex mechanical lock with 1000+ combinations, foam lining, and gas-strut assisted lid. Price $299.
- Personal Pistol Box Front-swing door pistol box with 10-gauge steel body, 3/16 inch wrap-around door, Simplex mechanical lock, and carpet-lined interior. Designed for drawers and cabinets. Price $299.
- Auto Pistol Box Compact pistol box with 10-gauge steel body, 3/16 inch plate door, Simplex mechanical lock, weighing 14 lbs. Price $280.
- Shotgun Security Box Long gun security box with 45 inch length, 10-gauge steel body, 3/16 inch plate door, Simplex mechanical lock, and carpet-lined interior. Price $600.
- CAB Security Box Largest security box available in 20, 24, and 28 inch widths, with 10-gauge steel body, 3/16 inch plate door, Simplex mechanical lock, and carpet-lined interior. Designed to mount inside or on top of safes. Price $681-$729.
- Fort Knox Watch Winder Watch winder accessory available in 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 spot configurations with fabric color options. Price $1,100-$1,900.
- 12 Inch Dehumidifier Rod Electric dehumidifier rod that increases and maintains air temperature inside the safe, eliminating humidity and condensation; 8 watt unit services up to 100 cubic feet. Price $48.
- LED Light System Interior LED lighting system with thermal activation that automatically turns on when the safe door is opened. Price $234.
- Anchor Kit
Quantifiable outcome
- Fire protection ratings: Spartan 1,500°F/1hr, Maverick 1,600°F/1.5hr, Defender-Legend 1,700°F/2hr, Home Safes 1,800°F/2.5hr
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fort Knox
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fort Knox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Fort Knox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Julian & SonsminorExclusive dealer featured in the Fort Knox gallery showcasing custom home vault installations. Julian & Sons installs custom home vaults and displays finished installations in the company's customer gallery. One of the certified Fort Knox dealers offering custom vault solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fort Knox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Browning Safes: Browning markets a line of gun safes and home safes leveraging the Browning brand in the hunting and shooting community, sold through sporting goods dealers. Overlap with Fort Knox is strongest in the gun owner and collector segment and dealer-led distribution.
- Stack-On: Stack-On produces gun safes, home safes, and security cabinets sold through sporting goods and big-box retail. Targets the more price-sensitive segment of the gun safe market that sits just below Fort Knox's entry-level Maverick.
- Liberty Safe: Liberty Safe is the largest US gun safe manufacturer, offering a comparable lineup of heavy-duty steel gun safes, home safes, and vault doors sold through an authorized dealer network. It competes head-to-head with Fort Knox on steel thickness, fire ratings, warranty, and dealer-driven distribution.
- American Security (AMSEC): AMSEC manufactures UL-listed gun safes, home safes, and vault doors with comparable fire and burglary ratings, sold primarily through safe dealers and locksmiths. It directly overlaps Fort Knox on premium construction, lifetime warranty options, and the authorized dealer go-to-market model.
- Mesa Safe: Mesa Safe manufactures gun safes, home safes, and pistol safes at competitive price points, distributed through dealers and online channels. Product positioning overlaps with Fort Knox's entry-level Maverick and Spartan tiers.
- Hollon Safe: Hollon Safe offers gun safes, home safes, and vault doors with heavy-gauge steel construction and fire ratings comparable to Fort Knox's mid and upper tiers. Sold through safe and security dealers with similar installation requirements.
- Gardall Safe: Gardall manufactures residential and commercial safes, including gun and home safes, sold through locksmiths and security dealers. Comparable to Fort Knox on home safe configurations and dealer-led fulfillment.
- Cannon Safe: Cannon Safe produces gun safes, home safes, and pistol safes with similar steel-gauge and fire-rating positioning, sold through sporting goods retailers and a dealer network. The product mix, price band, and target customer closely match Fort Knox's Maverick through Legend tiers.
Broad incumbents
- SentrySafe: SentrySafe is a large, established safe manufacturer offering fire-resistant and waterproof safes, gun cabinets, and home security products sold through mass-market retail. It overlaps with Fort Knox in home safe and document protection but at lower price points and broader distribution.
- Honeywell Safes: Honeywell licenses a broad line of consumer safes (fire, water, biometric, gun) sold through big-box and online channels. A mass-market incumbent that competes with Fort Knox at the entry tier and pistol box level rather than the premium gun safe segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fort Knox social profiles
Digital presenceFort Knox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fort Knox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fort Knox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fort Knox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fort Knox
What does Fort Knox do?
Fort Knox handcrafts high-security American-made safes, vault doors, home safes, gun safes, and pistol/security boxes in Orem, Utah using proprietary steel, fireboard, and locking technologies. Products are custom-built to order through an online Build & Price tool and sold exclusively through a certified U.S. dealer network that handles delivery and installation. A complementary line of accessories (dehumidifiers, LED lighting, watch winders, lock retrofit kits, etc.) and branded apparel is sold direct online.
Is Fort Knox a public or private company?
Fort Knox is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Fort Knox founded?
Fort Knox was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Fort Knox based?
Fort Knox is headquartered in Orem, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fort Knox make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Safes and Vault Doors are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Components and apparel and Merchandise.
Who are Fort Knox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Browning Safes, Stack-On, Liberty Safe, American Security (AMSEC), Mesa Safe, Hollon Safe, Gardall Safe and Cannon Safe. Broad incumbents are SentrySafe and Honeywell Safes.
Does Fort Knox have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fort Knox.
What industry is Fort Knox in?
Fort Knox's product category is Security Safes and Vaults. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAKAI, Firearm Storage & Safety Retail (Safes, Cases, Locks), with a secondary code of CRAIAMAG, Alarm Systems & Monitoring Kits Retail. Its NAICS code is 332439 and its SIC code is 3420.