Massad Ayoob — Founder, Massad Ayoob Group · Retired Police Captain · Expert Witness on use of force · Review date: October 31, 2026
Chris Raper — Retired North Carolina law enforcement (40+ years) · U.S. Air Force Security Police · NRA-certified Pistol, Rifle & Shotgun Instructor · NC DOJ-certified Concealed Carry Instructor · Founder, Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. (Elm City, NC, 2006)In addition to my own research and what my students bring into the Concealed Handgun Carry class every week, this guide was reviewed by Massad Ayoob of Massad Ayoob Group, whose opinion appears below. [Keep only if true — Chris: I handled the product(s) on this page myself. Details are in the test record at the end.] The method line at the end of the article says exactly how this guide was built.
When I ask a class where the gun sleeps at night, most folks say the nightstand drawer, right next to the phone charger. The FTOP Clock Gun Safe tries to be both of those things at once: a locked box for the gun and the place the phone charges overnight.
It’s a nightstand safe with fingerprint, PIN and key access, a clock and temperature display on the front, and a wireless charging pad on top.
My verdict: a fair choice for one or two handguns if you want one device on the nightstand and you’ll cable it down. Check the size numbers and the power details first, because the listing doesn’t agree with itself.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
Specs from the manufacturer listing · owner feedback summarized and labelled · hands-on test notes being added · How we review
FTOP Clock Gun Safe – Best Biometric Nightstand Safe With Wireless Charging
HIGHLIGHT:
Fingerprint, PIN and key access with silent mode, plus a clock display and a wireless charging pad on top.
OUT OF THE BOX:
FTOP lists the safe, a security cable, a manual and two keys in the box. In the photos you can see the brown FTOP retail box, the safe coming out of the shipping carton in a gray cloth bag, and a plastic bag of parts packed alongside it.
Count the keys when you open it, and decide where each one lives before the safe goes anywhere near the bedroom. The listing doesn’t say whether a wall adapter for the charging pad is included, so look for one before you throw out the packing.
FINGERPRINT READER & KEYPAD:
In the photos the controls sit along the front edge: a row of numbered buttons with the fingerprint reader at the right end, lit green in one shot. FTOP says the reader stores up to 100 prints, opens in about half a second and is rated at 500 DPI or better. The keypad is backlit, which FTOP says helps you find it in low light.
I teach the same trick for every fingerprint safe. Enroll the finger you’ll actually use several times at different angles: flat, tipped up, rolled a little to each side. Enroll a finger from your other hand, too. Half asleep, your hand doesn’t land the way it did at the kitchen table at noon. If you start getting misreads in cold weather, enroll again.
The listing doesn’t say how prints are enrolled or how long the PIN is, so read the manual before you set it up.
BACKUP KEY & SILENT MODE:
Two keys come in the box, and fingerprint readers can balk at wet, cold or dirty fingers, so you’ll want that key. I say it in every class: the key does not live in the nightstand drawer beside the safe, and it never lives where a child can find it. Put it on your key ring or in a second locked spot.
FTOP lists a silent mode so the safe doesn’t beep when you open it. In a bedroom that matters. You don’t want to announce to the house, or to whoever just came into it, that you opened the gun box.
CLOCK & CHARGING PAD:
This is the FTOP’s trick. The front display shows the time, temperature, humidity and battery level, and FTOP lists an alarm clock, too. On top is a triangle-shaped charging pad. The seller says it charges a phone, smartwatch or earbuds that support wireless charging, and in the photos you can see a watch and a pair of earbuds sitting on it.
A few catches from the listing. Phone cases thicker than 2.5 mm, or with metal in them, have to come off. The charging needs an adapter connected to the safe. And an alarm clock on a gun safe is one more thing to set up, so give the manual ten minutes.
One more thought from an old lawman. A safe that looks like a clock doesn’t draw the eye, and that’s part of the appeal. But looking like a clock isn’t the same as being locked. Treat the codes, the prints and the keys like the gun itself: adults only.
DRAWER & INSIDE ROOM:
In the photos the gun space is a drawer that slides out the front, lit blue inside, with a lined floor. One shot shows the drawer pulled open on a countertop with a small bag of parts inside.
FTOP says it holds two handguns, or one handgun plus a couple of magazines or other small items. The listing gives no inside dimensions. The outside is only 3.4 inches tall, so the drawer is shallow, and a full-size pistol with a light or a tall red dot may not fit. Measure your gun at its longest and tallest points, accessories on, and get the inside numbers from the seller before you order.
POWER:
The lock runs on batteries, and the screen shows the battery level. FTOP doesn’t list the battery type. The close-up of the underside shows an open battery compartment with a holder for four cells.
Whatever goes in there, I tell students to set a phone reminder to check it on the first of every month, and I’d swap batteries on a schedule instead of waiting for a warning. A dead safe at 3 a.m. leaves you hunting for the key. Ask the seller whether the charging adapter is in the box, and set the safe within reach of an outlet if you want the pad to work.
MOUNTING & CABLE:
FTOP lists the weight at 11 pounds in the specs and about 10 pounds in the bullets. Either way, a burglar can carry it out under one arm. The security cable in the box is the answer: loop it around a bed frame rail or a heavy furniture leg.
The spec sheet says floor mount, but the listing doesn’t describe screw-down holes. The photos show two round holes in the underside. Check the manual before you drill anything.
Keep it out of direct sun and off a hot windowsill, since it’s full of electronics. And if you have children in the house, this part isn’t optional. North Carolina’s safe-storage law (G.S. 14-315.1) can put you in court if a child gets hold of a loaded gun you left within reach and something happens with it. Other states have their own versions.
WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY:
Where it earns its keep: It works as a nightstand clock and organizer, the fingerprint reader is fast and consistent, the drawer slides smoothly, the build is solid and heavy, and the included security cable is sturdy.
Where it falls short: The clock runs noticeably fast over a few weeks, the temperature and humidity readout can be inaccurate, running on USB power instead of batteries throws the clock off further, and electronics at this price do not always last.
Who it’s for: A discreet nightstand “clock” that hides a pistol behind fast biometric access. Skip it if accurate timekeeping matters; the clock drifts and needs regular resetting.
WHAT TO WATCH:
The size numbers don’t match. The spec sheet says 12.7 x 12.7 x 3.4 inches, while a bullet says 12.7 inches deep, 9.5 wide and 3.4 high. Weight shows up as both 11 and about 10 pounds. The close-up shows a spec label on the safe itself, and that’s where I’d look first when yours arrives.
Beyond that: no steel gauge, no latch details, no fire or water rating and no independent certification. The listing says alloy steel and a 1-year warranty. More electronics also means more parts to keep up with: a screen, a charging coil, a fingerprint reader and a keypad.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT:
Buy it if you want one or two handguns, a clock and a phone charger in one box on the nightstand, and you’ll cable it down. At the time of writing it sat in the $100 to $200 range. Skip it if you want the thinnest box, published ratings, a longer warranty or no electronics at all. A mechanical box does that job.
SPECS AT A GLANCE:
| Spec | What FTOP lists |
|---|---|
| Model | CTCO1 |
| Size | 12.7 x 12.7 x 3.4 in (specs); 12.7″ D x 9.5″ W x 3.4″ H (bullet) |
| Weight | 11 lb (specs); about 10 lb (bullet) |
| Ways in | Fingerprint (up to 100 prints), PIN code, key |
| Body | Alloy steel |
| Display | Time, temperature, humidity, battery level; alarm clock |
| Extras | Wireless charging, backlit keypad, silent mode |
| In the box | Safe, security cable, manual, two keys |
| Warranty | 1 year |
PROS & CONS:
Pros
- Fingerprint, PIN and key access with silent mode
- Clock display and wireless charging in the same box
- Security cable and two keys included
- Room for two handguns, per FTOP
Cons
- Size and weight numbers disagree in the listing
- Battery type and charging adapter not spelled out
- Shallow, with no fire rating, steel gauge or certification listed
$129.50 & FREE Returns on Amazon (as of Oct 31, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT – details)
Rather skip the electronics? See my StopBox USA review.
Hands-on test record
Protocol prepared for Chris. Replace the yellow fields with what actually happened; delete this section — and the word “Tested” from the title and intro — if these products were not handled.
| Who tested | Chris Raper, NRA-certified instructor |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 31, 2026 |
| Products on this page | FTOP Clock Gun Safe |
| Protocol (plan) | Cable the safe to the nightstand, enroll two fingers per adult, then open it in the dark by fingerprint, PIN and key with silent mode on; confirm how many of your handguns fit and what the unit does when wall power is lost. |
| To measure | Record open time per method, failed fingerprint reads out of a set number of tries, behavior on loss of power, and the measured interior against the listing's size claims. |
| What failed or disappointed | |
| Photos from the tester | Our community |
FTOP Clock Gun Safe FAQ
How many handguns fit in the FTOP Clock Gun Safe?
FTOP says two handguns, or one handgun plus magazines or small items. Inside dimensions aren’t listed and the outside is only 3.4 inches tall, so measure your pistol, light included, before you order.
Does the FTOP Clock Gun Safe need power to work?
The lock runs on batteries, though the type isn’t listed. The wireless charging needs an adapter connected to the safe, and the box list shows only the safe, cable, manual and keys, so ask the seller whether the adapter comes with it.
Can I mount the FTOP Clock Gun Safe?
The listing includes a steel security cable, and the spec sheet says floor mount, but screw-down holes aren’t described. The practical move is looping the cable around a bed frame or a heavy piece of furniture.
What if my fingerprint isn’t recognized?
Use the PIN on the backlit keypad, or one of the two keys. Enroll your main finger at several angles to cut down on misreads, and keep the spare keys away from the safe.
Which phones and devices will it charge?
The seller says a phone, smartwatch or headphones that support wireless charging. Take off phone cases thicker than 2.5 mm or with metal in them, and check your device’s compatibility first.
Chris Raper
Chris Raper is the founder and lead reviewer of Conceal & Carry Network. A retired North Carolina law-enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service and a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran, he founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC in 2006 and has taught the state-approved NC Concealed Handgun Carry class there ever since. He is an NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor, an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer and a graduate of Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute. He reviews the carry guns, holsters, safes and sight tools his students ask about every week.