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.
Plenty of the folks who sit through my carry class own more than one handgun. Sooner or later one of them hangs back at the break and asks how to keep all of them locked up and still close at hand. A four-gun box like the RPNB 4-Pistol Biometric Safe is one of the answers I walk through.
Short version: it’s a lit, foam-racked box for four handguns with a fingerprint reader, a keypad, two backup keys and an emergency USB-C port. Measure every gun before you order, and bolt it down the day it comes home.
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
RPNB 4-Pistol Biometric Safe – Best Four-Pistol Biometric Safe Under $200
HIGHLIGHT:
Four handguns racked in foam behind a fingerprint reader, keypad and two keys, with a USB-C port for the day the batteries quit.
OUT OF THE BOX:
In the photos you can see the safe fresh out of its packaging on a countertop, lid up on its strut and the rack empty. The rack is a row of upright foam blocks with slots between them, one slot per gun. RPNB lists mounting screws in the box along with the two backup keys.
RPNB lists the outside at 12.2 inches deep, 13.78 inches wide and 6.3 inches tall, and the weight at 15.4 pounds. That’s a good bit more box than a nightstand pistol safe, so pick the spot before you open the carton.
KEYPAD & FINGERPRINT READER:
The controls sit along the front edge: four numbered buttons and a square fingerprint pad at the right end. RPNB lists a 4-digit code and a 500 DPI fingerprint scanner. Four digits is a short code, so don’t use a birthday, a house number or anything a child could work out, and don’t reuse the code on your phone or your front door.
For the reader, I give every class the same advice: enroll each adult several times at different angles, then add a second finger as a backup. Hands are dry and steady at the kitchen table when you set it up. They aren’t at 3 a.m. In the photos you can see a finger on the pad in a dark room with the light bar lit above the buttons, which is about how it’ll look when it counts.
The seller says the lid opens on its own once the lock releases. That saves you a motion in a hurry. It also means the lid comes up whether you’re ready or not, so keep the space above and in front of it clear and know who’s standing nearby.
BACKUP KEYS:
The close-up shows a key sitting in the lock on the front, below the keypad. RPNB includes two, and two is a practical number. Keep one away from the safe and the other in a separate spot only trusted adults can reach. Test both the day it comes home.
I’ll say it the way I say it in class: the key does not live in the drawer next to the safe, and it never lives where a child can find it. The keys bypass the electronics, so they’re your answer to a dead battery or a reader that won’t read. That only works if you can lay hands on one in the dark.
FOAM RACK & LIGHT:
The rack is the reason to buy this box. The seller says handguns sit in a quick-release position so you can lift one out by the grip. In the photos you can see the rack partly loaded, holding three pistols, and full with four.
RPNB doesn’t publish interior dimensions or a maximum handgun length. Before you order, measure each gun at its longest and tallest point, light, optic and extended magazine included. Fixed foam slots suit standard shapes best, and an oversize frame can be a poor fit. Four guns take up most of the room, so don’t plan on much else in there. If you need space for papers too, look at my gun safes under $200 list.
The seller lists interior lighting, and the photos show it lighting up the rack and the floor of the box in a dark room. When you reach for a grip at night, being able to see which gun you’ve got is worth something.
BUILD & LID:
RPNB’s spec sheet lists alloy steel with a corrosion-resistant black finish, and the description mentions dual anti-impact latches. No steel gauge, bolt count or pry rating is given, so I won’t pretend this is a vault. It keeps curious hands out and slows down a smash-and-grab.
One set of photos shows the safe turned on its side with the lid swung open like a door, four pistols racked inside, and another shows it set inside a wooden cabinet. RPNB lists this as a floor mount and doesn’t say anything about mounting it on its side. If you want it that way, ask the seller before you drill.
One more thing about the listing. The long description on the page includes text about fire resistance and a touch screen that seems to come from other products. Nothing in this model’s spec table confirms a fire rating or any state certification. Don’t buy it to protect papers from a fire.
POWER:
There’s a USB Type-C port on the side for emergencies. If the batteries are dead and the keys have gone missing, you can plug in a power source and wake the electronics up. The seller says that port is for emergency use, not long-term power.
RPNB doesn’t list the battery type or how long a set should last. Check the manual, put a reminder on your phone to change them on a schedule, and keep a short USB-C cable and a small power bank in the same room, not inside the safe. With the two keys, that gives you three ways back in when the reader won’t wake up.
MOUNTING & PLACEMENT:
The spec sheet calls it a floor mount with screws included. Concrete needs different anchors than a wood subfloor, so look at what comes in the bag and buy proper anchors if they don’t suit your floor. At 15.4 pounds, it’s heavier than a nightstand box, but as an old lawman my first thought is that a burglar can still carry it out under one arm if it isn’t fastened down.
In the photos you can see it parked on a nightstand, on a closet shelf over the hanging clothes, and on a white shelf. Any of those can work. The goal is a spot out of sight from visitors that’s easy for you to reach in the dark.
One of those photos has a cup and a water bottle sitting on the lid. I’d break that habit. If the lid comes up on its own, whatever’s parked on top goes over. And if you have children in the house, the bolt-down 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: The RPNB 4-Pistol’s fingerprint scanner opens reliably, there is room for three to four medium pistols with spare magazines, and it keeps a carry lineup organized and quick to reach.
Where it falls short: The included hold-down screws are flimsy and should be replaced with real lag bolts. The metal and interior foam are fairly thin, pistols with optics or weapon lights often do not fit, and the fingerprint or code function can eventually stop working.
Who it’s for: Keeping a few bare pistols out of children’s reach with quick fingerprint access. Skip it if you run optics or weapon lights, or need real pry and theft resistance.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Fit is the big one, because RPNB doesn’t publish interior dimensions or a maximum gun length. After that: no published steel gauge, no confirmed fire rating, no listed battery type, and a lid that pops up on its own. None of that is a deal-breaker. All of it is something to know before the box shows up.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT:
Buy it if you own several handguns and want them in one lit, organized box with fingerprint, code and key access, and you have a fixed spot to bolt it down. Skip it if you only need room for one gun, if you want something you can take in the car, or if you need a published steel thickness or a fire rating. For a published 14-gauge build, the Hornady RAPiD Safe RFID states more about its construction, though it holds fewer guns.
SPECS AT A GLANCE:
| Spec | What RPNB lists |
|---|---|
| Outside size | 12.2″ deep x 13.78″ wide x 6.3″ high |
| Weight | 15.4 lb |
| Capacity | 4 pistols in a foam rack |
| Ways in | 500 DPI fingerprint, 4-digit keypad, 2 backup keys |
| Body | Alloy steel, corrosion-resistant black finish (no gauge listed) |
| Mounting | Floor mount, mounting screws included |
| Emergency power | USB Type-C port on the side |
| Extras | Interior lighting, lid opens on release, dual anti-impact latches |
PROS & CONS:
Pros
- Foam rack holds four handguns in order
- Fingerprint, keypad and two backup keys
- USB-C emergency power port
- Interior lighting for a dark room
Cons
- No published interior size or maximum gun length
- No steel gauge, fire rating or certification confirmed
- Battery type and life aren’t listed
$119.99 & FREE Returns on Amazon (as of Oct 31, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT – details)
Comparing fingerprint boxes? See my best biometric gun safes picks.
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 | RPNB 4-Pistol Biometric Safe |
| Protocol (plan) | Bolt the safe down and load it with four pistols of different sizes; open it by fingerprint, keypad and key in the dark; test the USB-C emergency port with dead batteries; check that each rack slot holds its gun securely. |
| To measure | Record which pistol sizes fit each slot, open time by method and fingerprint failure rate. |
| What failed or disappointed | |
| Photos from the tester | Our community |
RPNB 4-Pistol Biometric Safe FAQ
How many handguns does the RPNB 4-Pistol safe hold?
RPNB lists a four-pistol foam rack. Interior measurements and maximum handgun length aren’t published, so measure each gun with any light, optic or extended magazine and ask the seller before ordering.
What if the battery dies on the RPNB 4-Pistol?
There’s a USB Type-C port on the side for emergency power, and the seller says it isn’t meant for long-term use. You also have two backup keys. Battery type and life aren’t listed, so check the manual.
How do I mount the RPNB 4-Pistol safe?
It’s listed as a floor mount with screws included. Make sure the screws suit your floor, since concrete and wood need different anchors. At 15.4 pounds, it can be carried off if it isn’t fastened down.
What are the ways to open it?
The seller lists a 500 DPI fingerprint scanner, a 4-digit keypad and two backup keys. The lid opens on its own when the lock releases, so keep the space around it clear. Practice all three ways after setup.
Does it have a fire rating or California approval?
No fire rating or state certification is confirmed in the spec data, even though the page description carries some unrelated brand text. Don’t count on it for fire protection, and check your own state’s rules.
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.