Quick Answer: Bighorn is a safe brand built by Rhino Metals, Inc., an Idaho manufacturer that also makes the separately-branded Rhino, Ironworks, and Kodiak safes — Bighorn isn’t an independent company competing against those names. The best current pick is the SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive (44 long guns, 60 min/1,400°F, USA-made, sold exclusively through Costco for about $999.99-$1,499.99), while the UAB19ES Executive (21 long guns, 30-minute rating, about $999-$1,159) is the comparable option for buyers shopping Amazon or an independent dealer instead of a Costco membership.
Searches for “Bighorn gun safe” pull in roughly 1,000 monthly searches, mostly from Costco shoppers who’ve seen the SafeX line in a warehouse and want a second opinion before buying. According to Rhino Metals’ own SafeX spec sheet, the 25.2 cu. ft. Executive model is rated for 60 minutes of fire protection at 1,400°F — double the 30-minute/1,200°F rating of the smaller 15.05 cu. ft. version sold alongside it. We pulled model specs from Rhino Metals’ and Costco’s own product pages and cross-checked pricing against third-party deal trackers.
Bighorn’s lineup compared
| Model | Capacity | Fire rating | Where sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafeX 15.05 Cu. Ft. | 37 long guns | 30 min / 1,200°F | Costco only | ~$999.99 |
| SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive | 44 long guns | 60 min / 1,400°F | Costco only | ~$999.99-$1,499.99 |
| UAB19ES Executive | 21 long guns | 30 min | Amazon, independent dealers | ~$999-$1,159 |
| Classic Series 12-Gun | 7.9 cu. ft. | 30 min / 1,200°F | Amazon, independent dealers | ~$500-$600 (availability varies) |
Bighorn SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive
- Rhino Metals builds this one domestically specifically for Costco's SafeX line, with the highest fire rating in the Bighorn catalog — double the duration and 200°F higher than the smaller 15.05 cu. ft. model.
- Electronic lock, interior LED lighting, and a customizable shelf layout rather than a fixed rack, so it adapts as a collection grows past long guns alone.
- Listed pricing varies noticeably by source and promotion — we've seen it as low as $999.99 on a Costco markdown and as high as $1,499.99 at list, so check the current Costco.com price before assuming either figure.
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Bighorn SafeX 15.05 Cu. Ft.
- Costco's most-reviewed Bighorn model, with a built-in electrical outlet for a dehumidifier rod or trickle charger — see our gun safe dehumidifier picks if you're pairing one.
- 341 lbs and sized for a closet or garage corner rather than a dedicated gun room.
- Ships freight like any full-size safe, not by mail, and requires an active Costco membership to purchase online.
Bighorn UAB19ES Executive
- The comparable Bighorn option for buyers who don't have a Costco membership or want to shop on Amazon instead — this is the older Executive-series body, not the SafeX line.
- Includes a patented swing-out gun rack that pivots away from the door for easier access to guns stored toward the back.
- Smaller capacity than either SafeX model at a similar price point, since you're paying Amazon/dealer margin instead of Costco's warehouse pricing.
Bighorn Classic Series 12-Gun
- UL-listed as a residential security container and meets California DOJ gun-safe standards, with a 2.75mm steel body and heat-activated door seal.
- The smallest and cheapest safe in the Bighorn catalog — sized for a dozen long guns rather than a growing collection.
- Stock comes and goes across Amazon and independent dealers; confirm current availability and price before counting on this specific model.
The honesty check: what “Bighorn gun safe” actually means
“Bighorn” isn’t an independent gun-safe maker — it’s one of four house brands built by Rhino Metals, Inc., a Caldwell, Idaho manufacturer founded in 1995 that also makes the separately-branded Rhino, Ironworks, and Kodiak safes. Some listings even sell it under the combined “Rhino Bighorn” name, which gives away the shared ownership that the standalone “Bighorn” branding on a Costco shelf doesn’t. That matters because the name quietly covers two unrelated product lines: the newer SafeX series, built specifically and exclusively for Costco with USA-made steel and the catalog’s best fire ratings, and an older Executive/Classic lineup sold through Amazon and independent dealers with smaller capacities and different dimensions entirely. A review of the SafeX 25.2 and a review of the UAB19ES are describing two different physical safes that happen to share a brand name.
Worth knowing before you buy: Rhino Metals recalled about 400 units of the Bighorn P-20 — a small $75 handgun security safe — in 2016 after the CPSC found it could be opened without the combination. That recall is unrelated to the full-size long-gun safes on this page, which use a different lock type entirely, but it’s a fair question to ask if you’re specifically comparing Bighorn’s small handgun-safe tier rather than the SafeX or Executive lines. For a brand with a cleaner single-company story at a similar price point, see our Steelwater or Liberty roundups.
Which Bighorn model fits you
Buy the SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive if you have a Costco membership and want the brand’s highest fire rating and USA-made steel. Choose the smaller SafeX 15.05 Cu. Ft. if 37 long guns covers your collection and you want to save a few hundred dollars over the Executive tier. Go with the UAB19ES if you don’t have a Costco membership and would rather order through Amazon. Pick the Classic Series 12-Gun only if budget is the deciding factor and you’ve confirmed current stock — it’s the smallest and least consistently available model in the lineup.
Want a safe from a single-brand company instead of a multi-brand manufacturer’s house label? Our gun safe brands comparison covers Liberty, Fort Knox, and Steelwater’s full lineups. Shopping specifically at Costco and want to see what else is on the shelf? Our Costco gun safe guide covers Bighorn alongside Cannon, Winchester, and Costco’s Sanctuary house brand.
The bottom line
Bighorn is a real, UL-listed safe line — it’s just built by Rhino Metals rather than an independent company, and the name spans two product generations with different capacities and fire ratings. For most Costco shoppers, the SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive is the better buy at its price point thanks to the 60-minute fire rating. Skipping the Costco membership? The UAB19ES gets you a comparable Bighorn safe through Amazon instead.