Quick Answer: The Browning ProSteel 1878-33 comes standard with a UL-listed Sargent & Greenleaf Group 2 mechanical dial lock — the same lock family trusted across premium safe brands — for around $3,899-$4,549. Budget-conscious buyers should look at the Tracker Safe TS24-GRY, a 24-gun safe with the same style of UL-listed mechanical dial lock for around $1,203. Already own a safe and just want the lock itself? The Sargent & Greenleaf 6730-100 kit is the standalone mechanical lock most locksmiths install as an upgrade.
Electronic keypads dominate today’s gun safe market, but mechanical dial locks never disappeared — they’re still the default on premium safes and the preferred choice for owners who don’t want batteries, circuit boards, or EMP exposure anywhere near their firearms. According to Sargent & Greenleaf’s own published spec sheet, the 6730-100 Group 2 lock offers up to 1,000,000 possible combinations from its three wheels, the same mechanical platform used in ATMs and bank vaults. We compared the top mechanical-lock safes and the standalone lock upgrade on lock type, capacity, fire rating, and price.
Mechanical combination locks compared
| Product | Type | Fire rating | Best for | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browning ProSteel 1878-33 | 33-gun safe, S&G mechanical dial | 90 min | Best overall | ~$3,899-$4,549 | ★★★★★ |
| Tracker Safe TS24-GRY | 24-gun safe, mechanical dial | 30 min / 1,200°F | Best value safe | ~$1,203 | ★★★★½ |
| Sargent & Greenleaf 6730-100 | Standalone lock + dial kit | N/A | Best upgrade lock | ~$180-$220 | ★★★★½ |
Browning ProSteel 1878-33
- Ships standard with a UL-listed Sargent & Greenleaf mechanical dial lock — Browning's own resources describe it as an "affordable, reliable, and secure" 3-number combination lock with a proven track record.
- A UL-listed S&G electronic lock is available as a paid upgrade, but the mechanical dial is the safe's standard configuration, not an afterthought option.
- 90-minute fire rating and 33-gun capacity put it in the premium tier for buyers who want a mechanical lock without giving up fire protection or storage room.
A safe this heavy needs a bolt-down kit and often a hand truck to get into place — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days so anchor bolts and a dehumidifier ship free in two days and are waiting before the safe itself arrives.
Tracker Safe TS24-GRY
- UL-listed Group 2 mechanical dial lock at roughly a quarter of the price of the Browning, with the same EMP-proof, no-battery advantage.
- 8 steel locking bolts of 1" diameter and a 4.25" composite door with a 12-gauge steel plate front, per the manufacturer's published spec.
- An electronic-lock sibling (TS24-ESR-GRY) exists at the same price point, so double-check the "-GRY" (dial) suffix rather than "-ESR-GRY" (electronic) when ordering.
Sargent & Greenleaf 6730-100 Mechanical Lock Kit
- An all-inclusive kit — combination lock, dial, dial ring, and mounting hardware — for retrofitting an existing safe rather than buying a whole new one.
- Up to 1,000,000 theoretical combinations from three wheels, the industry-standard Group 2 platform used across ATM, bank, and gun safe locks.
- Installation on an existing safe is a locksmith job for most owners — the lock has to be fitted to the specific door and re-punched to a new combination, not a plug-and-play swap.
Mechanical vs. electronic: which lock type actually fits your situation
The security ceiling is the same either way — a UL-listed Group 2 mechanical lock and a UL-listed electronic lock both resist the same manipulation and drilling standards, so pick based on failure mode, not raw security. Mechanical dials never lose power, never corrode a battery contact, and survive an EMP or lightning-induced surge with zero exposure, which is why they’re still the default on premium brands like Browning and AMSEC rather than a legacy option nobody chooses. The tradeoff is speed and night access: a dial takes 15-30 seconds of careful turning under good light, while a biometric or keypad model opens in under a second, which is why bedside and quick-access safes lean electronic — see our best biometric gun safe guide for that side of the tradeoff. The same tradeoff shows up in our best wall gun safe and best handgun safe guides, where speed usually wins out over the mechanical dial’s no-battery advantage.
The bottom line
For a premium safe with a mechanical lock built in from the factory, the Browning ProSteel 1878-33 delivers the same S&G lock family found on far more expensive safes. Buyers who want the mechanical-lock advantage on a tighter budget should look at the Tracker Safe TS24-GRY. And if the safe itself is already fine but the lock needs replacing, the S&G 6730-100 kit is the standard upgrade path. For a full first-safe buying guide instead of a lock-specific one, see our best gun safe pillar page.