Getting Started With The Field And Stream 1871 Gun Safe
The Field And Stream 1871 Gun Safe is a budget-entry security cabinet that was sold through sporting goods retailers. It comes as a knock-down flat-pack with a mechanical combination lock. You don't need anything fancy to assemble it, but reading the manual before you start saves you from making mistakes that are painful to undo later. I've assembled several of these cabinets over the years. The manual is about eight pages, printed on thin paper that tears if you fold it aggressively. It covers box contents, wall anchoring, combination setting, and basic maintenance. The combination lock is a standard three-wheel dial mechanism, the kind you'll find on any budget gun cabinet from this era. Here's what most people miss on the first assembly. The anti-tilt brackets go on the back of the cabinet before you slide the back panel into place. I learned this after spending about twenty minutes wrestling with a back panel that wouldn't seat because the brackets were already inside the frame blocking the slot. Once you know it, it takes thirty seconds to correct. If the brackets are already installed and blocking the panel, you have to remove every screw holding the back panel, pull the panel forward about two inches, and reposition the brackets on the outside before sliding everything back together.
The wall anchor kit is included and it's not optional. These cabinets are approximately forty pounds when empty and can tip forward if you leave the door open with heavy rifles loaded on the right side. I've seen it happen. The anchors that come with it are for drywall with wooden studs. If you're mounting into plaster or concrete, you'll need to buy your own toggle bolts or concrete sleeves separately.
Combination Setup And Lock Operation
The lock has a reset feature on the inside of the door. There's a small lever or button behind the faceplate that you move to the reset position, set your desired three-number combination, then return the lever. Write the combination down somewhere before you close the door. The manual does mention this step, but it buries it halfway through the document, and the printing is faint enough that some people skip past it. A practical detail that isn't in the manual: the dial has no detents or clicks. You're guessing at the number positions by feel alone. On the first combination change, I always run through the full cycle three times with the door open so I can watch the bolt retract each time. This confirms the internal wheels are actually aligning with my chosen numbers and not some residual position from the factory default. Another thing the manual doesn't cover well is lubrication. The factory comes with a dry lubricant that wears off within a few months of regular use, especially if you live in a humid climate. I use a small amount of white lithium spray on the bolt mechanism every six months. Don't use WD-40 or any penetrant oil, because those attract dust and eventually turn into a gritty sludge that slows the bolt travel and makes the dial feel rough.
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Common Issues And Workarounds
The most frequent problem I encounter is the door not sealing properly along the bottom edge. The rubber gasket that compresses when you close the door sometimes sits too far inward on the frame, leaving a gap. The fix is straightforward: remove the two screws holding the gasket channel, reposition it so it meets the door surface evenly along the entire length, and re-tighten. I do this on every new 1871 I install, usually taking about five minutes total. The second issue is the handle feeling loose after a few weeks. The handle attaches with four Phillips head screws into a metal plate inside the door. Over time, vibration from closing and opening causes these to back out slightly. Tightening them takes about two minutes with a screwdriver, but the screws are soft metal and will strip if you overtighten them. Finger-tight plus a quarter turn with the tool is enough.
Capacity And Layout Notes
The manual lists a capacity of roughly six to eight long guns depending on length and profile. In practice, six full-size rifles fit comfortably with the door closing without pressure on the stock tips. If you're storing shotguns with larger buck horns or rifles with oversized scopes, expect fewer slots to work cleanly. The vertical rod system adjusts in height increments, but the spacing between rods is fixed, so very tall scopes will hit the shelf above regardless of where you position the divider. For handgun storage, the manual includes a small foam insert, but it's thin and the slots are one size only. I replaced it with a simple nylon holster panel mounted to the inside of the door, which holds eight to ten sidearms more securely and doesn't degrade over time like the foam does.
What This Safe Won't Do
This is not a fire-rated safe. The steel is approximately eighteen to twenty gauge, which is standard for this price point, and the interior is empty air with no fireproofing material. If you need to protect documents or ammunition from heat, this cabinet won't help. It provides basic theft deterrence and weather protection for firearms stored indoors. That's the realistic expectation, and anything beyond that requires a different product category entirely. For the price point, the 1871 does its job adequately. The manual covers the essentials. The quirks are minor and solvable. If you follow the assembly instructions in order, set the combination correctly on the first try, and anchor it to a stud, you should have a functional safe in about forty-five minutes.
