A compact biometric pistol safe from Hornady is drawing attention for opening with a contactless palm scan rather than a keypad or fingerprint pad. In a hands-on look at the Vexus Night Guard, the host demonstrated unlocking the unit by holding a hand in front of the sensor, then retrieving a Canik MC9 Prime stored in a Gunfighters Inc. holster. The pitch is aimed at owners who want a quick-access box that still keeps a firearm out of unauthorized hands, including children.
How it works
The safe is described as reading veins in the palm, which the presenter said allows it to work with either hand, even upside down, and without touching the unit. “You just put your hand in front like this and whoop, I just opened it with my palm. I didn’t even touch it,” he said. Hornady also claims the scan can succeed with various substances on the skin if the user wipes first. Soap on the hand did not stop it in the demo; heavy mud did until some of it was wiped off on pants.
Specs, power, and fit
- Contactless palm-vein authentication; left or right hand, including inverted orientation
- Power: two 9-volt batteries if no nearby outlet, or a plug-in adapter
- Rear USB port for charging other devices when the safe is plugged in
- Interior sized for a Canik MC9 Prime in a Gunfighters Inc. holster
Pros and cons from the demo
Pros include no-touch opening, dual-hand and inverted use, optional wall power plus battery backup, and a USB pass-through. Cons: very muddy hands failed until wiped, and the presenter noted users should clean off blood or other fluids before scanning. He stressed the segment was not paid. “They didn’t pay me to say this. This isn’t a sponsored thing at all.”
