In most cases, guns are stored inside a
safe that can be biometrically protected.
Some specific safes also exist, mainly holsters.
But it is also possible to directly protect the use of the gun itself, either
with an integrated protection, or an add-on to lock the trigger.
See also the grip recognition modality,
where some research is done especially for guns.
Ammonition may be directly protected (not the gun itself).
(2022) And now, even a knife!
- (1995) Sandia National Laboratories received a $620,000 grant from the
National Institute of Justice to develop a weapon that can be fired
under all kinds of conditions--but only by people it recognizes.
- (1996 May) Smart Gun Technology Project Final Report
/ Douglas Weiss.
- (2003) Nic van Zyl made a gun prototype integrating a fingerprint sensor. Here is an
IOL article
(2003). Has started in 1999.
- (2003) Michael Recce from the New Jersey Institute of Technology describes a behavioral biometrics called Dynamic Grip recognition for guns.
So it took 9 years from the concept to the first real product!
- (2014) Kai Kloepfer was awarded a grant of $50,000 to develop a firearm with
a sensor that would require an authorized user’s fingerprint in order to fire the gun. Beretta Px4.
- (2018) Kai Kloepfer creates a start-up: Biofire
- (2022 Jan) Lode Star
showed the LS9, a smart gun prototype.
- (2005) Ritech RT5300 trigger lock
Holsters & specific safes
- (2002) The Pro ID holster from Michaels of Oregon (Uncle Mike's)
was using a sensor from Fingerprint Cards.
No more available.
- (2002) Hand Gun Base Station from First Safety Devices using a Bioscrypt module with an Authentec sensor.
- (2022) The Solo Blade by Solo Secure
is a knife billed for security professionals
with a steel blade that extends when the user’s thumbprint is authenticated,
and then retracts automatically to prevent use by anyone else.