Topic: Okay, I Have A Question About A Safe

[bill440cars]

       No, I'm not going into "cracking safes"!  

           My situation is this: My Dad has a safe (fair size one that is approximately 3' wide, 5' tall and maybe 4' deep, strictly a guess as far as size goes) in his garage, had the combination, but he can't get it open and I can't either. It may be an old weapons safe, not sure, it has a drawer, my Dad says, I've never seen the inside of it. the combination consists of FOUR numbers, with the last number being "0". He doesn't remember which direction and/or how many turns each time AND I haven't even messed with a combination lock of ANY kind in quite a few years. To top it all off, this one has a chrome knob in the middle of the dial that my Dad says you turn, when you reach the "3rd" number and, after you turn that knob, you go to "0" and then it should open. It doesn't! I've watched HIM try to open it AND I have tried myself, but not know which direction  and how many turns in each direction, I am baffled. I'm going back down there tomorrow morning and try some more AND see if I can find AND get a locksmith out there that can open it. Anybody got any helpful input on this? HELP!! 

[mick750F]

   When I bartered for my safe many moons ago I got the safe with the door open and off it's mounting. I also got the combination which the people swore was correct. The door was locked in the closed position so it couldn't be mounted back onto the safe...the pins were in the way. The inside of the door has an access to the lock mechanism so I was able to spin the dial and observe the mechanism. What I discovered was that the numbers of the combination were correct as was the sequence of direction to turn. What they had wrong was the number of turns between numbers. My safe doesn't have the second knob to turn so it's a bit different than your dad's...which is a pretty big safe by the way, especially the depth.

   An important first step in a combination safe lock is to turn it completely 2 or 3 times in the first direction before going to the first number. If you aren't doing this it might be your only problem. My safe also has four numbers so in order to open it I turn the 3 times to the left before stopping at the first number. Then I turn it past the 1st number 2 times to the right before stopping at the 2nd number. Then it's past the 2nd number once to the left before stopping at the 3rd number. From the 3rd number I go directly to the fourth and it opens.

   If you can't get it then a good locksmith should be able to get in for you but it has to be someone who knows safes.

Good luck, Mike

[750goes]

got a good oxy set ?

info mick gave sounds good - just make sure you give at least three complete turns either left or right before you begin the combination..

also if you go past the number in the combination - start again...or it will never open..

brand of safe would also help - maybe a picture of the lock too..


cheers

[bill440cars]

         Thanks for that, Mike Yeah, I was wondering if that was our problem (turning the wrong way and/or the number of times also.  

         I DID find on one place (online) where they suggested 4 times right, 3 times left, 2 times right, and 1 time left. (no mention of the type I'm talking though, with the chrome knob in the middle of the dial)
and then, I found where it might be that you could have one that goes like this:
                    5 times left, 4 times right 3 times left & 2 times right  


         I have tried googling to see if I can find some answers and this is all I could come up with and none with the peculiar knob in the middle of the dial. as I have said, my Dad says that when you reach the 3rd number, you turn that knob and go in the opposite direction to "0" and push the lever down to unlock the door. And I do intend to look up a locksmith. In fact I was going to check for one, on my way through town ( I didn't see one locally in the phone book)

[tramp]

if you open it we need to know what was inside

[Steve F]

if you open it we need to know what was inside

Call Geraldo Rivera first.....he may drag a film crew over to witness this!!! 

[Soos]

Can you find anything that can ID the safes manufacturer?


If so, you MAY be able to contact them(if they still exist) and read them the serial#(if you see one) and get the combo....


Other than that.... short of destructive methods....... A OLD locksmith MIGHT be able to help you.


If nothing else, and you want to drain a few beers, go buy a stethoscope, and play with it.




l8r

[bill440cars]

if you open it we need to know what was inside

         You all will be the First to know! Or maybe the 2nd! Or possibly the 3rd!

         Well, anyway, You'll know , Soon as I can get that "Puppy" open!

                                        Gotta go,  Bill

[Frankencake]

http://home.howstuffworks.com/safecracking1.htm

I call dibs on the top shelf.

[firecracker]

Once you get it open, tell S&S there's money in it.  Show them, then pull a Hansel & Gretel and push them inside.  Then, you won't need the combination any more (just maybe a deep lake).

 

[KARamsay]

That is a pretty decent sized safe.  I'd guess it is probably a good gun safe. 

Take some picture and see if you can find manufacturer info.  Then contact a good company to get into it.  As either a old school lock smith or explain you situation and ask a local bank or jeweler for a "Vault Repair Company".

If it is a true security safe, you'll have trouble cracking it, if it is a gun safe, you may be albe to get through with some time and patience.
 
 

[hoodellyhoo]

if you open it we need to know what was inside

Call Geraldo Rivera first.....he may drag a film crew over to witness this!!! 

HAHAHA

[HavocTurbo]

Once you get it open, tell S&S there's money in it.  Show them, then pull a Hansel & Gretel and push them inside.  Then, you won't need the combination any more (just maybe a deep lake).

 

ROFL -

My grandfather had one similar... we ended up cutting it open. No knob in the middle though.