How to open a 19th century safe

[victorian_safe]

Hello!

I'm trying to find information on late 19th century safe-cracking techniques using lock-picking (not explosives although information on that would be interesting too). Does anyone have any information on this? What tools did late 19th century safe crackers use? What techniques?

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

[Squelchtone]

Please explain why you need this info. We want to make sure we aren't helping someone break into somewhere.

Thanks
Squelchtone

[victorian_safe]

Hello!

It's for a history project I'm doing at school about Victorian crime but I can't find much online about safe cracking - nothing sinister!

What I'm really looking for is a summary of what would be needed to be done to open a lock and what tools they would have used.

[Squelchtone]

Hello!

It's for a history project I'm doing at school about Victorian crime but I can't find much online about safe cracking - nothing sinister!

pick up a copy of A.C. Hobbs, Locks and Safes: The Construction of Locks. London, 1853.

I suspect rogues would use similar tools in the UK and the USA, which region are you covering?

[victorian_safe]

Thank you. I'll look out for it.

[YouLuckyFox]

30 Years a Detective by Alan Pinkerton is a good read and discusses specifically the differences in British and American methods and was published in 1884. Great resource for a writer.

[victorian_safe]

Thansk Foxy! that's just the kind of thing I was after!

[YouLuckyFox]

Yeah, man. Let me know how it turns out!

[MrTomorrow]

Here I am as late Joe to the party. I'm interested in the history of lock picking from about 1852 to 1952. I've a few books out now (unrelated) but the next one involves some back ground and research on lock picking to enhance some characters, leading up to a Sargent 8400 2UL. http://www.sargentandgreenleaf.com/MC-8400.php So I can certainly appreciate the attraction of a Victorian safe, the context, actors and story around it. I found the Pinkerton book related to the discussion here. The Hobbs one may be as well.
https://archive.org/details/30yrsadetective00pinkrich

[peterwn]

Hello!

I'm trying to find information on late 19th century safe-cracking techniques using lock-picking (not explosives although information on that would be interesting too). Does anyone have any information on this? What tools did late 19th century safe crackers use? What techniques?

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

Locks on most late 19th century safes would be pretty good - generally 6 or more lever locks with false notches to help making picking a pain. British Milner safes had a V shaped barrel keyhole, you insert the key into one leg, turn it and remove it from the other leg. The lock was designed to minimize the space below the lever bellies to minimize the amount of gunpowder that could be inserted, though the advent of high explosives would have nullified this.

[billdeserthills]

When you consider that the main strength of a 19th century safe is that nobody had access to a portable electric drill I hope most sane folks will
begin to think twice about storing valuables, including cash inside one.