Help needed to understand old Diebold

[amo]

My friend has an old Diebold safe. He lost the combination. It's like the one in the picture linked to below. He thinks it had a three number combination -- or was it three numbers and then it stops at 78? He isn't sure.

It has a handle separate from the dial. Does that suggest that it doesn't have a spring pulling the lever in? Does the dial stop turning when the combination is entered and then you pull the handle?

If anyone could help me and/or point me to information about this sort of lock I would appreciate it very much.

Amo

(https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=9 ... ACGAIgAigC)

[MartinHewitt]

Hi Amo,
The safe in the photo has a lock with three wheels and a spring loaded lever. The dial stops at its own when open. Often "the safe looks like this" does only show a similar safe because details are often not perceived to be as important as they are. So yours might be different.

[amo]

Thank you, Martin.

That's good to know. I was afraid I might get the combination right but not realize it. I'm glad to know the dial would stop. Then, I presume, I'd have to work the handle.
Any guess about how old it might be? It looks very much like the one in the picture. The dial is above the handle like on that model. If it is the same is there any risk in drilling it, like glass or poison gas?
John

[MartinHewitt]

The one on the photo looks like post-WWII. "looks very much like" sound to me very much like "different".

We are not into drilling here. See rule 19 D. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=715#p498242 Sorry.