Safe lock security...Your opinions please

[Rufusbooth]

Hi,

I am fairly new to the forums but I have been in the hobby for several years. It is a most enjoyable pastime. I ran this post past digital_blue and he was ok with me posting this in the general forums.

I ran some searches for some information on this subject but unfortunately I came up empty. I realize that discussing specifics of safe cracking is not allowed in the general forums but I wanted to start a discussion regarding the effectiveness of the group 1 electronic locks vs the group 2 mechanical combination locks generally used on gun safes in the US without going into specific techniques.


The reason I am bring this subject up is that I am in the market for a new safe and I was hoping for some opinions of others in this hobby as to the effectiveness of the electronic versions in general.

Given enough time (it took me a good long time) I have been successful in manipulating a group 2 mechanical combination lock on my old safe (Sargent & Greenleaf 6642) but I am hoping to get a little better lock on my new safe.

All things being equal, I.E. hardplate, relockers, etc. from a purely manipulation point of view (without damage) from the lock perspective is the electronic lock a significant step up? I know that given enough thermite and drill bits any safe can be bypassed forcefully.

For a point of reference lets take the Sargent & Greenleaf mechanical
http://www.sglocks.com/prod_mechcombo_6642.php



And the Lagard electronic.
http://www.lagard.com/pages/index.asp?a ... oduct&id=3


I am not looking for any specific techniques here at all here. I am just interested in your expert opinions on the electronic locks resistance to direct manipulation.

I hope I am not breaking any rules by asking for this general information. If so I humbly apologize.

Cheers,

Rufus

[Shrub]

As long as its insurance approved and th einsurance company agree that the stuff your storing in it is insurable you will be fine.

[Varjeal]

Electronic locks do offer an edge in direct manipulation. It then comes down to whether or not you wish to trust your possessions to a hybrid electronic/mechanical device powered by batteries.

If not, then stepping up to a group 1M S&G combo lock would be well more than adequate protection against pure manipulation attempts.

[HeadHunterCEO]

he said thermite

[n2oah]

he said thermite

lolz

I recently got to play around with an S&G Group 1 lock, and I all can say is that thing was pretty cool. I can't imagine someone manipulating it.

[HeadHunterCEO]

LG swingbolts and othe lg products can be "manipulated "open in certain circumstances
but it has nothing to do with the dial

6642 is good for retrofitting old mosler lug safes with the butterfly relockers when you need a new lock

sometimes i drive around all day long solving lockouts on digital packs

oops it got wet
oops the batteries coroded and shortewd the board
oops a wire is broken somewhere between the dial and pack
and on and on


on mechanical locks 9 times out of ten a wheel has slipped a couple of digits
even more rare a wheel has become unlocked

electromechanical locks just are not there yet. Maybe in 50 years they will approach being half as reliable as a good old fashioned 3 wheel

[TOWCH]

Would you consider any of the X-0 series an exception if properly installed or do they also have a high failure rate?

I would go with a group 1MP mechanical lock, but I'm not an expert.