Locks are not my profession ( Communications Electronics) but I love technical challenges and have messed about with locks for years.
I have a close friend who is a surplus dealer. He buys equipment and machinery from Gov surplus sources. Occasionally he asks me to solve or unravel some mysterious gizmo and I admit I am usually very keen to take him up.
Some weeks ago, along with other stuff, he bought 3 large Safes and some small sheet metal boxes all using the Manifoil MK4 combination lock from Ramco UK.
The small boxes all were set with the usual factory combinations, 40, 50, 60 etc, but the huge metal safes would not respond to any set of the usual numbers.
In this part of the world, Malta, locksmiths are not …er thick on the ground, so lets just leave this option out for the moment.
I have a few basic questions.
Am I dreaming deep if I were to consider:
1) Drilling the lock from the dial, insert and view disk/gate interaction by borescope (have one). I took the back cover of a Manifoil lock and believe I can make out a good drill point ( or what appears to me the ONLY suitable point).
2) Drill the back or side of the safe, and tackle the lock from the rear.
To my mind this is fraught with failure potential : Have no idea about the safes internal architecture and wall construction etc. Also I am assuming one has to read or re-set the lock via a less than ideal opening.
3) Ok this is where things get weird ( and interesting
.I opened one of the small sheet metal boxes, 40,50,60, 25 easy.
On a whim, I pushed the bolt gently with a bit of pressure while turning the dial…..
after which all attempts to unlock using the same combination failed !!!
Is this normal ? The lock itself looks practically new and very little used.
I know this post is a little long winded, but could not find a more concise way of explaining the state of things.
I invite more expert comments.
