Forgot how to dial the combination on that old safe? Think you got the right numbers but the handle is stuck? What safe should you buy? Ask your safe questions here!
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Alright greenthrumb here. I found a safe a craigslist for free, no combo. Old lady, gave away unwillingly for her older mother. They got the safe from a bank liquidation in the 90s and her husband unsuccessfully made attempts at opening it. So here I am with a 500 pound floor safe and wikihow knowledge and my friends are laughing at me. Im laughing at myself too because Amsec won't talk to me and I found out from my local locksmith that it's because my ownership paperwork consists of Craigslist emails and wouldn't talk to me any further either. I want to keep the safe and use it, but I also want it open and hope there's hidden treasure. Does anyone know what I'm up against technology and age wise? So far I've located the first two clicks and parked the wheels and then I think I'm hearing 3 or 4 wheels being picked up. The second wheel is hard to hear 3 wheel is definite 4th no sound 5th no sound. I hoping for encouragement or advice to get this thing opening and closing! I'd really love a free working safe even if it's been emptied already. Tia
Neato. Wish there were more free safes where I live.
First, forget every movie and tv show you've ever watched and that safe locks make "clicking" noises. Most safe locks do not click, but we have Hollywood sound effects people to thank for teaching the masses that when you turn a dial it goes click click click click.
Another thing is sound versus touch. While some people use a microphone to help hear the metal on metal sounds, the stethoscope method is also more movie stuff than reality, but yes some do use them. Spinning the dial and feeling feedback in your finger tips is probably the most popular method, drilling a small hole is another.
Let me check some books so we can see what lock is inside your safe. Squelchtone
That's what I said when I saw the post! I dont want to damage the safe it, so this is tall order for sheer will and determination. I have been using the stethoscope, and any click I've heard has most definitely accompanied by a feeling in the dial. Thank you for some light on this road, I never considered the seriousness regarding the profession!
GWiens2001 wrote:I think the click he is feeling/hearing is the nose of the lever dropping into the drive cam gate.
Gordon
Totally, I just dont like calling it clicks. I guess for the sake of unteaching all the hollywood nonsense when trying to teach how actual safes and safe manipulation works.
What do you think the lock is? Im gonna say 6730 mounted VD
That model feels like its one of their real safes, but it also reminds me of some imported models branded with their logos, thoughts?
OP are there any mounting holes on the back or bottom? Theres a way to get the combination and open the safe by looking inside the change key hole on the locks back cover, one of those scopes with a video monitor could be used for this if you have big enough mounting holes to snake through.
I don't see any any mounting holes in the back, the bottom has casters mounted, I would supposed they could cover stud holes depending on how they manufactured it. I just tried to reply with pictures and it timed my whole message out lol hang tight!
[EDIT: I put all of your pics in one reply, no need to make a reply for each individual pic - Squelchtone]
Last edited by Squelchtone on 23 Oct 2017 23:08, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:[EDIT: I put all of your pics in one reply, no need to make a reply for each individual pic -Squelchtone]
It's no worries lol one guy asked "what do keep in it?" I had figured posting one picture and editing for each multiple paste will work but then I saw the pics gone (you were helping me) freaked and started reposting lmao
Last edited by SkeletorMob on 23 Oct 2017 23:29, edited 1 time in total.
averagejoe just mentioned in chat that the dial ring and dial dont match, so this has had some work done. *and I have doubts as to if the dial ring is a real Sargent & Greenleaf or an imitation.
It looks like above the dial the wood decal was lifted or torn, can you see if the safe was drilled in that spot behind the wooden decal, or is that mark just a scratch on the surface?
It was a surface scratch that actually rubbed off and can also confirm that there are no repairs, even really good ones, on the face. If someone drilled then it would seem they also replaced the whole wood sheet. I had figured that a bank might pay to have the contents emptied in case of repo. Big thanks on the brainstorm!
Edit: I agree the upper left and lower right corner of the label show signs of a careful and single pry. They only removed the finish and did not dent the wood. Could be tape marks.
Edit edit: normal notch or worker/maker mark?
Last edited by SkeletorMob on 23 Oct 2017 23:45, edited 1 time in total.
SkeletorMob wrote:It was a surface scratch that actually rubbed off and can also confirm that there are no repairs, even really good ones, on the face. If someone drilled then it would seem they also replaced the whole wood sheet. I had figured that a bank might pay to have the contents emptied in case of repo. Big thanks on the brainstorm!
Edit: I agree the upper left and lowee right corner of the label show signs of a careful and single pry. They only removed the finish and did not dent the wood
you could try these common factory combos: 50-25-50 20-40-60 or 25-50-75
typical dialing order is here:
sometimes all wheels are set to same number, dial left 4 times around and stop on 25, now turn right to about 0 and see if the dial stops, if not, do this same thing but top on 50 and turn back to 0 or so and see if dial stops.
I'm signing off, some other folks will probably chime in to help you out. Squelchtone
