Old safe -- cannot open

[tkalfaoglu]

Hello everyone. I am just getting my feet wet with lockpicking, and I find it to be a fascinating hobby.
I so far have a few tools; a set of hooks and a tubular lock picking tool.
I intend to get more soon, I hope. For example, I don't have a torsion wrench yet. That's probably next for me!

I also have a question for the group: I have an old (>30 years) safe in my house, but because one of its two keys have been missing,
we were never able to use it. I'd like to open it.. It has two keys: The "simple" one sided key, I have. However, its two-sided key, which looked
something like this (maybe it had fewer cylinders) according to my faded memory: is missing..

Any ideas what type of tool can open this two-sided lock?

Many thanks!
-turgut

[CaptHook]

A locksmith.

[GWiens2001]

Where are you located?

Gordon

[Ian_425]

A lot of gun safes use this type of key as a backup for electronic locks. And it is typically the only key required to open the safe.

[Squelchtone]

Hello,

Ask Beginner Hobby Lock Picking sub forum is neither for introductions, nor for safe opening discussion.

Help our moderators by posting in the right areas please.

Thank you
Squelchtone

[tkalfaoglu]

A locksmith.

I tried several in the area; they all said they couldn't, but they referred me to someone else, who referred to me to someone else; I finally gave up. -t

[tkalfaoglu]

Where are you located?
Gordon

I'm near Izmir-Turkey..

[tkalfaoglu]

Hi there. I have an old safe in the house that has two locks..

One looks like this: https://static.turbosquid.com/Preview/2 ... Larger.jpg

And the other one is same -- but one sided. Something similar that I found on the net:
http://uniquevintageindustrial.com/wp-c ... fe-Key.jpg

I lost the first key; I still have the second.. What tools can I use to try to open this safe?

PS: Sorry I posted this to the Hello forum; so I'm hoping this time it's posted to the right place.
PPS: The locksmiths in the area are either not knowledgeable about safes, or too chicken, I'm not sure, but none of them were willing to assist.

Many thanks for any feedback..
-turgut

[Squelchtone]

please post an actual photo of your safe, it is often much more helpful than stock google pics.

upload a photo to any image hosting site (imgur.com, tinypic.com, photobucket.com, etc) and Copy/Paste the link here.

is a makers mark written on the head of the key? Which country are you in, often certain safes are regional and knowledge on how to open certain ones is also regional. keyed safes are typically more European, UK specifically.. Not too many keyed safes here in the USA, we like our combination dials.

Thank you
Squelchtone

[GWiens2001]

please post an actual photo of your safe, it is often much more helpful than stock google pics.

upload a photo to any image hosting site (imgur.com, tinypic.com, photobucket.com, etc) and Copy/Paste the link here.

is a makers mark written on the head of the key? Which country are you in, often certain safes are regional and knowledge on how to open certain ones is also regional. keyed safes are typically more European, UK specifically.. Not too many keyed safes here in the USA, we like our combination dials.

Thank you
Squelchtone

He is from Turkey, and has another thread for this.

Gordon

[MartinHewitt]

Most locksmiths have no experience with safes. These who do know often know only how to open a safe reliably with slight damage. The locksmiths who know how to open safes without damage are rare.

What is your aim? Open it without damage? With a bit of damage which can be painted over? With a lot of damage so that the safe has to be scraped, but where you can keep its content, most probably without any value?

What resources do you want to spend? How determined are you? The more damage the less resources it requires. All grades of damage can be done by a locksmith for you or it can be done by yourself. If you want to do it yourself without damage it needs persistence and time. But I am sure there is also a locksmith who could help you, but costs money.

[tkalfaoglu]

Hi there.. Many thanks for your reply, I created a topic in the appropriate forum, perhaps admin can move/delete this thread..

My aim was to open the safe; and sure, would love to re-use it afterwards. Cosmetic problems are no big deal.

I already have some tools, well, primitive ones, but they allow me to open a keyed padlock for example.
It would be great to get more tools and also improve my practice, so that's why I was more interested in trying to open it myself.

Many thanks, -t

[tkalfaoglu]

You are very right; I'm sorry.. Here are some pics of the safe, and the key that I have..
Both keys are identical btw..
I'm putting them at: http://www.kalfaoglu.net/safe

[femurat]

I created a topic in the appropriate forum, perhaps admin can move/delete this thread..

Done

The pictures of your safe help a lot! I see you're missing the asymmetrical double bitted key. Not an easy task for a beginner. Are you willing to learn picking lever locks? I mean, hours and hours of practice to be able to pick such a lock. If so, some member here could help you get a couple locks similar to yours so you can learn how to make specific tools for them. Then you'll learn how to open them.

Cheers

[Squelchtone]

Thank you femurat for moving the threads around!

That is a very nice looking safe! Has it been in your family for a while? You said 30 years. Has it ever been opened in last 30 years or was it already in the house and shut locked for as long as you remember?

It might be easier to spend 2 weeks searching the house for the lost key vs learning how to pick a lever lock. If the safe has been in that room for a while, the key may be "hidden" in that room.

good luck!
Squelchtone