This main drain is actually a safe? Guidance requested

[Tacticus]

Hello all,

My wife and I purchased our 1913 home in late 2014 (in Canada). The basement is almost entirely original, and we saw this thing under the rickety stairs, and for the last 6 years we assumed it was some type of access to the main drain... so not something we really wanted to investigate unless we had to.






Today however, after all of 5 seconds of looking at it, we discovered it’s an in-floor safe!



It’s a Keep/Safe, and while I can’t see a model number, the serial number is seven characters long, and starts with “P”.

After researching online (this site has been particularly helpful) we’ve tried to crack it using the following combinations (L-R-L, 4,3,2):

17-25-78
78-25-17
87-52-17
25-50-25
50-25-50
75-50-75
50-75-50

With these combinations not working, I tried contacting the manufacturer. From my research it seemed like SentrySafe is now the manufacturer, and a call to their customer service verified the serial number as one of theirs.

Because we live in Canada, SentrySafe has sent me a “SAFE COMBINATION & KEY REQUEST FORM” which needs to be notarized, and once they receive it back, they will sell me a combination for this serial number at US$30, however there is no guarantee the combination will work.

A few question to the knowledgeable folks here:
1. Before I try SentrySafe’s combination, or calling a qualified locksmith, is there anything else we should try?
2. What is the likelihood the SentrySafe combination will work?
3. Could a qualified locksmith open this safe without damaging the safe? How long should it take them?
4. We’re shortly redeveloping our basement, and will be digging out the current basement and then pouring new concrete. Is it possible to break out the safe from the current concrete housing and reinstall it?

Thank you all, I hope my first post hasn’t broken any rules!

[Raymond]

That is not a very complicated or highly secure safe. We very often have to drill them when the grease dries up and the combo cannot be dialed.

From your picture it looks like they built the concrete up from the ground level with the actual safe just sitting on the floor. They might have put an anchor into the floor from the inside. Bust loose the concrete and the safe should be free.

The opening gates on that safe are very large and very sloppy. This means that if a true combo number is 25 then 23,24,26,&27 may also work. Try dialing with five-number increments. Also Use Right-3 turns, left-2 turns, and right to open. (R-L-R not L-R-L.)

For example: R to 0, left one full turn past 0 to 5, right slowly feeling for a large catch on the dial until just before you get to 10 (5 less than a full turn.). Turn back to the left and advance from 5 to 10. Then right as before to 15. Then left again. After you have progressed the 'left' number all the way back to 0, then start over starting with right to 5, left to 10, right to test, back left to 15, right to test, left to 20, right to test and on and on and on.

This speeds up the trial testing process.

[Tacticus]

Thank you for this Raymond - my wife and I will try this tonight and I’ll get back to you.

[Tacticus]

Well, no luck with this on our end.

Looking at your comments Raymond, it seems as though it’s probably not worth saving and reusing this safe. Are we able to drill it open ourselves do you think, or should we continue and call a locksmith?

Thank you!

[MartinHewitt]

If you want to remove the concrete basement, then it is probably the easiest to just remove this. The safe just comes of with it. Getting a metal box open should then be not so difficult.

[billdeserthills]

The best option is to pay Sentry the $30, almost nobody changes the combo on a Sentry safe

Anyhow you only need the first two numbers, the third number automatically retracts the bolts when you dial it

[sign216]

The best option is to pay Sentry the $30, almost nobody changes the combo on a Sentry safe

Anyhow you only need the first two numbers, the third number automatically retracts the bolts when you dial it

I like this idea. For $30 it is likely to work, and worth it.

Joe

[Tacticus]

Thanks all for this. Due to many reasons, we decided to brute force our way in. Why someone would lock up thousands of metal shavings is beyond me. Nothing but metal shavings in the safe.

[GWiens2001]

Thanks all for this. Due to many reasons, we decided to brute force our way in. Why someone would lock up thousands of metal shavings is beyond me. Nothing but metal shavings in the safe.

Are those metal shavings shiny and gold colored?

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Thanks all for this. Due to many reasons, we decided to brute force our way in. Why someone would lock up thousands of metal shavings is beyond me. Nothing but metal shavings in the safe.

How long did it take to get in?