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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I just became the owner of this Victor Safe. Its a 100# dial only door, with a patent date of 2/1/1910 stamped on the front of it as well as a 6 digit serial number stamped along the edge. I have the history of the safe from the mid 1940's and was told the combination was lost sometime in the 1960's, as that is the last time the previous owner was aware that it was opened. I am familiar with the combination sequence of 4L, 3R, 2L, 1R open. I am also familiar with Victor using the serial number as the combination, or part of the combination. Being that this is a 100# dial, I believe this to be a 4 wheel lock? Starting with using the serial number as the combo, I can easily come up with the 3, double digit numbers, but where would the 4th number come from? Beside 3, 2 digit numbers, is there another way to extrapolate a possible combination from the serial number? There are no zero's in it. What more might an experienced person be able to tell me about this safe from the attached pictures? This is my first attempt at opening an old safe with no combination, and I am eager to learn and hopefully do more do the line. Thank you for any and all advice, suggestions and input.
Last edited by PyrateJim on 12 Jun 2021 13:22, edited 4 times in total.
The lock is a Yale L-2 and has three (code) wheels. Dialling sequence is 4L-3R-2L and R to stop. So you only need three numbers. You can try the serial number, but I doubt it will get you the safe open. The best way is probably by manipulation.
I'm working on getting the pics to work, as I have to jump between work computer (imgr is blocked here) and my phone.
I doubt too, that the serial number is the combination, just something I had read and figured "hey, its a starting point." lol
I've read about manipulation to get it open, but don't have a clue to exactly what that would entail. Plus, being new here, I understand that that is something that wouldn't be publicly discussed with me at this point.
I can see the pic s now and your safe is in great shape. Its the 100 number dial but still doable for a novice to manipulate if you want to learn. There are a number of good articles here on site and google that will help.
Thanks. Glad the pics are finally working. Yes, I would like to learn manipulation, as this is what I hope to be the first of many antique safes. At least now that I have a starting point, I know what to google and look for .
I was just told in a message from someone I don't believe is on this site, that my safe can not be open by manipulation, due to the type of handle that it has. Is this correct? And if so, is there another way, when the combination was lost when my grandfather was my age? I have no idea if there is anything inside, but the last thing I want to do to drill, or as was suggested, cut the side off.
There is nothing special on this lock. The safe has no handle, so the dial must move the bolts in the door. Because this requires more force than in a normal lock they attached these two bars to the dial. So don't let you stop.
PyrateJim wrote:I was just told in a message from someone I don't believe is on this site, that my safe can not be open by manipulation, due to the type of handle that it has. Is this correct? And if so, is there another way, when the combination was lost when my grandfather was my age? I have no idea if there is anything inside, but the last thing I want to do to drill, or as was suggested, cut the side off.
Sounds like you're getting faulty advice.. That safe can 100% be manipulated. It's not a 5 minute job, not a job for at total beginner unless you have a month or two to learn and work on it, but it can be done.
Here is world class safe cracker Jeff Sitar (Rest in peace, February 22, 2019) opening a safe for a customer using manipulation which he was well known for.
PyrateJim wrote:I just became the owner of this Victor Safe. Its a 100# dial only door, with a patent date of 2/1/1910 stamped on the front of it as well as a 6 digit serial number stamped along the edge. I have the history of the safe from the mid 1940's and was told the combination was lost sometime in the 1960's, as that is the last time the previous owner was aware that it was opened. I am familiar with the combination sequence of 4L, 3R, 2L, 1R open. I am also familiar with Victor using the serial number as the combination, or part of the combination. Being that this is a 100# dial, I believe this to be a 4 wheel lock? Starting with using the serial number as the combo, I can easily come up with the 3, double digit numbers, but where would the 4th number come from? Beside 3, 2 digit numbers, is there another way to extrapolate a possible combination from the serial number? There are no zero's in it. What more might an experienced person be able to tell me about this safe from the attached pictures? This is my first attempt at opening an old safe with no combination, and I am eager to learn and hopefully do more do the line. Thank you for any and all advice, suggestions and input.
PyrateJim, you and I have the exact same safe and the exact same problem. Have you made any progress??
PyrateJim wrote:As of today, I am still spinning my dial. No luck so far with manipulation or finding an online resource that will help get me in. How about you?
Trying to safecrack it manually is a no go. my dial is all jacked up. So I built a dialing robot to run all the possible combos. My issue is that I only feel 2 wheels engage. If I have 3 wheels and one isn't engaging, i'll have no choice but to drill. I'll start the robot dialer this weekend and it will run 24/7. Only time will tell if it works...
