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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by murphsfam » 17 Jul 2021 19:22
 I hope this image shows up. I have had a Sentry 4000 Series Floor Safe for 21 years. It has been locked all that time. The thing is, I have no idea how this lock works. The lady I bought the house from said the safe was empty. Now that I am selling, I want to verify. I have found no one that can identify how this lock operates Oh, Sentry, they do not know either. My guess is, it is 50 years old or older. If the image does not show... There are no numbers. There is no place to insert a key. There is a slot that looks like perhaps a metal tool would be inserted into to engage the lock. There is an arrow embossed on the dial. The dial looks like a black hockey puck. Any help would be so appreciated. Thank you. Lauren
Last edited by Squelchtone on 17 Jul 2021 23:27, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: fixed the image link so it looks like this [image]https://i.imgur.com/l5ubiEX.jpg[/image]
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murphsfam
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by billdeserthills » 17 Jul 2021 22:09
I actually have a new old stock Sentry floor safe in my shop, where it has been for sale for almost 30 years. Easiest way to get it open is if you have the serial number tag & get the original combo from the factory--something only a locksmith or registered owner can do
BTW: your image no worky
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by Squelchtone » 17 Jul 2021 23:39
Your safe isn't 50 years old or older.. it's from the 1980s.
As already mentioned, it sure does look like the Corkey card system. Nice pdf cledry, thanks!
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by stratmando » 18 Jul 2021 10:21
I would contact Security.com.sg ,see what they can do. If No Help, The New Owners likely won't have luck and Break in, You may as well. If the 301S, and has 3 wires, May be able to apply power to activate Solenoid, If wires are for Data, won't work. Saw a line about it saying "Fail Safe", Meaning with power lost, depleted, it should open. Any corrections on what I mention, please add. Good Luck
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by cledry » 18 Jul 2021 10:51
stratmando wrote:I would contact Security.com.sg ,see what they can do. If No Help, The New Owners likely won't have luck and Break in, You may as well. If the 301S, and has 3 wires, May be able to apply power to activate Solenoid, If wires are for Data, won't work. Saw a line about it saying "Fail Safe", Meaning with power lost, depleted, it should open. Any corrections on what I mention, please add. Good Luck
No power required.
Jim
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cledry
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by stratmando » 18 Jul 2021 11:14
I saw some use power, if this doesn't require power, must be magnets in card?
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by nothumbs » 18 Jul 2021 15:12
It's a good day when I learn something new.
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nothumbs
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by stratmando » 18 Jul 2021 19:46
Try m.indiamart.com search "Corkey", says it IS magnetic. Nice to buy one, a cheap one may have similar magnet pattern? We have Magnet Card Reader at our Lodge. Believe it was 6X6, 6 Rows, 6 Columns. A member asked me one time if it could be picked, temporarily, I said Maybe not. Kept thinking on it, and bought a Magnetic Field Card(think it is magnetic/more likely steel? particles in fluid, you can see the disturbance. Have check from lodges around the country, all had 3 Magnetic Squares inside the card, is made visible by shining light through card, or a compass. So far all have been in a different row, pushing card in a pulling out reveals their location. Then polarity is only concern. NNN NNS NSN NSS SNN SNS SSN SSS Good Luck I might try thin piece of magnetic material on end of a piece of plastic, and move around inside while turning, Too much pressure may bind. Tried to see Link by Squelchtone for Patent, link didn't work. If Someone can find that Patent, would give you some insight Good Luck some more
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by nothumbs » 18 Jul 2021 20:03
It's a good day when I learn something new.
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nothumbs
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by murphsfam » 19 Jul 2021 17:21
Thanks so much to everyone. At least now I have a name for the lock. I don't understand why Sentry could not at least given me that much. You guys are great. murphsfam Posts: 2 Joined: 27 Mar 2021 7:10
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by billdeserthills » 19 Jul 2021 18:25
murphsfam wrote:Thanks so much to everyone. At least now I have a name for the lock. I don't understand why Sentry could not at least given me that much. You guys are great. murphsfam Posts: 2 Joined: 27 Mar 2021 7:10
Probably nobody at Sentry knows, I sure didn't know Sentry built a corkey operated safe
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by cledry » 20 Jul 2021 6:05
I have never seen or heard of a Sentry safe using a Corkey, but I immediately recognised it. I would say you have a real rarity there. The safe body has no value. the door and lock do. If it were me, I would remove the back of the safe with a grinder or saw. Then open the door from inside. You can always find another Sentry body if desired.
Jim
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by mh » 20 Jul 2021 6:22
Could be a retrofit someone made because they liked CorKey, or wanted something keyed alike, etc, right?
"The techs discovered that German locks were particularly difficult" - Robert Wallace, H. Keith Melton w. Henry R. Schlesinger, Spycraft: The secret history of the CIA's spytechs from communism to Al-Qaeda (New York: Dutton, 2008), p. 210
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