old safe of my dads

[Huskergirl1234]

My dad owns a building that used to be a bank. This is a picture of the safe, he is selling the building and we just want to make sure there is nothing in the safe. We don't know the combination although I have 6 written down we found in my Mom's address book. I don't live in the area and i had a locksmith go out who was pretty useless, had no ideas of how to open it so obviously I didn't call the right person. My Dad is 90 and has memory issues, he thinks it's empty but I just want to be sure. Do you have any hints as to what to do next. Or do you know of anyone in the area that is an expert on safes not just how to open a house lock? He lives in Poquoson VA which is in the Hampton Roads area (Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg) I'd very must appreciate any help. He has a contract on the building and will be closing Nov 30 if all goes well. thank you so much for any help at all.

[MartinHewitt]

The usual recommendation when someone is looking for a safe tech is to got to http://savta.org/savta_tech.php .

[Squelchtone]

The usual recommendation when someone is looking for a safe tech is to got to http://savta.org/savta_tech.php .

I'm actually surprised that for a military industrial complex area with lots of govt facilities there is only 1 safe technician listed at SAVTA's site.

https://www.shortywallin.com/

Phone: 757-722-0883

Location: 345 Woodland Rd
Hampton, VA. 23669

Email: support at shortywallin dot com


Here is another place you can contact, they do military bases, which means they'll know how to open your Mosler safe.

https://locksmithofvirginiabeach.com/go ... -locksmith

(757) 467-3282

4291 Holland Road suite #113
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452




Please note that they may charge you $100-$200 just to come out and try the combinations you have written down. If they have to drill a little hole and stick a scope inside to see the combination wheels line up inside the safe door, that may take hours of work for that style and brand of safe and they may charge you anywhere from $250-$750 labor to open the safe.

In my experience, 90% of safes are empty, so you will have to decide if it is worth spending $200-$750 to find out the safe is totally empty.

You can tell them you have a Mosler Old Style Lug Door. The lock inside the safe is probably a CD-120 or an MR-302, but it could be a couple other models that were also used in this style Mosler safe.

As you have already discovered not all locksmiths are safe technicians, although there are locksmiths who are good at both traditional locksmith work such as fixing doors and installing deadbolts as well as safe opening and servicing. Good luck and do come back to let us know if you end up getting it opened. Do you know off hand when the last time was that this safe was actually opened and used? Did your family use it while at this building or moved in years ago and it was already locked and you never used it?

Thank you,
Squelchtone

PS. I know you said you are not on site, so it is hard to test this, but you could check if the safe is possibly open already by trying to turn the T handle counter clock wise, if you turn the combination dial does it turn freely or is it stuck?

[Huskergirl1234]

thanks so much for replying so quickly. It's probably been 8years at least since it was used, maybe longer.. the combination does turn. I have tried to pull as well as push the handle. I know in the past they used the safe but really don't know how recently. I'll call and see what I can find out from the company you found me. Thank you SO MUCH.. It's also encouraging that 90% of safes are empty. I guess I'll make the decision after talking to the tech.. thanks again!!

[Safecrackin Sammy]

Shorty will be closer but both are reputable companies that can help you.

[Huskergirl1234]

Thanks for you help. Shorty was able to unlock the safes but they were rusted shut so he couldn't open them. He suggested penetrating oil which worked on the drive up safe, however when we used it on the wall safe, the door openened but as you can see from the picture (I Hope) the actual safe didnt'. There doesn't seem to be a seam or anywhere to try to pry the remaining part open. Any suggestions will be appreciated. I've also contacted Shorty but with the holiday I've not heard back yet thanks.

[Squelchtone]

Stop. Do not proceed any further or you're potentially gonna hurt yourself when the very heavy round door crushes a hand or foot.

Did the safe technician separate the crane hinge from the round door like what I am seeing in the photos? I also see some damaged tools, are you trying to chisel it open? It wont work. That gear laying on the ground is not good either.

Once the combination is dialed in, and it sounds like the tech was able to dial the combination or deduce it, you would then turn the black handle and it would cause the actual round door that is in the safe to also turn which would align it to a special spot that would allow you to pull the door open on that crane hinge that is currently swung away from the safe. Did the technician mention the door needing to rotate to move the lugs out of the way?

Here is what your door looks when it is swung open, after the combination is dialed in, the handle is turned because the door has to rotate a few degrees to move the things that look like square gear teeth on the inside of the door out of the way of the square gear teeth looking things in the safe's body:





As you have it, you're not gonna pry anything open until you see how the door interfaces physically with the safe body.

Please refer to the photos in this thread, you may have an "aha!" moment when you see how this works: https://www.keypicking.com/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=11840&start=150#p116892

Here's another thread with nice photos: https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=66279#p493245

Stay safe!
Squelchtone