Gun safe combination lock fail

[Armybrat 41319]

After 25 years of trouble free use, the mechanical combination dial lock will not disengage the tumblers. It is an S&G lock. The file folder containing the safe info, manual & emergency key is missing/misfiled and cannot be found. Last time I referred to it was at least a decade ago.

Squirted some gunblast bore cleaner in the emergency key hole and around the dial to see if that would help by loosening up any gummy lubricant inside where the tumblers are. No go.

Tried the troubleshooting tip of rattling the door handle bashing the dial face with my hand. No go.

suggestions before calling a locksmith?

[Native Horn 3569]

Have you tried sandpapering your fingertips and then listening real closely as you turn the combo?  That usually works in movies, YMMV.

Good luck, I got nothin.

[deadshank 24654]

1 hour ago, Armybrat said:

After 25 years of trouble free use, the mechanical combination dial lock will not disengage the tumblers. It is an S&G lock. The file folder containing the safe info, manual & emergency key is missing/misfiled and cannot be found. Last time I referred to it was at least a decade ago.

 

I've got $20 that says your wife put this stuff IN the safe.

[NeverMarryAStripper 22241]

 

[Alex Karev 1056]

Will the dial turn either direction at all? Are is it the dial key lock that's stuck. If the later a locksmith may be able to unlock the tumbler dial. You can then run your combination 

Edited May 20, 2020 by Alex Karev

[conVINCEd 21477]

I don’t think posting on the interwebs that you currently cannot access your weapons is a very good idea.

[Parliament 14559]

Wut?  It's just ONE safe that's borked.  AB has access to plenty of weaponry yet. Perhaps you would like to challenge that assertion?

[davidg 4057]

28 minutes ago, deadshank said:

I've got $20 that says your wife put this stuff IN the safe.

Who the hell gives their wife the combination to their gunsafe?

[deadshank 24654]

8 minutes ago, davidg said:

Who the hell gives their wife the combination to their gunsafe?

AB is old and infirm.  He probably doesn't remember.

[conVINCEd 21477]

24 minutes ago, Parliament said:

Wut?  It's just ONE safe that's borked.  AB has access to plenty of weaponry yet. Perhaps you would like to challenge that assertion?

Nah, I’m good.  I did not know the extent of his weaponry.

[Armybrat 41319]

59 minutes ago, Alex Karev said:

Will the dial turn either direction at all? Are is it the dial key lock that's stuck. If the later a locksmith may be able to unlock the tumbler dial. You can then run your combination 

Yes, the dial spins as normal.

[Armybrat 41319]

54 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

I don’t think posting on the interwebs that you currently cannot access your weapons is a very good idea.

Only the one safe, but I have a .357 Magnum, a 9mm, a .380, and two sawed off (legal) 12 gauge shotguns .... all loaded.... at immediate hand and not locked up. 

Edited May 20, 2020 by Armybrat

[ROFL BOX 6654]

So obviously you recall the combination, right?

https://www.sargentandgreenleaf.com/

Why  not connect with them to discus your situation? 

 

https://sglocks.helpdeskconnect.com/

[RDCanecutter 26853]

Forget the guns. Pick up the safe itself, and use it as a weapon.

[Armybrat 41319]

Screwed up

Edited May 20, 2020 by Armybrat
Screwed up

[Armybrat 41319]

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

Forget the guns. Pick up the safe itself, and use it as a weapon.

Safe is lag bolted to the concrete slab.

[Armybrat 41319]

2 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

So obviously you recall the combination, right?

https://www.sargentandgreenleaf.com/

Why  not connect with them to discus your situation? 

 

https://sglocks.helpdeskconnect.com/

Yes, have tried the correct combination at least 20 times, but the final “stop” does not catch properly so the safe door does not open.

and yes, I’ve been on that factory site and tried their trouble shooting without success. Will contact them about the possibility of them sending me a replacement emergency key.

But.... I never registered my purchase with the factory, so that might screw up that solution.

[RDCanecutter 26853]

11 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Safe is lag bolted to the concrete slab.

Armybrat SMASH.

[Gil Bang 26176]

2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Yes, have tried the correct combination at least 20 times, but the final “stop” does not catch properly so the safe door does not open.

and yes, I’ve been on that factory site and tried their trouble shooting without success. Will contact them about the possibility of them sending me a replacement emergency key.

But.... I never registered my purchase with the factory, so that might screw up that solution.

Sounds like you bought a stolen safe.

[Armybrat 41319]

Bought it new after ordering it from a local Austin storefront.

[Alex Karev 1056]

Sometimes I have to stop 1digit past my correct numbers 

Example if combination calls for 3 turns left and stop at 21, I have to go to 22. 

Not sure if that will work but it does in mine. I think the tumblers get worn after several years.

You have nothing to lose by trying 

[Jkwellborn 7006]

Sounds like you bought a stolen safe.

Sounds like he stole a safe. Just take the door off of it.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11856]

Whatever happened to that guy in Houston who got a house with a floor safe in it and couldn't open it?  I was hoping for a Geraldo-type ending but we kinda got submarted, I think.

[idigTexas 2321]

13 minutes ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

Whatever happened to that guy in Houston who got a house with a floor safe in it and couldn't open it?  I was hoping for a Geraldo-type ending but we kinda got submarted, I think.

He got in the safe, but then couldn't get out.

[Deej 77669]

21 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Bought it new after ordering it from a local Austin storefront.

Let me guess, that storefront closed in 1922.

[immortal13 4059]

I've got a couple of big Liberty safes with dial combination locks and found this troubleshooting tip from their website....

Try dialing 1 up or 1 down from each number in the combination, while recording each attempt. 

Edited May 22, 2020 by immortal13

[Alex Karev 1056]

That is what I have to do on mine.

Usually 1 up

[RPM 26560]

I was going to suggest that. If the tumblers are worn (I'm sure AB rarely unlocked the cookie jar) you could have some slack you have to compensate for. Figuring out which tumbler(s) have the slack and where the happy spot is going to be the challenge. Mine has an electronic lock so I only have to deal with that set of fail headaches.

Edited May 22, 2020 by RPM

[Alex Karev 1056]

Haven't heard from Armybrat today, hope he didn't try C-4.

[immortal13 4059]

Maybe he figured it out and then accidentally locked himself in?

[Gil Bang 26176]

19 hours ago, RPM said:

I was going to suggest that. If the tumblers are worn (I'm sure AB rarely unlocked the cookie jar) you could have some slack you have to compensate for. Figuring out which tumbler(s) have the slack and where the happy spot is going to be the challenge. Mine has an electronic lock so I only have to deal with that set of fail headaches.

brat probably shoved some viagra dust into the keyhole to firm things up

[BillyBadAss 197]

This happened to me - pissed me off.  I bought a digital combo safe and took it to Cothron's and had them install a mechanical dial lock - thinking I wanted something that would work basically forever and not have to mess with batteries. Fast forward 7 years and I can't get in the damn thing. Had to call a locksmith to open it.  

Silly me for thinking an American made combination lock would last in a temperature controlled setting basically forever - I thought that tech was basically worked out. 

Had them replace it back with a digital the second time. 

Anyway, no advice other than what's already been posted. Go past the numbers, bang on it, etc. 

[BottleRocket 659]

Whatever happened to that guy in Houston who got a house with a floor safe in it and couldn't open it?  I was hoping for a Geraldo-type ending but we kinda got submarted, I think.

I remember this except I thought the poster was in Galveston because the mob angle was being played up.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11856]

1 minute ago, BottleRocket said:

I remember this except I thought the poster was in Galveston because the mob angle was being played up.

Could have been Galveston.  

[ROFL BOX 6654]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTbTHlTmDX8

[Armybrat 41319]

After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.

However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!

Am a happy camper!

Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

[immortal13 4059]

Alternative numbers?

[Jkwellborn 7006]

After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.
However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!
Am a happy camper!
Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

Replacing the damn thing.

[Armybrat 41319]

1 hour ago, immortal13 said:

Alternative numbers?

One up from each original number.

[Gil Bang 26176]

yeah, it's time to call "the man" to fix the fucking thing. 

[Armybrat 41319]

She has always had nimble fingers.

[Jkwellborn 7006]

This is turning into a Vic thread.

[ROFL BOX 6654]

4 hours ago, Jkwellborn said:

This is turning into a Vic thread.

Except Mrs. B is the thin one.

[Jkwellborn 7006]

Except Mrs. B is the thin one.

I just figured by nimble fingers she tickled AB prostate.

[Alex Karev 1056]

On 5/27/2020 at 2:30 PM, Armybrat said:

After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.

However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!

Am a happy camper!

Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

That's Great! I told you that trick in post #21. I have been doing that for years on my last number to the right.

Nothing more to do but remember it is one digit past the original number.

 

[RPM 26560]

On 5/27/2020 at 7:41 PM, Gil Bang said:

yeah, it's time to call "the man" to fix the fucking thing. 

[Armybrat 41319]

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Armybrat