Gun Safe problems

[Greyfox]

So, does anyone here have experience with safes that have combination issues? A good friend virtually gave me a safe that her deceased husband bought 35-40 years ago. It was one of the 1st gun safes made, I'm told. It was manufactured by Pro Steel for Browning. After many years of non-use, the owner forgot the combination and had to have it drilled open and a new lock installed. he had the combination set as the same as a newer safe he owned.

After being given the safe, I had it moved on Tuesday to my home by a professional safe company (same folks who gave me the info on the safe). Being a complete idiot, I closed and locked the safe before trying the combination. It won't open. I have checked with both the previous owner's wife as well as the safe company who has the records. It is to correct combination. They also told me, and I know from my own safe, that the tumblers will sometimes shift and change the numbers slightly, but enough to keep it from working. My question is, who among you has had this happen and were you able to figure out the correct numbers? By the time I paid to have it moved and now will have to pay for a new lock (plus drilling) I could have just bought one
Some times you just get the black marble.....

Rick

 

[bheadboy]

in the move, the tumblers may have gotten shaken up or stuck. take the dial, tap it slightly with a mallet or soft object turning as you do, then spin the dial 4-5 turns in each direction .

then try the comb again.

Bob

 

[Lapua40X]

If that doesn't work:
I've had some luck in the past using a stethoscope to listen to the tumblers drop. It doesn't work real well with high quality safe combination locks but it's worth a try.

http://www.wikihow.com/Crack-a-Safe

 

[jonbearman]

If you turn the dial in the wrong direction on one number it wont work either. Mine starts with left first to the first number. The original owner could have transposed a number to protect it from someone in the family from finding the combination.

 

[Eddie Harren]

On my 70's era Browning the safe will not open until turned to the right, after the fourth #, until the dial stops, usually about 1/8 of a turn.

 

[bheadboy]

my liberty safe has the same requirement, after the last number the dial must be turned counter clockwise to a stop and then it will open.

Bob

 

[M-61]

On my 70's era Browning the safe will not open until turned to the right, after the fourth #, until the dial stops, usually about 1/8 of a turn.

100% correct....you can have the correct combo BUT you must make that turn to right until it stops....in other words you can turn the CORRECT combo in all day long BUT you must make that last turn until the dial stops in order to open it.

 

[Greyfox]

I do very much appreciate everyone's input. I'll try and answer each of you. I believe that the tumblers were upset in the move which was about 20 miles. I believe the safe company did everything right. My mistake was not verifying that nothing had changed before closing the door and turning the dial......stupid. I'll try and answer everyone's response.

I have tapped gently with a rubber hammer while turning the dial.
I am turning the dial in the correct direction. I have another safe which has a similar lock and I do know how these things work. I am certain of what the combination was. I have been given the correct combination both from the wife of the previous owner (who recently opened it) as well as from the safe company who installed the new combination lock.

I was not aware of a difference in the way the dial worked in the 70's and have now tried that. However, this was not mentioned by the wife and this particular combination lock was only installed two years ago.

I have a stethoscope and am trying to listen for movement inside as I try. That's where I am currently.

Thanks for all the answers. Something may work.

Rick

 

[Richard Jones]

Rick,

I wish you luck.

If all else fails, maybe this will open up a whole new occupation for you

 

[Turbo900rr]

I had the same thing happen. The second number shifted by two after a move.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

When the numbers shift during a move do they stay there permanently?

 

[Greyfox]

I won't really know the answer to this as it relates to a move just yet. I can say that my other safe (Redhead from Bass Pro) shifted after a number of years and it has stayed there.

Rick

 

[dreever]

I had the same problem. For me it was the middle number that was off one number. For example if the middle number was supposed to be 26 it is now 25.
It absolutely would not open using 26 for the middle number. I only discovered the solution by accident but it did have me pulling my hair out!

Danny

 

[fredhorace77]

Do these safes have glass re-lockers in them, if so is it possible it may have shattered during the move or would that have enable the handle useless when he closed it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I think the glass is a more recent addition but that is a great call

 

[alf]

My 80's era Browning, you need to spin the dial to the left three revolutions first.

 

[Eddie Harren]

"Spinning" the dial rapidly will wear out the plates and cause the lock to malfunction. My Browning came from a gun shop, where I used to work, and every time the boss went to the safe he spun the dial very rapidly several times. Just after I purchased the safe it refused to open. I had to call a locksmith who, after opening the safe, told me about the danger of spinning the dial too fast.

 

[JRS]

If you haven't tried this, you just might find some help:

ProSteel - (877) 501-7233

Browning - talk to Dale Weathers

 

[JRS]

Try this:

Turn the dial to the LEFT stopping on the number the FOURTH time around.
Turn the dial to the RIGHT stopping on the number the THIRD time around.
Turn the dial to the LEFT stopping on the number the SECOND time around.
SLOWLY turn the dial to the right until the bolt retracts.

 

[Greyfox]

Once again I sincerely appreciate all the advice/input. I have tried most of these solutions and just haven't had the time to sit with a glass of whiskey and a stethoscope and try all the various combinations one at a time. I don't know about the glass rod relocker. That is a possibility. I suspect that one of the numbers is one or two off.
I will let you guys know if anything works or doesn't. The safe company service person is scheduled to come here sometime next week. We'll see.

Rick