Busted safe linkage, what's he got to look forward to?

Co-worker (actually The Boss) came in this a.m. saying "You won't believe what happened to me..." Seems he closed the door and turned the handle on his 5 yr old Granite gun safe, and the handle kept on turning. Now he's got a locked safe full of boomsticks with a free-wheeling handle, and he's not amused....

Obvious guess is that the linkage crapped out somehow/someway (duh!!!). Wondering what might be involved in getting the safe open again. Is a busted linkage problem something that is reasonably simple for a qualified safe tech to access in a minimally invasive manner (ie. drill) and then repair the linkage and fill the hole(s), or could it require something more destructive, like carving a big !@@##@ hole in the door, then shipping it (the door) off to whoever to get repaired?

Naturally, we had to offer some helpful advice, like buying a diamond-tipped saw blade to cut the top off like a can o' beans - I don't think that contributed to his lack of amusement at the situation......

Preferably repair, yes. Mangle and destroy, (like we "helpfully" suggested) hopefully not.

Safe came from Bass Pro, he seems to think it might still be under warranty (or at least he hopes it is).

Being completely clueless on the cost of safe techs and house calls and such, and realizing there are a lot of variables in the "cost" to repair, could a busted linkage visit and repair likely fall in the low three figure range, mid-threes, or cost more than he likely paid for the gun safe to begin with?

Thanks Frank, he's gonna check with Bass Pro about the warranty. We weren't "too" serious about wacking the top off - you need to understand the personality involved - his front bumper plate reads "MOVE!" in reverse. It's hard to resist stirring the pot sometimes...

My first thought was that it could be a shear pin as well, but he's mechanically competent, so I'm assuming he'd notice something awry (and visible) from the outside on the handle. I'm sure another report will be forthcoming in the a.m.

I'll pass on the contact info for J Webb. That will certainly help if Bass Pro doesn't volunteer info to his liking.