Gun Safe Problems

[4v50 Gary]

What Trebor suggested. Replace the electronic lock with the old fashion, mechanical kind.

 

[txjohng]

i do not have that many guns, but a cool idea

man this blows.... i would not trust electronic mechanisms ever again! My dad and I had a conversation about mechanical vs electronic locks and well i guess he was right.

My problem is started very similar to the OPs, but now my handle is a free wheel and turns at will and after 2 times of entering the correct pass-code it beeps for about 5 minutes...(which according to the user manual is an incorrect password)

As far a building a gun room...i guess it is possible up north where the are basements. you can build room surrounded by concrete and rebar and get one of those safe doors.

 

[txjohng]

that is my plan - replacing the electronic with mechanical, but right now i am concerned with opening the safe since it appears the fn thing is broke. the handle connects to a shaft which runs inside the safe, sadly when i turn the handle the shaft also turns...

 

[peyton]

I think you are panicking to early. I have an electronic lock on my safe and I have to make sure the locking handle is turned all the way counterclock (I think) before I touch the lock. The handle on yours probably needed that extra little twist to free the lock. With the safe door open, lock it (in the open position and then go through the opening sequence a few times). I think your user manual will tell what perference battery is best.
Also, as I can tell you first hand the lock will shut its self off if the numbers are typed in wrong so many times. I am in Iraq and my wife wanted to show the brothers in law the interior of the safe and fat fingered it. Lastly, if you can not get it to work the way it is intended, call the manufacturer. I imagine they want GOOD reviews on their products.

 

[a1abdj]

but according to the directions, it says if you enter the right code and it does not open, push down on the handle to the left ---well I did ...and now the damn thing keeps spinning! crap! any suggestions? can a lock smith get past this?

This depends on your definition of "keeps spinning". If you're pushing on it, and the handle creeps around, you probably have a loose set screw on the handle hub. If the handle is so loose that it really spins, you may have broken a sheer pin or something similar inside of the safe.

You can check the set screw on the handle hub easily if there is one. It's usually mounted facing the ground when the handle is in the normal position. Be careful not to strip it.

If it's not the set screw, you will probably need the help of a safe tech. A general locksmith should only be called if you do not have a safe tech available in your area.

have an electronic lock on my safe and I have to make sure the locking handle is turned all the way counterclock (I think) before I touch the lock. The handle on yours probably needed that extra little twist to free the lock.

This is common on gun safes, but easily preventable by the manufacturer. Of course fixing the problem would cost an extra $1.00, and because everybody has to sell gun safes for as little as possible, you probably won't see this problem remedied anytime soon. You could fix it yourself with a dremel in most cases, but this may void the warranty.

 

[txjohng]

yeah, it "spins" ....and there is a set screw there which it took off, but that appears to do nothing...the weird thing is that the set screw is on top...i called winchester safes (Winchester Safes • 4801 Esco Drive • Fort Worth, Texas 76140 • Tel: 817-561-9095 • Fax: 817-478-3056) and they are shipping some parts sometime next week...well see how it goes...although i not sure how they are going to fix it though especially since something inside the safe is broken....


thanks for the input

 

[txjohng]

so granite safes aka winchester safes took care of everything. they hired safe smiths to get into the safe and replace the lock and everything else. since it was under warranty, i had to pay nothing. i have to say that winchester had very good customer service. i was pretty impressed

 

[carbuncle]

Good to know that they will take care of their customers!

I was in Wal-Mart last week and strolled by the "gun" counter (in the Everett store it's cleaning supplies, a sad selection of hunting gear and a pictures of knives on a piece of cardboard in a case- not a gun to be seen) and stopped to look at an electronic safe. I asked for the combo, keyed it in and it beeped and didn't open. Did it again, same thing. The lady behind the counter tried twice, then asked another guy if there was another code or a trick and he yeled over, "YOU TRIED THE WRONG CODE TWICE, NOW IT'S LOCKED OUT FOR FIVE MINUTES." I said, "Thanks, that tells me everything I need to know."

Later on I told this to my wife, and we both agreed that the likelihood of keying in the wrong code in a high-stress situation in the dark and then getting locked out when you need your weapon the most is a deal breaker for us. I'll be looking at the mechanical versions at a proper gun shop, I think.

 

[Guns and more]

Now don't all you electronic lock bashers feel bad? The lock wasn't the problem.
I've had mine for two years and it has been flawless.

In your case, I be thinking of taking the back off the door and greasing all the moving parts of the bolts. Sounds like something hung up.

Maybe the message isn't electronic locks, as it is Sam's Club safes.

If you're pushing on it, and the handle creeps around, you probably have a loose set screw on the handle hub.

Mine creeps on the shaft. The dealer said he does that so a burglar doesn't put a pipe on the handle and break the shaft.
When my lock releases, I can turn the handle with one finger.

 

[RUGER SCOUT RIFLE]

I have the same safe as the OP with the same problem

 

[skidooman]

My American Security safe has done the same thing as the OP's. Luckily I was able toget it on my own by sheer luck though.

 

[Scrapperz]

Yep this is why I got a mechanical lock.

 

[tuckerdog1]

I'm in the market for a bigger safe. Been doing a LOT of reading. I came across an article ( and can't find it to post a link here..sorry ), by a locksmith comparing the digital locks vs the old dial types. Of course, ths is just an article by one guy. But he says the digital have a failure rate about 20 times higher than the dial types. He mentioned that some digitals have key backups in case of lock failure. He said those were the lower end locks that they actually expect to fail, thus the key backup.

Also during my reading, I saw that it is pretty standard, that if an incorrect code gets entered 3 times, the lock will not open for at least 5 minutes. I guess that's handy if some troll is trying to break into it. But lousy if during a time of stress in the dark, and you REALLY need to get in, you enter the wrong code 3 times.

I'm going with a dial.

Tuckerdog1

 

[a1abdj]

Been doing a LOT of reading. I came across an article ( and can't find it to post a link here..sorry ), by a locksmith comparing the digital locks vs the old dial types. Of course, ths is just an article by one guy. But he says the digital have a failure rate about 20 times higher than the dial types. He mentioned that some digitals have key backups in case of lock failure. He said those were the lower end locks that they actually expect to fail, thus the key backup.

If you happen to find this please post it here. Sounds like what I've said here many times word for word. I'd like to make sure what you read was something that I said, and not something that somebody else has "borrowed" .

 

[joejoeshooter]

Mechanical all the way. Your battery died which usually defaults the code, and this is going to cost you a house call. Sorry bud.

This is so not true. I have a Browning Silver series. I can take the battery out fir 9 years and then put the battery back and it's fine. A digital (a good one - $200) is the best option.

The "default the code" thing is 100% complete internet gibberish.

jjs

 

[RedAlert]

One poster, commented on stress causing them to miss the electronic keys and having the electronics lock them out for a time period.

I wonder if under the same stress if the individual would be able to dial in the combination any easier. If your fingers are trembling so badly, you are likely unable to dial a combo stopping on proper number.

The advantage in this scenario, as I see it, is that the mechanical lock has no capacity to "lock out" a person for too many incorrect tries.

 

[mallc]

My Plan

My house gun is only in the safe when I'm sure it WON'T be needed. If in doubt...keep it out!

Scott

 

[billybobjoe]

Hydraulic locks.

 

[tuckerdog1]

Quote:
Been doing a LOT of reading. I came across an article ( and can't find it to post a link here..sorry ), by a locksmith comparing the digital locks vs the old dial types. Of course, ths is just an article by one guy. But he says the digital have a failure rate about 20 times higher than the dial types. He mentioned that some digitals have key backups in case of lock failure. He said those were the lower end locks that they actually expect to fail, thus the key backup.

If you happen to find this please post it here. Sounds like what I've said here many times word for word. I'd like to make sure what you read was something that I said, and not something that somebody else has "borrowed" .
__________________

Well I did find the link I was thinking of. But it doesn't mention the lower end locks having the key backup because they expect them to fail. I did read that, but it must have been in another article. I've been reading so much about these things, my eyes are drying out.

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/electronic-vs-dial-locks-on-gunsafes/

Tuckerdog1

 

[tul9033]

I know this is an old thread, but I had to weigh in after seeing this. A mechanical combo lock on the Ft. Knox for instance requires the following procedure to open:

1. Turn the dial left until the first number of the combination aligns with the opening index the fourth time.
2. Turn the dial right until the second number of the combination aligns with the opening index the third time.
3. Turn the dial left until the third number of the combination aligns with the opening index the second time.
4. Turn the dial right. It should come to a positive stop in less than one revolution. If the dial does not stop, carefully repeat the entire opening procedure at least two more times before calling a qualified safe technician.

Don't plan on getting into a mechanical lock under any kind of stress or even in under 30 secs under the best of circumstances.
Ft. Knox is now making a dual combo safe that has both a digital and mechanical lock.

 

[MuleRyder]

I have a Winchester branded safe from TSC with an electronic lock. I have had no trouble with mine and it is a lot faster than a mechanical lock. I can't imagine trying to get into a dial safe under stress. I just hope mine keeps working good.

 

[tul9033]

I've got a 4 year old Winchester that I have opened at least once a week with the digital lock and haven't had a single issue. The safe has a lifetime warranty and 1 year on the lock.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Please realize that all locks are not created equal. There are junky mechanical dial locks as well as junky digital keypad locks. There are also some very good electronic locks as well as the time-proven brand-name mechanicals. The thing to realize is that you get what you pay for. If you buy a low cost offshore made unit, you're almost certainly not going to get a high quality U.S. made locking unit on it.

That being said, the junky mechanicals are probably more reliable than the junky keypads. However, I have an electronic lock on my personal safe. But it's not something that's commonly found on retail RSC's made by anybody in the U.S. or China.

900F

 

[Dave P.]

One thing you can do with a manual lock is preset the first number to
the sequence. No one but you would know it was preset and it speeds up
entry. I have a small battery powered red light above my lock and with
it preset can open it in about 10 seconds in the dark with just the light.
Dave

 

[tul9033]

Is that with someone kicking your door in
Fact is some people are just more comfortable with the mechanical. I know you will be getting into your safe after an EMP while I'll be using spears and rocks. Maybe I can use my safe as a barricade!