How to open a gun safe "combination lock"

[chetrogers]

I am going to be buying a gun safe finally and i was at the local sporting good store last week and noticed that they had the combinations for the safes on the safes but i dont know how to open one..It was a few days before xmas and the store was packed and i didnt even see any salesmen to ask for help..THe last time i opened any kind of combo lock was in High School.Thanks for any info.

 

[steveno]

get a safe with the electronic keyboard

 

[Stingray]

Turn dial to right 3 times, then to the first number
Turn dial to left past second number, then continue turning left to second number
Turn dial to right directly to last number

 

[ckyllo]

just gonna add that some safes (that you have to unlock the dial) also sometimes require a final turn back to 0 to unlock it. good advice is to keep putting in the combo over and over again untill it is second nature. it helps you remember it.

 

[HankL]

If it is one of the more common S&G three number locks it will work exactly bassackwards of Stingray's instructions.

 

[halvey]

Tuen dial to right 3 times, then to the first number
Turn dial to left past second number, then continue turning left to second number
Turn dial to right directly to last number

Nope. Not on them all. Mine is different and much more complicated. When I first got it I had the combination and it still took me 3 or 4 attempts to open it each time. Now it's not a problem, but I guess its added security?!?

 

[trapshooter]

What halvey said. Methods vary by manufacturer. Some are more extensive than others. Same basic principles, however.

Quality electronic pad types are very reliable, I hear, but I don't own one.

 

[halvey]

Quality electronic pad types are very reliable, I hear

Maybe it's a Y2K holdover, but I don't trust them. For some reason I have this idea that either the lock will fail and I'll never see my guns again, or the neighbor kid can crack it using his computer!

 

[Ringer]

What brand?

Here is a common sequence I have seen on the ones at Gander Mountain.

Spin the dial to left at least 3 or 4 times then stop on the first number.
Spin right and stop on the second number after passing it twice.
Spin left and stop on the third number after passing it once.
Spin right to 0 or maybe past 0 until dial stops.

 

[Moondoggie]

The safe will come with detailed, easy to follow instructions.

Not to be difficult, but my combo lock's instructions caution NEVER to "spin" the dial...turn it slowly so as not to damage the mechanism.

Left-right-left or Right-left-right...varies by mfg.

Mine goes back to zero, and then further back to 90 to release the lock after turning the combo. Also has to be on zero to actuate the key lock in the dial.

 

[geekWithA.45]

My gunsafe:


spin left 4 times, then stop on first #
spin right past 2nd number, stop on that number @ next pass
spin left to 3rd number, stop
spin left until handle releases
use handle to lever open lugs

 

[rick_reno]

Buy a $.99 combo lock and practice, it's the same thing.

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

Mine is still different yet-

Turn 4x Left to 1st #
3x Right to 2nd #
2x Left to 1st #
Left until the wheel stops, the open (This is not at zero).

 

[dfaugh]

Used to work as safe mechanic/safecracker(legal)

On any most any safe made in the last 50 years(any quality ones...All Gunsafes I've seen use a Sargeant and Greenleaf lock, which is kinda the Mauser of the safe world)....

3x LT to 1st number
2x RT to second #
1x LT to third number
RT till fence drops and pulls back bolt(on lock), then open door bolts

I think that's what everyone really said, just different ways to express it!

Oh and make sure you "clear" it, by spinning dial a few (at least 3)times when you lock it, otherwise its a snap to open, as wheels will remain "lined up". And contrary to prior post you can spin it pretty vigourously, won't hurt a thing. 'Course someone that knows what they're doing (like me) can open it easily anyway(worst case, 5 minutes)...But it'll keep the average burglar from getting your guns, and keep the kids safe as well.

 

[moa]

Also, some safes come with key locks on the combination lock. You lock the combination mechanism with a key.

 

[chutestrate]

Read the instructions

 

[jamz]

Don't be an idiot like I was and lock the thing and THEN figure out how to open it.

I ended up having to call the company (Sentry) because the combo just didn't work, no matter how many times I tried it. Turns out, one of the tumblers got shifted or something during shipping, and one of the digits was one number off. Customer service gave me 16 different combinations to try, all variations of my original. I think I got it on the fifth try.

-James

 

[happy old sailor]

practice using the combo with the safe door OPEN. saves frustration. one of those "dont ask" statements.

 

[280PLUS]

don't forget to cuss at it, it won't work unless you cuss at it!

or, what chutestrate said,

"read the instructions"

 

[geekWithA.45]

Hey, dfaugh!

Since you seem to know what you're talking about:

1) My safe came with a cylindrical key taped to the back, yet I can't seem to find anywhere it might fit. (Granted, I haven't removed the combo dial to look underneath) What's it for?

2) How can I go about changing the combo, if I need to someday?

 

[Black92LX]

Maybe it's a Y2K holdover, but I don't trust them. For some reason I have this idea that either the lock will fail and I'll never see my guns again, or the neighbor kid can crack it using his computer!

they are too simplistic to be hacked. you just have to pick the right combonation. but you only get three tries or you are locked out for 20 minutes. each missed try after the initial 3 adds 5 miuntes.

mine also came with keys and a very well hidden place to insert the key if your electronic pad were to fail.

i was a little worried about it at first but like it very much.

 

[BenW]

I have five different safe combos (two of them at work -- I don't have THAT many guns yet, but I'm trying) and each of them opens differently. On my latest gun safe with an S&G lock, I had the option of starting the combo with four turns (which I took) or less turns all the way down to having only one number in the combo (the number, then back to zero to open the safe).

When I looked startled at that, the safe guy said some people like that for quick access to their guns. Me, I prefer keeping my "quick access" stuff either out or in a Gunvault type box and making the big safes as hard as possible to get into.

 

[Valkman]

Don't lock the combo in the safe, whatever you do! :banghead: :banghead:

 

[USP45usp]

Turn right three times, turn left two times, turn right one time. at it. Repeat above 5 times, get , pick up HD 12ga shotgun, try double ought buck. Call locksmith, replace safe .

No, mine is Five right, four left, three right then left back to 0. Then I have an electronic for the handgun part.

Wayne

 

[dfaugh]

geekWithA.45

You answered your own question (I think)...The key you're talking about is used to change the combo....Looks kinda like a allen wrench(L shaped, right?)...However if its cylindrical, it not for a S&G lock, its a different (inferior, but not much)brand, I forget the name. The S&G keys have a spline with notch in them. But I'm not gonna try to explain how to change combo here...If you make a boo-boo, you'll end up locked out, spending $$$$$ for someone like me to come open it. (its not that hard, but I'm not sure I could explain it well.)

And I forgot about "Sentry" Safes (which are actually made about 10 miles from here. I've toured the factory)...Unless they've changed the design...well, lemme say this....Remember I said 5 minutes to open one with an S&G lock?...I can open a sentry in about 10 seconds...And so can pretty much anyone else!