Safe trouble round 2

[Navy87Guy]

I just replaced the electronic lock on my Winchester safe with the S&G 6730. I had to drill some new holes, which isn’t optimal for the fire rating, but I really use it more for security. There are plenty of videos online to show the process.

It’s nice to be able to lock and unlock the safe as many times as I want and not worry about wearing the battery out! This safe failed about a week after I got it (fortunately it had a key back up). Winchester sent me a whole new mechanism, but I feel better with the mechanical lock.

There are a few different versions of the 6730. I went with the “plain Jane” -100. There are also versions with the “spy proof” dial (numbers on the edge of the dial instead of the face) and with the key backup. You can spend anywhere from $80 - $185, depending on what you want. It probably takes me 20-30 seconds to open the door, but I keep my “go to” pistol in a quick access safe (with a simplex lock).

 

[WestKentucky]

My lock has been replaced!!! I bought an $80 S&G group 2 manual dial lock off of Amazon and followed the instructional video on YouTube that pops up when you enter the model number. It was quite easy. My biggest trouble was that the mounting bolts supplied with the lock were 1/4-20 and my safes mounting plate was fitted with 1/4-28 bolts originally. The bolts are of different lengths as well and are not standard bolts. 3 hardware stores hit and nobody had the bolts i needed so I bought 1/4-28 nuts and a fresh hacksaw blade and shortened what I already had. Threaded the nuts onto give me a clamping surface in the vice and jam-locked them and cut the extra length off. The nut coming off the bolt straightened and cleaned up boogered threads from the cut. Actual work was about 20 minutes, but it took me 3 hours of watching the video to double check myself a few times, especially on setting the combination, and figuring out the bolt situation. Mission accomplished though.

 

[Walkalong]

Mission accomplished

Awesome!

 

[BillWM]

you can replace the lock with an S&G mechanical lock. These electronic locks are cheap and have a cheaper electric motor that fails with use. My Browning safe electronic lock failed, first the pad, later the internals.
A good mechanical S&G will last a lifetime. You want quick access then set the lock on two numbers not three. You can even dial the combination and leave it off a few numbers so when you want it open quick you just go a few numbers over to your last number and open your safe.

 

[BreechFace]

Sounds like this one.

Noticed he said "when your electronic lock fails." In regards, to having a analog backup.

 

[Walkalong]

You want quick access then set the lock on two numbers not three. You can even dial the combination and leave it off a few numbers so when you want it open quick you just go a few numbers over to your last number and open your safe.

"Leaving it on the hitch", handy, but not a good habit, too easy to forget and leave it that way when you shouldn't.

 

[Thunderchicken]

I wonder how many burglars know people sometimes set the first two numbers and quickly try all possible last ones? I think if you do it carefully you can avoid disturbing the first two.

 

[Walkalong]

I saw a movie once where the thieves always checked to see if the safe was left "on the hitch" before they went through the trouble to crack it.

 

[JTHunter]

WestKentucky - if you ever decide on replacing that safe, check and see if there are any "used safe" stores in your area. Like mnrivrat in post #36, I got a single door steel & concrete laminate safe many years ago and it is also about a 1,000 pounds. Inside is about 20" wide, 16" deep and 5'6" high. It is a mechanical that is in an unheated polebarn and it has given me some trouble opening it in the winter. Multiple tries, plus a few whacks with a rubber mallet are usually sufficient.
It is NOT a gun safe but a paperwork safe but some of the other safes this company has could have been "customized" for your own storage needs.

 

[Reloadron]

I wonder how many burglars know people sometimes set the first two numbers and quickly try all possible last ones? I think if you do it carefully you can avoid disturbing the first two.

My safe the tumbler, like most ranges 0 to 99. Unless all four numbers are done in proper sequence nothing happens. So if I preset using the first two unless the actual third is hit next nothing happens. This includes when we need to pass a number and stop on that number a second or third time.

Last October I had a bike accident and ended up in a trauma ICU. My motorcycle was taken to a police impound. My neighbor offered to get my bike along with my son but they needed paper work which was in my gun safe. I told my son the combination and how to open it. Even with combo in hand my poor son calls me after a few hours of failed attempts. I finally walked him through it, he found my title and back they went to impound. The police gave my bike real good care and called it "The Vets Bike" because I have Veteran Ohio bike plates on it. My son will never qualify as a safe cracker, poor kid was so angry.

Ron