"WACO" brand japanese safe

[The Scandinavian]

"WACO" or "WAICO" or "WAKO" brand japanese safe

Hi Folks

I wonder if anyone can tell me anything about "WACO" (or it may be WAICO or WAKO) brand safes? I'm looking to buy a safe at some point and found this one for sale locally (local to me here in Europe that is )

According to the owner, the safe was made in Japan.

It is about 4'9" high and weighs "about 700 to 1200 pounds"

The door is locked with a combination lock. There is another key hole in the front door but the owner has lost that key I'm assuming that this lock is for some sort of quick locking without having to use the combination dial? Is this correct? Also, is it ever possible to get replacement keys?

If anyone can help with that question or knows anything about this safe brand I'd be very grateful to hear from you



Thanks in advance

"T.S."

 

[mrmeval]

It looks to be a massive chunk of metal. I looked online and can't find the maker. If the owner has any paperwork with it that would be of help as it should have some kind of contact information.

If you can find contact information for the company they may be able to direct you to a local locksmith who can then request the template to make a key for it. Otherwise it might be more expensive to have one made.

As big as it is if the combination works cleanly and with no apparent defect. The door opens cleanly with no binding or other indication of problem and the price was very good I'd be interested in it. It would however have to be a pretty good deal compared to buying a new one. You should also figure in the movers fee, that's a very heavy safe.

 

[The Scandinavian]

Thanks mrmeval!

I looked online too, and haven't found the manufacturer, which is something that worries me a bit especially about prospects for getting a key.

It may be that they have been taken over but at the very least I would have expected to find a few 'for sale' ads for the same make of safes around the world.

The seller says that the combination works perfectly.

How reliable are these things? As you say, it's a very substantial chunk of metal and I dread to think how many hacksaw blades I'd have to go through if one day my guns got stuck inside (there's a whole new thing for me to worry about )

I was hoping to be able to wrestle it into my van with the help of a few friends, I hope that's realistic!

Oh yeah and I forgot to ask if I was right about the function of the key? I'm a safe newbie

 

[1 old 0311]

A locksmith can make a key for just about anything.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

I moved my 900 pound safe with a pair of furniture sliders and a couple of friends I bought from the hardware store. It just slid over the carpet and tile without a problem with just two people. Getting it over the door sill from the outside to the inside took four people.

I have a key on my combination as well. You use it to lock the combination knob, I think its used during transportation.

 

[The Scandinavian]

Hi Kevin

Um.. how? I have to say it looks to me like there'd be a lot of disassembly involved and... how best to put it? The safe looks rather tamperproof to me!

Thanks

"T.S."

Thanks RabidRabbit - I suppose I should be extra-careful moving the safe if the dial can't be locked?

 

[Punkermonkey]

Rabid Rabbit - What hardware store sells friends?

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Rabid Rabbit - What hardware store sells friends?


lol

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Scandanavian,

You don't have to take a lock apart to make a key, only to rekey. A soft aluminum blank is inserted, and turned side to side. The locksmith removes the blank and files away the indentations. He does this a few times to get the key pattern. He then uses this as a template to make the key. I had this done 20 years ago and was amazed at how fast it can be done. Call a few locksmiths for prices.

 

[SASS#23149]

the key just locks the combo so somebody doens't play safecracker.the locking handle is what holds the door closed.
Put it in your van?? Welll.I suppose ya could,never tried that...yet.Let us know how that works for ya.

 

[a1abdj]

Although that safe may be from Japan, I suspect it is from the Eagle safe company in Korea. These safes are sold under a variety of names, which is probably why you're having problems locating the name on your safe.

It is a fire rated document safe, and should not be used for the storage of firearms.

 

[wooderson]

Probably doesn't have the best fire rating.

 

[mrmeval]

You want professional safe movers that are insured. Really. Let them take the risk of injury or death and property damage.

Without the sales brochure or some information from the manufacturer it's hard to say what it's made from or how hard it would be to get inside. I based what I said earlier on the weight you quoted and how it looked in the picture.

Good luck.

 

[The Scandinavian]

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

@ Punkermonkey: I have friends at the moment - quite what the situation will be after I have press-ganged them into moving this thing for me I don't know

@Kevin: Thanks - Now I get it, thanks! Doesn't sound too expensive hopefully.

@SASS#23149: I've discussed with the current owner, who says that it is currently in their van, and that there is plenty of help available to move it across into mine. Let's see! At this end - well I have a small 360 tracked excavator that should be able to lift it up over the steps and through the front door. Again, let's see ;-)

@a1abdj: The plate does actually read "Made in Japan" but I suppose that could refer to the plate itself and not the safe The safe comes from the head office of a major hotel chain and is probably 30 or 40 years old.

The safe appears to meet the local Finnish standards for firearms storage. The local standard used is SFS 5870, or equivalent Swedish standard SS 3492, or European EN-1143-1:1997 class III.

In cases where a safe is not marked with the above, it must meet the following:

(I'm making rough translations from the appropriate section of the Finnish Police website)

Walls, Floor and Top:
At least 5mm steel.

Hinges:
At least 5mm steel.

Welding:
At least as thick as the material used. Spot welding not approved.

Locking:
Small cabinets up to 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m at least two 12mm bars.
Larger cabinets at least four 12mm bars.
Alternatively locking can be with a comb of 5mm steel engaging at least 10mm.

Securing:
Under 330lb must be secured to wall with four 10mm anchor bolts or screws
Over 330lb can be free standing.

Locks:
(Here there is an example list of locks given, eg. Abloy Oy NOR 211, Mauer GmbH: 70091 Variator A etc)

Those locks given don't mean anything to me, but as you can see from the rest of the specification the requirements aren't that great. For example an under 330lb cabinet fixed to the wall with four anchor bolts could be crowbarred off and carried away by one strong person, or very easily by two.

This is a fairly peaceful part of the world, and fortunately the chances of a burglary, especially away from the main towns and cities, is thankfully very small.

Here in the country everyone has guns, and the chances of anyone really wanting one of my meagre specimins is pretty small

That type of cabinet would appear to be better for my purposes than my current arrangements, which however do already meet the local requirements. My long guns will fit in there complete, and also the price wasn't bad, 200€ (260$).

Also my wife is happy as all my other shooting supplies will have a home and not be spread around the house

Best Regards

"T.S."

 

[The Scandinavian]

Here's the update:

@SASS#23149:

Put it in your van?? Welll.I suppose ya could,never tried that...yet.Let us know how that works for ya.

Well it took four people. Getting it across from the van it was in into my van was relatively easy. Getting it up a set of icy concrete steps and in through my front door, in a temperature of -6 Farenheit was something that took a bit of planning!

@wooderson: fire rating is two hours with subsequent drop test and then re-heating, according to the Japanese standard JIS-S-1037.

Thanks!

"T.S."

 

[aaronrkelly]

If its a Waco then its probably not fire proof......and especially if the ATF is nearby.


bad-a-bing....I will be here all weekend, thanks for coming folks.


PS, I know nothing of the safe....just couldnt miss an opportunity like that.

 

[MrPeter]

Oh wow. Spot on aaron.

Geez that was pretty perfect. Now that I think of it I'm a little dissapointed that it didnt come up earlier, but I'm very glad it came up eventually. Kudos

 

[Chrontius]

I was waiting for that one.