Breaking & Entering

[Pressman]

I had mentioned in a few threads about loosing the keys to my gunsafe, well they are still lost. No biggie except there is two pistols I would like to have in hand and not locked away. Otherwise I would probably just leave it for the kids to sort out when ever that may be.

It is a tin box, but one of the early ones with two individual locks. I had thought about drilling through the back side to insert a socket and remove the nut off the lock plates but there is too many guns in the way.

Hire someone to pick the locks? Expensive, yes.

Take a crowbar to it and rip the door open? Possible.

It looks like what ever choice I make will render the safe unusable.

Ideas???

Ken

228506

[lavenatti]

Hard to tell from the picture but it almost looks like you could knock the long pin out of the hinges. Otherwise, doesn't look like it'll take more than a big screwdriver to pry it open.

[Mr_Sheesh]

You can buy a lock pick set pretty easily and my impression is that you should be able to learn to pick them yourself; I just would not carry the picks on the street, just hide them somewhere at home so they're not easy to find for any burglar types. LOTS of videos on youtube on lock picking. Something I've considered learning, just to know it, so I can do it if needed; Only time I've had to open a lock was while in the Search and Rescue group, I'd heard of "Rapping" and a member had locked his padlock's keys in his duffel bag, inside his coat - and needed the coat as it was getting cold; Tried it and it worked FIRST TIME. I was rather shocked LOL

[lead-1]

My son lost the keys to his safe like that one and he ended up prying the door away from the body with screwdrivers then using pry bars to get in that gap to actually pry the door open. The locking bars inside are just strips of flat steel aprox 1 1/4" wide and 1/8" thick.
I then changed the lock set, bent the locking bars back straight then fixed any bent sheet metal with a hammer and a dolly from back in the auto body days, even a 2x4 as a dolly would help. I now have it in my garage to secure a few items out there.
Don't be afraid to try this as the damage was actually minimal. Oh, I picked up a standard type key lock at the hardware store rather than the pop machine type lock.

[JBinMN]

EDIT: I see that another post was posted before mine while I was typing, but I will leave my post anyway...

----------------------------

I think I have that same type of safe down in the basement. Luckily, I still have my key.

In regard to getting your open, short of your doing as been mentioned above, I can only think of one other way to get it open without the keys.

If you have a 4" grinder, you could run it down the hinge & open it up enough that the pin is exposed to remove it & you should be able to get it open that way without harm to the contents. Ince the pin is exposed you could pry the door open from that side. I just looked at mine & it looks like there is enough "play" to get it open that way.

If you want the info off of the key to try to get a replacement, I can certainly share what I can off of the key that I have. It is one of those round keys with the hollow in the middle & "steps" on the outside with a "key spline" to orient it to the Open/Close { 12 o'clock/3 o'clock} locations on the lock. The keys are numbered though & I am not sure without looking, but the ID number of the locks might be on the inside. That would make things a bit difficult I am afraid, in getting the correct key.

I think that with a bit of "fooling around" though, a person might be able to get a piece of tubing & craft up/fabricate a makeshift key to try.

Anyway... G'Luck! & let me know if you want the key info.
:)

P.S> - coming thru the back with an extension & a socket would do the least damage if you can tip it to get the firearms out of the way without damaging them. The nuts on mine are only finger tight & have been that way since I bought it probably 30 years ago. Still works fine too...

[sureYnot]

You can buy a lock pick set pretty easily and my impression is that you should be able to learn to pick them yourself; I just would not carry the picks on the street, just hide them somewhere at home so they're not easy to find for any burglar types. LOTS of videos on youtube on lock picking. Something I've considered learning, just to know it, so I can do it if needed; Only time I've had to open a lock was while in the Search and Rescue group, I'd heard of "Rapping" and a member had locked his padlock's keys in his duffel bag, inside his coat - and needed the coat as it was getting cold; Tried it and it worked FIRST TIME. I was rather shocked LOLSometime back I decided to learn. MIT guide to lockpicking was very informative. Within a few hours I could open every lock in the house. Master padlocks take about 5 seconds. Front door takes 1-2 minutes (kinda disturbing). Most difficult is my Ruger trigger lock. Think the set was around $25-30 from Southord.

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[lightman]

I would call around and talk to several locksmiths. You might find a new guy that is hungry or that likes a challenge.

[GhostHawk]

I bought one of those lockpin "guns" from BudK just for the heck of it. With 10 minutes practice I could get in my front door deadbolt, and 2 of my cars.

That being said if your safe has one of those round keys, then a locksmith is probably your best option.

[marlin39a]

Mine have numbers around the outside of the lock. That will tell what key you need.

[swheeler]

Try this.......https://homak.com/customer-service/

[WILCO]

Try this.......https://homak.com/customer-service/

Best answer!

[KCSO]

The round key locks are an easy open to a fellow with the right tool. A good locksmith should have that open in 10 minutes. We had a car wash thief that spun them open in a 3 minute wash. Shouldn't cost that much to open.

[jdfoxinc]

You can open a round lock with the end of a clear plastic Bic pen. Just press the end into the lock till it bottoms out. The plastic takes on the shape of the key.

[Soundguy]

homak will sell you keys.. they have for me..

[Pressman]

I just checked Homak's website, it looks like that is the answer I am looking for.
Great, wonderful and thank you!!!!
Ken

[swheeler]

If you have multiples "same keyed" is nice, pockets are full of enough stuff! ;-)

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I have tried to open locks using picks by following the info on the internet, without success so far. They make it look easy but I don't find it so.

[pressonregardless]

Try this.......https://homak.com/customer-service/

brilliant idea !!

[WheelgunConvert]

I have had success with a bic pen case a couple times.

[MaryB]

I have core drilled that style lock(we used them at the casino on the slot bases and drink spills would glue them shut) then used a screwdriver to activate the locking bars. Do it right and just remove the tumblers and you leave a piece of the lock shaft and can turn it with needle nose pliers.

[NyFirefighter357]

You can open a round lock with the end of a clear plastic Bic pen. Just press the end into the lock till it bottoms out. The plastic takes on the shape of the key.

This works, I used this method to open a set of Smith & Wesson model 94 High Security handcuffs. What I did was heat up the back of a white plastic Bic pen and bottom it out in the lock. This makes the impression. I then transferred the impression onto an aluminum arrow of the same diameter. a few snips and a small file & I made a working key. I then was able to get the correct keys from a magic shop. I had 3 sets of these cuffs and each had a different key.

[dagger dog]

The next time you replace your wiper blades, save the 2 metal strips that hold the rubber to the blade, they make perfect picks and tension bars, you can try grinding different profiles on the picks and make the tension bar by bending the strip 90*.

[Shawlerbrook]

Some of our members know a little too much about picking locks ! :bigsmyl2::bigsmyl2: Just kidding.

[fast ronnie]

I called Homack with the number on my locks and had new keys within a few days. Cost was around $30 for two keys. Somebody gave me the safe because they lost the key.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Good resource at Homack then!