i have to crack a gun safe... how?

[vash]

my stepdad and brother both live in elpaso,texas. my stepdad has two huge gun safes. he ruined one. he got into the bad habit of spinning the combination lock, before he turned the numbers.. like they do in hollywood. well anyways, apparently he destroyed the delicate brass parts inside, because we cant get it opened. my brother is too cheap to pay a locksmith. i was given several shotguns. strangly enough, every one is in the broken safe. so i need to get "ocean's eleven" on one.

here is the kicker. my parents want the safe to be somewhat operational after opening. i am thinking of having a locksmith drill the lock. once opened, dolly it outside, and have a padlock tab welded on. then for added security, have a "box" built over the padlock so you cannot cut it with bolt cutters. like they do on those huge storage containers. dumb? i get several thousand dollars of shotguns, so ponying up some locksmith money is not biggie. i could always ebay a browning citori..(he has five, according to the logbook)

i need a plan by the holidays, when i am going back.

[RPKESQ]

Make, Model, Age? I might be able to help.

[legion]

I used to work at a bank in high school. We had two safes (all banks do). One day, one broke and refused to open.

It took 14 hours for the guy from the safe company to open the safe, and another 10 hours to repair it (including welding shut the holes he drilled).

Now I realize that your gun safe probably isn't as complicated and secure, but it might be a much cheaper option to open the safe with an angle grinder (may take you a few dozen discs), and just buy a new one. What is the dollar value of the safe itself?

[id10t]

I'd call the safe manufacturer and ask if they have a certified service person in your area. He/she will probably be a locksmith, and be able to fix you up. Drilling the lock may work, but may need special bits (hey, its a safe, its supposed to protect against that stuff!). Using a cutting torch may not be good if the safe is lined with anything flammable.

[vash]

yea, my family bought 3 safes at the same time. effen texans love guns..yup. well, they bought it from an individual that sold custom units. they found him at the las crusas gun show. we have called him, but he is now retired. i will call my brother today, to motivate him to call the man again.

so a locksmith needs to know where to drill right? if it wasnt so heavy, i would move it outside, and use a magdrill on the thing. damn. this is sounding difficult.

[Hugh R]

Calling the mfgr. is a really good idea. If it's like mine with the bars that push out, into the door frame a die grinder isn't going to cut it.

[Rick Lee]

I've been shopping for gun safes. The one I have it pretty lame. The big ones run well over $1000 and most places charge a few hundred for delivery. If you can wheel that safe on a dolly out to the garage on your own, then it's probably not one of the real big and fancy ones. My dad bought an old bank safe at an antique auction for $75 and it cost him $300 to have a tow truck haul it to their house. They left that safe with the house when they sold it.

[tangerine911S]

1. Use lance to make hole in top of safe
2. Fill with water
3. Suspend dynamite in center of safe.
4. Stand back

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by tangerine911S

1. Use lance to make hole in top of safe
2. Fill with water
3. Suspend dynamite in center of safe.
4. Stand back

Don't forget to film this and post it on YouTube.

[daepp]

A locksmith can drill it from the side, and with special tools, open it from the inside. I saw this done on about a 3 foot square safe at the bank I used to work at. Then he welded up the hole. All told, it took about 2 hours.

[Shawn 357]

Most gun safes are what 12 or 14 guage on the sides....grab that die grinder. Most gun safes have wood and carpet that will protect the guns from any sparks while grinding as long as you don't go to deep. Make sure they don't have any powder stored in there. My gun safe weighs around 1200 pounds but you can still move it with two guys (not easy but doable). Keep in mind that a lot of safes are fixed to the ground and you have to have the safe open to take off those nuts...
The problem with doing this is that the safe will be trashed but if it was a cheepy just hit up Costco and replace it.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've been shopping for gun safes. The one I have it pretty lame. The big ones run well over $1000 and most places charge a few hundred for delivery. If you can wheel that safe on a dolly out to the garage on your own, then it's probably not one of the real big and fancy ones. My dad bought an old bank safe at an antique auction for $75 and it cost him $300 to have a tow truck haul it to their house. They left that safe with the house when they sold it.

rick. these safes are huge. it took a crew to put them into the house. much to my mom's chagrin, (she wasnt home during delivery) my stepdad put one in her living room..hahahhaah. she put a chinese screen in front of it, but she was pissed. it would require a block party, with free beer to move that thing outside. unless my mom allows welding in her living room.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by id10t

I'd call the safe manufacturer and ask if they have a certified service person in your area. He/she will probably be a locksmith, and be able to fix you up. Drilling the lock may work, but may need special bits (hey, its a safe, its supposed to protect against that stuff!). Using a cutting torch may not be good if the safe is lined with anything flammable.

what he said

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by tangerine911S

1. Use lance to make hole in top of safe
2. Fill with water
3. Suspend dynamite in center of safe.
4. Stand back

That's my vote!

[Don Plumley]

Easy:

1. Hoist safe over road.
2. Release on top of pesky Road Runner.
3. Scratch head wondering why rope does not release.
4. Pull on rope while standing under safe.
5. Be crushed by safe.
6. Door opens, revealing Coyote inside safe.
7. Retrieve guns.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Easy:

1. Hoist safe over road.
2. Release on top of pesky Road Runner.
3. Scratch head wondering why rope does not release.
4. Pull on rope while standing under safe.
5. Be crushed by safe.
6. Door opens, revealing Coyote inside safe.
7. Retrieve guns.

Excellent, I've seen to done on TV like this.

[tabs]

Safe manufacturers buy their locks from a safe lock company. The man who made the safes should know who he bought the locks from. It might be a good idea to contact them and ask for suggestions. NO safe is inpenatarable, it is all a matter of time to get into them.

You do know need to know the construction of the thing. What gauge steel plate, bolt in the door etc. What was the cost? Most commerical gun safes are not very safe and can be easily broken into.

Ricky your Daddy made a big mistake not taking that old Bank Safe with him. Those have gotten hard to find are very desirable by gun collectors to store guns in and have become pricey....try $3500.00 for the basic safe in LA. Plus the cost of any retrofitting of interiors, paint, delivery and the cost of new digital combination locks.

[porsche4life]

You could Mag drill it and just lay cardboard on the floor to catch your shavings. I am in Oklahoma and have a mag drill you could pick up on your way to texas. Provided you bring it back with one of them citori's as company.

[Bill Douglas]

Hugh should be able to help. Disney and the Hollywood studios are full of actors who can blow safes AND ride off on horseback.


Maybe ask a local locksmith for his opinon and get an estimate.

[azasadny]

Locksmith is really worth the $!