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Posted: 2/5/2025 10:42:13 PM EDT
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Familiar with the Pro Vault that Liberty makes for Cabelas, this is from a 2018 era model. Group 2 lock set with the rectangular retracting bolt, the bolt drops into a locking bar, has a relocker, etc: Attached File Ran into this Liberty Centurion, 2013 era model, which is basically the same safe. Has 3 spinning rotors that basically just line up with the locking bar, so when all three combination numbers are lined up the locking bar can slide to the side. No relocker: Attached File #1- does anyone know if Liberty is still using this weird rotor design in the Centurion models? And if not, when might they have switched to regular locks? #2- is the rotor design any good? Lack of a relocker mean much on this cheap of a safe? I have just never seen this, so would like any info anyone has about them. #3- anyone converted one to a Group 2 type lock? Or know if Libery makes an adapter kit? I can visualize how this can be done, but my method would need some welding and metal fabrication to make it work, not sure if it would be worth the hassle for such a cheap safe (14 gauge body, better than a lot of store brands maybe, but nothing special). Makes me appreciate the Fort Knox minimum of 10 gauge (1/8”) steel and a standardized lock pattern. I have replaced locks on a few of those with the Securam Extreme types which are dual electronic and mechanical dial, so if the electronics die you can always spin the dial. This rotor lock seems pretty specialized and difficult to upgrade to an electronic lock. I will eventually ask Liberty themselves, just hoping someone here has some insight! |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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The rotor design is called "direct entry fence lock" and "straight tailpiece lock". It is the cheapest mechanical combination lock and hints at general lack of construction quality in a safe. The safe with the Sargent & Greenleaf lock does have the standard US relocker und probably a hardplate against drilling. The Centurion has no relocker and clearly no hardplate. It has likely thinner steel sheets, thinner walls, welds of less quality and so on. A conversion to an S&G lock ("Magic Module format") is probably possible, but not without some modification. Good is that they have a cutout on the boltwork that is for sure for the lock bolt, but the straight tailpiece probably to long and will hit the lock case before the safe is open. My guess is, that the mounting screw holes for the S&G lock are missing too, which means drilling four locks and tapping them. There might be two more tapped hole to be made on the front to mount the dial ring, but maybe they followed the standard there. I have seen someone convert his safe, but I don't remember what the starting point was and in which forum he posted it. |
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Originally Posted By MartinHewitt: The rotor design is called "direct entry fence lock" and "straight tailpiece lock". It is the cheapest mechanical combination lock and hints at general lack of construction quality in a safe. The safe with the Sargent & Greenleaf lock does have the standard US relocker und probably a hardplate against drilling. The Centurion has no relocker and clearly no hardplate. It has likely thinner steel sheets, thinner walls, welds of less quality and so on. A conversion to an S&G lock ("Magic Module format") is probably possible, but not without some modification. Good is that they have a cutout on the boltwork that is for sure for the lock bolt, but the straight tailpiece probably to long and will hit the lock case before the safe is open. My guess is, that the mounting screw holes for the S&G lock are missing too, which means drilling four locks and tapping them. There might be two more tapped hole to be made on the front to mount the dial ring, but maybe they followed the standard there. I have seen someone convert his safe, but I don't remember what the starting point was and in which forum he posted it. Thanks- at least I have some idea what it is called now. Could find zero information googling it. This must have been an earlier design, as any ads or videos I can find for the Centurion line, no matter how old, clearly show a standard Group 2 S&G lock, and mention that they can switch to an electronic lock. Far as I can tell, this one and the later Provault are the same safe with 2 differences- the lock and works for that, and the Provault has a slightly longer fire rating due to one extra chunk of drywall, which this older Centurion actually has room to add in. Same 14 gauge, sticker on the side covering the layers of materials is the same except for that one layer of fireboard drywall, etc. Same exact size and everything actually. If nothing else- folks should know that the Centurion line also had these different style locks, which can be figured out by how many times you have to spin it (less spins than a group 2). Or it is just 4 screws to pop off that back panel to take a look to be certain. I certainly would not pay the same amount for one with this weird rotor style as I would one that takes a group 2 S&G lock. |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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