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Posted: 12/3/2024 6:14:53 PM EDT
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*Residential Security Cabinet I have a Sentry safe, non-fire rated. It's a little guy, was like $300 bucks, and I got it at sam's or costco about 22-23 years ago. Think it was like a '14' gun safe. It's like the size of an old high school locker. It has a mechanical dial combo lock. No keys. I locked it a couple months back when we left town for a couple weeks. Now...yup, can't get into it. I've been trying quite a few things. Basically, every night after I get home from work for the last couple months, I go try the combo a few times. Definition of Insanity echoing in my head the whole time.  +1, +2 up and down -1, -2 up and down I've put the numbers in backwards (ie R-L spins). I've put them in reverse order. I've put them in in random orders. (I know none of that should matter, but desperate times.) I've spun the dial gently in both directions many many many times to 'clear' it. I've put pressure on the handle as I enter the combo, press and pull on the door. You can hear the locks clicking like normal. The handle wiggles, the door wiggles. It just won't open, that last turn to pull the bolt after the last number, nothing happens, no resistance, nothing, just smooth spinning. Safe has not been moved, banged, dropped, etc. Last time it was moved was 8 years ago when we moved here. It has been locked and unlocked many many times during those years, of course. It has never been serviced. To be honest, I didn't know that was a thing, like I also didn't know dial drift was a thing. (Hence the +1, +2 stuff above) Only thing I can think of is it might be overstuffed, cause I crammed everything I could into it before we left town. But, it has a hard cover on the door, so not like anything can hang up the mechanisms, and as mentioned, handle and door can wiggle. So, anything else I should try? I feel like it's Locksmith time, anyone able to give a ballpark estimate on how much that might cost to have a smith come out and I guess cut it open? Or do they have special tools to get in without cutting out the lock? |
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My elcheapo sentry pulled that on me, but it was definitely too much stuff crammed in there, and a gun case was bearing on a latch. Sounds like yours has other issues. I have no idea what a locksmith would charge, but I bet a service call and new parts will be more than you paid for the safe. Looks like you get a new safe for Christmas. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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As it is an RSC I assume it has a real safe lock installed. S&G has a document with instructions to do diagnostics and things to try in case of an issue. You can follow through this before you get external help. https://sargentandgreenleaf.com/knowledgebase/knowledgebase-2018-01-25-mechanical-safe-lock-guide/ |
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Here's what I did when my safe started being difficult to open. - Take a rubber mallet (or the heel of your hand) and hit just above the dial every time you get to a number on combination. That worked for a while. - Then I had to start doing this. Do the above. Then when you get to the last number, rotate the dial right and left several times to see if it releases. |
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!
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Yes! I dunno how I did it, but it unlocked, finally! I did my daily "try it a couple times" nothing. I was debating on cleaning it off so I could wrestle it out of its nook. But it's damn cold down in the basement, and the whole thing just has me depressed when I think about either paying a shit ton to have it opened for me, or give it a try myself. And, the whole surely it can open one more time for me, right?!. I half assed the combo one last time and click!  So yeah, safe is open, and will be staying open! I haven't decided to see about having the lock serviced/replaced, or just start shopping for a new one. TBH honest, I need a larger one anyway, half my stuff is in a basic cabinet next to the safe already (Keys of which were in the safe, of course) |
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Glad you got it open! Practice to see if it will lock / unlock with door open? I had one of those older ones and it was actually pretty thick metal unlike new ones. |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
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