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Posted: 4/29/2025 6:50:40 PM EDT
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Got the two large safes in the house.... I'd like to get the combo's reset to something only me and the missus knows, and also the same combo for both. Easy to DIY? Or hire a locksmith? |
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I have 3 safes and I had a locksmith set the combos. I purchased them over a period of years. When I acquired the second safe I had its combo set to be two digits greater for each number of the first combo. When I acquired the third safe I had its combo set to be two digits greater for each number of the second safe. Now if I can remember the first safes' combo, I have all three. |
| Lock sets are not that hard to replace yourself. I like electronic locks, but don’t trust them, (have seen too many fail), so I like the Securam Safelogic Xtreme. It is electronic with a mechanical backup. Not cheap, but cheaper than having a locksmith drill it out someday… |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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Originally Posted By tucansam: Got the two large safes in the house.... I'd like to get the combo's reset to something only me and the missus knows, and also the same combo for both. Easy to DIY? Or hire a locksmith? if the locks are a Sargent & Greenleaf model 6730 you will need a "change tool" for that particular lock. Same goes if you have a LaGard 3300 series lock... you will need a LaGard change tool. Those are the 2 most common mechanical locks found on 'decent' gun safes, and both are changed by the same method, but they DO NOT both use the same change tool, each has it's own design. Both resemble an allen wrench. Changing the combo isn't rocket surgery, but you can get in trouble if you don't follow instructions precisely. And always test it numerous times with the door open. There are videos on Youtube that show how it's done. First step is remove inside door panel exposing the back of the lock and the bolt works. There is a second index line on the dial ring, 8 numbers to the left of the opening index at 12 o'clock. That line is used when changing combos instead of the opening index. The procedure is to dial the existing combination to the change index line, using exactly the same sequence used when you dial it to open the lock, but leave it on the 3rd number and do not make that last turn to the right as is done when opening the lock. There is hole on the backside of the lock body where the change tool gets inserted, it will only fit in one way, and then it's turned 90 degrees. This "unlocks" the tumblers, leaving them free for resetting to your new numbers. You now dial your new combination to the change index line just as you did with the existing combo, and again leave it on the 3rd number. Turn the change tool back the 90 degrees to it's original position and remove it. Your new combo should now be set into the tumblers. Now test it on the opening index at least 5 times. When picking your new numbers, keep in mind that the 3rd number in your combo should never be above 90 nor below 20. A combo number in that 30 number range, called "the forbdden zone", will cause jamming issues in the lock. FWIW... I'm a professional locksmith with 39 years experience. As an example of cost... I'm in a rural area of northern WI, and I charge $50 for a combo change on a typical gun safe mechanical lock, plus a service call charge - which depends on distance I must drive to get to your safe. Minimum is $75 for the service call charge, so my minimum charge would be $125. Your area may have higher rates, not many will be lower. |
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Originally Posted By tac556: Lock sets are not that hard to replace yourself. I like electronic locks, but don’t trust them, (have seen too many fail), so I like the Securam Safelogic Xtreme. It is electronic with a mechanical backup. Not cheap, but cheaper than having a locksmith drill it out someday… I had one of those and thought i was safe with the mechanical back up, didnt work out that way, ended up having to be drilled. |
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