Problem with one of my gun safes.

[Dog&Jeep]

One of my gun safes is a little Sentry 16 gun with a dial combination. A while back I went to open it, dialed in the combo, and cranked the latch a partial turn when everything seized up. The latch lever won't open or close. The combo dial won't turn in either direction. There's a lot of guns inside I can't get to.

I know I could solve this issue with an angle grinder and a prybar, but I would rather not do that.

I've tried, very gently, using a rubber mallet around the door to jar whatever's jammed into letting loose. This didn't help.

I've watched various UTube videos, and from those I get the sense that gravity plays a role in how the combination/tumbler mechanism works. This makes me wonder if inverting the safe (Again, very gently. There one hell of a lot of investments inside.) might let me get things freed up.

Obviously, once I get it open all guns are getting removed until after I've had a Locksmith make sure the lock mechanisms properly fixed. Failing that, I'll get a new safe.

Has anyone else had this sort of thing happen? If so, how did you resolve it.
Thanks

 

[Rocketvapor]

Could you have triggered a "relocker"?

 

[Im2bent]

Jump to 2:30. I would do this. If you flip the safe upside down won't your shit inside get mangled?

 

[Aftermath]

I'd just take a grinder to it rather than have all of that "one hell of a lot of investments inside" get jumbled around.

Have you contacted the manufacturer? What about a locksmith? State prison?

 

[reelserious]

Ask a lock smith first before doing anything

 

[MCHOG]

Does the combination dial spin freely, or is it still in the unlocked state it is in when the door is fully open?

I'm guessing that the dial does not spin freely since the locking lever is in a half-locked position. If that is the case, then it has nothing to do with the "tumblers" a/k/a wheel pack. It would then involve the linkage connecting the lever and the locking lugs. It could be a relocker. But what you are describing doesn't cleanly fit a relocker scenario. Do not continue to try to force the locking lever. They are made to break away. Once it breaks off, you will be probably relegated to destroying the safe. Again, assuming the combination dial is in the unlocked state, I would suggest shaking the locking lever back and forth quickly and lightly. If that doesn't work, I would suggest a locksmith. Not Pop-A-Lock type locksmith. A real locksmith, preferably one that sells safes.

 

[jwSubMOA]

No help on getting it open, not exactly. Bet it is like my friend's safe recently. Same thing, had to get a lock smith and drill a hole. Wound up being the actual bracket that pushes and pulls the locking bolts. Real shitty weld and it finally broke. Five minutes to fix but a pain to open.

 

[Simonsza1]

Ask a lock smith first before doing anything

This!!!!! I had a safe malfunction and the safe company was going to send me a new one and sent me videos to cut it open. I called a reputable locksmith and he opened it in five minutes, repaired for just under $500 and the manufacturer had already shipped the new safe so I ended up with a new one also. Couldn’t believe how easily a real pro can get into a broken safe with zero damage. Call a locksmith!

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

Saw you were knee deep in enemy territory. No way I’d call a locksmith to rat me out.

I’d take an angle grinder to it and buy a much better safe moving forward.

This is not legal advice or even a suggestion. I’m not a lawyer and I don’t stay at Holiday Inn.

 

[Dog&Jeep]

Could you have triggered a "relocker"?

I don't know, but I doubtt it. I just went to open the safe the same as I have for a couple decades now.

 

[Dog&Jeep]

I'd just take a grinder to it rather than have all of that "one hell of a lot of investments inside" get jumbled around.

Have you contacted the manufacturer? What about a locksmith? State prison?

I know I may have to do that, but then I would need to figure out how to get rid of the carcass. I live in CA. If I show up at the dump or recyclers with a forcibly hacked safe, it will raise questions and unwanted scrutiny.

 

[Dog&Jeep]

View attachment 8539097

Saw you were knee deep in enemy territory. No way I’d call a locksmith to rat me out.

I’d take an angle grinder to it and buy a much better safe moving forward.

This is not legal advice or even a suggestion. I’m not a lawyer and I don’t stay at Holiday Inn.

You're not wrong. But there's nothing inside of it that shouldn't be.

A little over 10 years ago, I had to shoot a burgler. During the course of that night's events, the police reviewed the contents of the safe. when I offerred to open it for them. They were very respectful and appreciative. As far as they were concerned, everything was just as it should be.

 

[Aftermath]

I know I may have to do that, but then I would need to figure out how to get rid of the carcass. I live in CA. If I show up at the dump or recyclers with a forcibly hacked safe, it will raise questions and unwanted scrutiny.

No...I meant that I'd go ahead and cut it open in place rather than try to turn it upside down or throw it on its back but what I'd really be doing is contacting the maker of the safe, a locksmith or a safe cracker.

 

[m1match]

Ask a lock smith first before doing anything

Ditto on this. I had a Liberty Safe with S&G electronic lock and something in the lock mechanism broke and I couldn't get it open. I called a local safe company in San Diego and the tech had a book with precisely where to drill to get it open. Opened it in about 2 hours and replaced the lock mechanism. It cost about $700 for the fix and lock replacement but better than destroying the safe and/or damaging the contents.

 

[Downtown]

A locksmith should have no problem opening your safe. A good locksmith is usually able to open even a TL30 and a Sentry "safe" is very much less secure than that.

 

[cas6969]

A locksmith should have no problem opening your safe. A good locksmith is usually able to open even a TL30 and a Sentry "safe" is very much less secure than that.

I was about to post that a locksmith will probably cost more than buying a new Sentry.
(I guess I just did)

 

[davsco]

I know I may have to do that, but then I would need to figure out how to get rid of the carcass. I live in CA. If I show up at the dump or recyclers with a forcibly hacked safe, it will raise questions and unwanted scrutiny.

cut it up into smaller pieces. just put a piece in the trash every week. or if getting a replacement, have them haul away the old one.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Cut a big hole in the back.
Remove guns one at a time to make room to work on the lock from the back.
Maybe you can fix it.
Tack a piece of steel sheet over the hole.
It will still look like a Sentry from the front.

 

[Modoc]

I also vote for a good locksmith that deals with safes. Check your local gun club for a trusted one.

Is the Swiss Rifle Club still active? They would be a good point of reference.

 

[AccuSol-ERN]

Cut a big hole in the back.
Remove guns one at a time to make room to work on the lock from the back.
Maybe you can fix it.
Tack a piece of steel sheet over the hole.
It will still look like a Sentry from the front.

If you are a decent welder, you may be able to cut the entire back panel off at the edges with a thin blade and re-weld it back on.

Ern