Question about safes

[Rye Miles #13621]

I have a friend who’s been having health problems, he doesn’t shoot anymore because of it. He has several firearms in a safe that he would like to sell. He lost the combination and doesn’t have the receipt where he purchased it. 

 

The question is will he have to show proof of purchase to call the safe company to get the combination? 

Edited May 3 by Rye Miles #13621

[Blackwater 53393]

I didn’t, but mine was registered at the time of purchase and when I forgot one of the numbers in the sequence, I contacted the manufacturer and when they verified my record they got me straightened out!

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 minute ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

I didn’t, but mine was registered at the time of purchase and when I forgot one of the numbers in the sequence, I contacted the manufacturer and when they verified my record they got me straightened out!

Thanks I figured he’d have to produce some kind of proof that it’s actually his! 

[Yul Lose]

I forgot the combination on mine a few years ago and when the locksmith showed up all he asked for was my drivers license to prove I lived there.

Edited May 3 by Yul Lose

[Blackwater 53393]

10 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Thanks I figured he’d have to produce some kind of proof that it’s actually his! 

He may have to. If he remembers who he bought it from and they can verify that, he or the seller can contact the manufacturer.  
 

He WILL need the serial number and may have to provide a photograph of the safe.

 

In one case that I recall, the manufacturer required that the owner provide written proof from local law enforcement that the safe belonged to the owner and that he was entitled to access.

[Springfield Slim SASS #24733]

Calling the manufacturer wouldn't work for me as I have re-set all the combo's, don't want to give anyone the ability to call and get my combo's. Put the combo's and instructions on a card and then put it somewhere safe, but not locked up. Told my wife and son where it is. My brother forgot his once and it was expensive to get it opened up again, and kept him from shooting matches for more than a few months, he kept thinking he would remember the combination.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

That would be as bad as expecting to remember passwords.  I'd have to write the combination down and put it somewhere "safe."  Then, I know for a fact I'd forget where I put it.  Nope, write it down and give it to my sweetheart for safe keeping.  I have the memory of a gnat.

[Rye Miles #13621]

40 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

That would be as bad as expecting to remember passwords.  I'd have to write the combination down and put it somewhere "safe."  Then, I know for a fact I'd forget where I put it.  Nope, write it down and give it to my sweetheart for safe keeping.  I have the memory of a gnat.

I know exactly where I have the combination written down but I go into my safe so often I know the combination no problem. I did give the numbers to both of my sons as well.

[Cypress Sun]

Keep the combination as part of, or all of a phone number. Easily accessed but known only to you. 

[Eyesa Horg]

Mine just happens to be the same as the serial number on my two foot level minus the zeros! And those 3 digits just happen be the same as an Interstate we used to travel a lot. I like the phone number method. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

What type of lock is it? 🤔

[John Kloehr]

How valuable is the safe?

 

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

I have the combo documented elsewhere. BUT, over time, the LG lock has "adjusted" and I have to go one number over for each number in the combination for it to work.

 

The manufacturer gave me instructions to reset the lock a few years ago but I have not gotten around to do it .

 

I have also set my other safe to the same combo as well as my truck keyless entry and my Windows login. That helps me to remember it.

[Sheriff Dill]

I have mine written down but it also has a fail safe of the batteries die I can remove the number panel and use the key 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Depending on the safe, you may be able to go online, print the original owners manual and get manufacturers master code to open it. I was able to do that on one I picked up that the owner did not know the combo.

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

What type of lock is it? 🤔

If you’re asking about my OP question, his safe has a keypad.

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

3 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

I have mine written down but it also has a fail safe of the batteries die I can remove the number panel and use the key 

This is the way mine is also.

Horace

[John Kloehr]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

If you’re asking about my OP question, his safe has a keypad.

My safe with a keypad and has a lock cylinder under the keypad. For the key which is hopefully not locked in the safe.

[Rye Miles #13621]

18 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

My safe with a keypad and has a lock cylinder under the keypad. For the key which is hopefully not locked in the safe.

I wonder if my friend has this or even knows about it. I’ll tell him. He may not have the key or even know where it is.🙄

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

50 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I wonder if my friend has this or even knows about it. I’ll tell him. He may not have the key or even know where it is.🙄

Take a couple pictures of the lock, and call a locksmit.

Easier to get inside a push button than a dial type.

[watab kid]

stack of dynamize ? - just kidding i know that wont work , just make a big mess to clean up , i wish luck in finding the fix

[Buckshot Bear]

10 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

Depending on the safe, you may be able to go online, print the original owners manual and get manufacturers master code to open it. I was able to do that on one I picked up that the owner did not know the combo.

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

[Rye Miles #13621]

4 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

My question also ^^^^^^

[Eyesa Horg]

5 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

Or just removing the keypad and drilling the key lock.

[Rye Miles #13621]

5 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

 

39 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

My question also ^^^^^^

Well the safe is in his house, so if he can verify the sale and delivery he should be okay. He bought it at a wholesale club here, BJ’s Wholesale Club. He swears he has the combination written down somewhere and he’s looking. He’s got a lot of health problems so it’s really slowing him down. 
Thanks for all the suggestions, I’ve passed them on to him. 

[Texas Joker]

You could always see if the lockpicking lawyer on YouTube has defeated the lock.

[Boggus Deal #64218]

6 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

I thought the same thing…

[John Kloehr]

17 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

Depending on the safe, you may be able to go online, print the original owners manual and get manufacturers master code to open it. I was able to do that on one I picked up that the owner did not know the combo.

 

7 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What stops a bad actor from doing that?

 

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

My question also ^^^^^^

 

21 minutes ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

I thought the same thing…

 

Nothing stops anyone from doing so. And while we all call them "safes," they are in a class called RSCs (Residential Security Cabinets). Not really intended to stop entry, the main purpose is to increase the odds of physical evidence showing forced entry. And in some few cases, all of a product line shipped with the same combination (in the manual). Many people never change the default.

 

Also some safes have a master override code; must have proof of ownership to get this from the manufacturer. There was a recent court case where a manufacturer handed a code over to LE without a warrant. Caused some concern in the community.

 

I had a keypad failure on my safe a while back. Even though out of warranty, the manufacturer would not even sell me the parts until I provided proof of ownership. I did have the key so did not have to pay for a duplicate of it from the safe company, it is available.

[Blackwater 53393]

Having dealt with electronic keypad safes that we used in tour buses back when I worked for one of the biggest entertainment transportation companies, I opted for a mechanical lock on my gun safe.

 

 had to cut the hinges and doors off of too many of them when the keypad failed and the client lost the backup keys!

[Boggus Deal #64218]

3 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Having dealt with electronic keypad safes that we used in tour buses back when I worked for one of the biggest entertainment transportation companies, I opted for a mechanical lock on my gun safe.

 

 had to cut the hinges and doors off of too many of them when the keypad failed and the client lost the backup keys!

I know of two shooters in Albuquerque who had to have their safes destroyed to get them open because the pads went bad. 

[Big Gus, SASS# 66666]

I write mine on the safe in Roman numerals backwards with a couple of odd characters. It would be a very learned thief that could read it. 

[Utah Bob #35998]

It’s in his own house. Just show the locksmith identification. No problem

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

Theres a locksmith on YouTube who's specialty is opening safes. For a key pad, he checks the battereis. If they're good. he takes  the  pad off. Connects an electronic thing that starts running number combos. Takes about 10 minutes. He puts the keypad back and then opens the safe.

If its a spin dial he drills a hole and moves the tumblers into alignment.

 

$$$$$

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

On 5/3/2026 at 7:52 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I have a friend who’s been having health problems, he doesn’t shoot anymore because of it. He has several firearms in a safe that he would like to sell. He lost the combination and doesn’t have the receipt where he purchased it. 

 

The question is will he have to show proof of purchase to call the safe company to get the combination? 

Any updates? 🤔

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 minute ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Any updates? 🤔

He’s still looking for the combination that he wrote down but he’s about ready to call a locksmith.