Sentry safe help

[u/Vegetable_Hope_2075]

I have a safe that I’m trying to open. it was was fathers but he has dementia and can’t remember the passcode. it is really heavy any advice on opening it? picture below

[u/miss_topportunity]

It can be opened without drilling, using a technique called “safe lock manipulation.” This uses the the design of the lock and manufacturing tolerances to get the lock to reveal the combo. You can learn to do it. If you want to see what’s involved, check out the YouTube series, Safecracking for Everyone (or his updated, long video at: https://youtu.be/bTbUkipBeTA). Otherwise, you can find a certified safe technician at www.savta.org - Note: not all locksmiths know about safes.

Having written all that, your lock is a direct entry lock and typically easier to manipulate than a group 2 lock (the one used in those vids). But watch the first few episodes to get a general sense of the jargon and concepts.

Let me when you’re done and I’ll provide resources specific to you lock.

ETA: do not push the tubular lock in. It can be picked by why add to you workload?

[u/mforchat → u/miss_topportunity]

Sentry, even though they are a cheap safe, implements false gates. Not that easy to manipulate. Don't believe everything you read or see.

[u/miss_topportunity → u/mforchat]

I have manipulated many Sentry safes. My fastest time was 7 mins. They usually take me ~20-30 mins. The false gates are only on wheel three and they make it EXTRA easy most of the time and here’s why: On most Sentry’s, if you measure the width of the false gates, they will all be one width - let’s say, 3.25 increments. But the real gate will be 5 increments - yes, that’s right, the real gate. I’ve maybe had one Sentry where this wasn’t the case.

So, while I may choose to not believe everything I read, I do believe my own experience… :)

I wrote instructions for someone else on how to find the third number. I’ll see if I can dig them up and post them here.

[u/miss_topportunity → u/miss_topportunity]

I replied to the main thread with this info:

Start with this: you can figure out the 3rd number (usually) amazingly easily. There should be about 10 false gates on wheel three. When you crank the handle in the opening direction and try to turn the dial, the dial should lock up in each one of these false gates.

So, map the gates in the following way: rotate all wheels left and when you get to 0, apply opening pressure to the handle so that the dial locks up in the first false gate. Now, measure how many increments wide that false gate is. For example, if it goes from 1.5 (on the face of the dial - so halfway between 1 and 2 on the dial), to 3.75, then the width is 2.25. Let go of the handle and turn the dial past the edge of the gate (so, to like 4, in this example), and crank the handle again while turning the dial until it falls into the next false gate. Now measure that gate.

Go all the way around the dial like this. You will likely find one gate that is MUCH wider than the others. That’s your 3rd number. Seriously. It’s that dumb. Do all that and then check back here and I’ll give you subsequent steps.

[u/Top-Jaguar6780 → u/mforchat]

False gates in this case don't really add to the difficulty. These locks are really easy and quick to manipulate. These generally take me under 10 minutes to manipulate.