 KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | Need help with an old safe So my wife and I moved this year and the new house has an old safe in the basement. 1st owner of the house built the house and put in the safe in 1997. In 2003 the bank foreclosed on the house and it sat empty for awhile. We don't know if they moved away, fell on hard times or just plain died. 2nd owner bought the house in 2005 and sold it to us in 2012. The 2nd owner told us they don't know the combination and they have never had it open. They always wanted to open in and see if something is inside but just didn't get around to it. The safe is built into the wall under the basement stairs and it's face is surrounded by a cheap bookshelf in a basement storage room.
On the wall behind the shelf that is just above the safe and centered directly over it is a string of numbers written in pencil on the OSB. I can tell from the way the OSB is installed the original framers of the house did not install it, the 1st homeowner did.
I really believe that is the combination to the safe, but it's written in a obfuscated way. Makes sense if you wanted to write the combo down you would hide it on the wall behind books and then write it in a way that would be hard to decode, but easy enough to remember. This safe only goes up to 100, so a valid number is between 1-100. Also this safe only has 3 wheels, so there are only 3 numbers in the combination. There technically is a 4th number that you hit when the safe opens, but you don't have to remember it as the dial stops on the 4th number. From my research I have learned the manufacturer would have just listed the safe combination as three numbers (10-20-30) and never put down that 4th number. I mention that because it's possible the homeowner wrote down that 4th number, and it looks like the -38 at the end was added at a later date. I have tried every way I can think of to decode this and after trying dozens of combinations I still can't get it. I'm hoping some group brainpower here might help come up with something I haven't thought of. Looking at that combination what does everyone think the real combination might be? Oh and I'm not worried that the internet finds out the combination to my safe, once I get it open and confirm whats inside we will be selling it. I would rather have a modern fire safe as I'm more concerned about fire than I am about burglars. |
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 alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | What do you mean that the safe has 3 wheels?
Are you saying there are 3 different discs that can be set to different numbers? |
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 VioletVenomLets go GatorsPremium
join:2002-01-02
Gainesville, FL | reply to Ken
Does a correct combination get a "finder's fee" if riches are stashed within?  |
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BobAccount deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey | reply to Ken
Are you sure you're making the proper number of revolutions in each direction when trying potential combinations?
Once (if) you get it open, you might find another locked compartment inside! |
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| reply to Ken
locksmith? |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to Ken
Revolutions usually are as follow
Start spinning several times starting left OR right and stop at the first number.
Then spin in the opposite direction, stopping over the 2nd number after you passed it 4 times.
Opposite direction, stop at the 3rd time you pass the 3rd number.
Opposite direction, stop at the 2nd time you pass 4th number.
Opposite direction until the disc locks (Should be no more than 1/2 turn).
Open
Now which one is 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th could be several possibility based on the fact that the first digit written is 315.
I bet that the "3" in 315 is a hint and not part of the combination.
3 could mean:
3rd set of numbers is fake: 15 - 16 -38 (So you have a 3 number set, follow the directives above, but start at 3 revolutions instead of 4).
Start at 3rd set of numbers: 89-38-15-16
3rd set of numbers is first: 89-15-16-38
Spin 3 times over 16: 15-16-89-38 but you do 3 revolutions instead of 4, and you finish with 1 revolution instead of 2.
Or you can find a safe cracker in the yellowpages. At the same time you can have him select your own combination |
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 mattmagPremium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
kudos:3 | reply to Ken
From what I could guess, I would try:
LEFT 3 Times around to 15
RIGHT past 15 to 16
LEFT to 89
Alternately, try RIGHT first, but most old ones I've cracked opened start left. |
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KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | reply to Ken
said by alkizmo:What do you mean that the safe has 3 wheels?
Are you saying there are 3 different discs that can be set to different numbers?
It has 3 discs as opposed to a 4 disc lock. So the combination is going to be 3 numbers and not 4 numbers. But someone could write it down as 4 numbers as there technically is a 4th number. But there is no way to go past the 4th number so it doesn't need to be written down or remembered.
said by VioletVenom:Does a correct combination get a "finder's fee" if riches are stashed within?
I fully expect it to be empty.
said by Bob:Are you sure you're making the proper number of revolutions in each direction when trying potential combinations?
Once (if) you get it open, you might find another locked compartment inside!
I looked the safe up quite a bit and the correct combination is 4L - 3R - 2L - 1R
If there is a door with a keyhole I'm sure I will be able to pick it, they don't look to be very complicated locks. |
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mattmagPremium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
kudos:3 |
And who knows, really. The three could mean "Add 3 to each number" or "take away 3"........ oh my..
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 ROCINANTEOriginal Member 007Premium
join:1999-06-29
Hartsdale, NY | reply to Ken
That is not a safe combination. Those set of numbers represent the GPS position of where the Mayan armageddon will begin.
--
CRUNCH THIS! |
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BobAccount deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey Reviews:
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to mattmag
said by mattmag:The three could mean "Add 3 to each number" or "take away 3". That would be my guess.
Probably easier to hire a safe expert (not a locksmith). |
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BobAccount deleted
join:2012-07-22
New Jersey Reviews:
·Optimum Online
| reply to Ken
By manipulating the lock, can you determine what the last number is? The locks we use at work have a noticeable indent (for lack of a better word) at the last number. Maybe that would give you a clue to decoding the numbers on the wall.
Without knowing one of the numbers in the actual combination, you're unlikely to decode the written combination. |
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KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | reply to Bob
I actually already tried +3 and -3 and then +5 and -5 to each number and just to the first number. I also took 31 16 89 and 15 16 89 and tried them in all possible positions. I really don't want to call someone in, as that takes all the fun out of it. If I get totally sick of this that will be my Plan B. Also I just finished trying all the numbers everyone has posted so far. |
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 PacratOld and CrankyPremium,MVM
join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH | reply to Ken
9-7-17-11 |
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KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | reply to Bob
said by Bob:By manipulating the lock, can you determine what the last number is? The locks we use at work have a noticeable indent (for lack of a better word) at the last number. Maybe that would give you a clue to decoding the numbers on the wall.
Without knowing one of the numbers in the actual combination, you're unlikely to decode the written combination.
I have tried manipulating the lock as well. I can tell that the 3rd disc is higher than the other 2, but I can't discern a clear number from that disc. Each time I go around I write down all the numbers that stand out, and after 20 times around I don't have a clear leader. Part of the problem is this lock is a bit rough and I feel to many things going around. |
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| reply to Ken
Try to see if you can find the sticking points. For an old safe that should be fairly easy. With a bit of luck you can determine the combo in under 1 minute. Look for how combination locks work inside if it's not clear what I mean... |
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 DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC
·Suddenlink
| reply to Ken
Dean Safe has a video,
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEYjgOFKR1U
and a website where he offers advice.
»www.deansafe.com/adfrsaex.html |
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KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | reply to cowboyro
I know what you are saying. However each time around the dial I find 10-20 sticking points, I think the mechanism is just really old and keeps sticking. It's hard to find a bump when the dial is bumping every 5 or 10 numbers for another reason. I sprayed some PB Blaster around the dial yesterday based on a recommendation I read and it did help some, but not enough. |
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KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | reply to DataDoc
said by DataDoc:Dean Safe has a video,
That video is exactly how I have been doing it. |
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 mityfowlPremium
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX | reply to Ken
I wish my dad was younger. He's 90 now . He could do these safes until about 60. It's a hearing thing. Actually he said he felt it.
I've always liked these stories. |
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