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Antique Safes/Safe with poison in doors and walls?

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Expert: - 10/15/2009


Question
I have a contact that says they have a safe that has a poison that was put in the door and side walls as a safety precaution during manufacture. I just want to know if you have ever heard of such and if there is a way to get into this type of safe not knowing the combination. The man passed and did not leave the combination with anyone and his family wishes to get into the safe to retrieve the estate items for the settling of the estate

Answer
Gary,

This falls into the region of urban myths and legends!  Manufactures with the exception of using "asbestos" as an insulation, which is neither a poison or a health hazard, any more than lead in paint, but both have been "demonized" by "eco-nazis" that don't understand personal responsibility, but manufactures have never used "poison's" in the manufacturing of safes to deter criminals.

A couple of manufactures have used a tar like substance that would emit volumns of smoke it the criminal attempted to open it with a torch, but these are few and far between and not poisons.  

There were also some aftermarket add on tear gas protectors, such as the badger tear gas protectors, which would emit a tear gas / coughing agent that would induce the burglar to go elsewhere, but again these were not poisons.

You neglected to give me any information about the safe in question so I cannot address that manufacture in particular.  And you didn't elaborate on where your friend got his information.  It may simply have been a previous owner attempting to deter criminals by placing a placard on his safe stating that the safe was fitted with a poison.
In fact the previous owner may have "booby trapped" the safe with something that would act in this manner to stop a criminal.  If this is the case, that owner may have been in violation of several state laws, as most states have laws against booby trapping - anything.

Hope this helps.

Andy

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Terry V Andreasen (Andy)

Expertise

Safe and Vault related Questions; Antique Safe Repair and Restoration; With over 40 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer. Current Project: Restoration of two Tilton & McFarland Safes from the 1860's. Will answer Safe & Vault related questions concerning age, value, restoration, moving, opening & repairing, parts, operation and history. Note: It is not my intention to teach you to open safes or to provide information which may aid in the unlawful opening of a safe. I will not give out drill points or information which I deem inappropriate.

Experience

40 years in the Safe & Vault Industry. Service Manager for one of the largest Safe & Vault companies on the West Coast. Graduate of Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing, Safe lock Manipulation and Safe Deposit Lock Courses. Graduate of Locksmith Institute. Certified Instructor for the California Locksmith Association teaching Basic and Advanced Lock Servicing, Basic Safe opening and Repairing. Factory Trained by AMSEC, LORD Safes, LeFebure, Mosler, KabaMas, LaGard and Sargent & Greenleaf

Organizations
Safecrackers International and the National Antique Safe Association

Education/Credentials
Graduate of Locksmith Institute 1972 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing 1974 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Manipulation 1975 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Deposit Lock Servicing 1985 Instructor Certified - California Locksmith Association - 1985 Factory trained by AMSEC, MAJOR, STAR, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-MAS, Allied-Gary, ISM, Lord, Brown Safe, EXL, Mosler, Diebold.

Awards and Honors
2009, 2010 & 2011 Listed in AllExperts top 50 Experts. All Experts Categories - Safes & Security Containers, Locksmithing, Antique Safes. Retired US Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), with 32 years of total service. With numerous awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. US Navy - 1971-1981 US Army Reserve 1984-2006 US Army Retired Reserve 2006-present

Past/Present Clients
US Secret Service, FBI, BATF, Local Law enforcment agencies, Diebold, Hamilton Pacific, Red Hawk Int., Chubb International, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Mechanics Bank, El Dorado Savings Bank, many Credit unions and smaller banks. McDonalds, Togos, BurgerKing, TacoBell, Carls Jr. FoodMaxx, SaveMart, Lucky's, Albertson's, Raley's, Safeway, NobHill, Bell Markets, PW Markets. Great America, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, UA Cinemas, and many homeowners and small businesses. Provide warranty service for lock and safe manufactures. Service area is Northern California - Fresno to Oregon, including western Nevada

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