AboutTerry Andreasen (Andy) Expertise Safe and Vault related Questions;
Antique Safe Repair and Restoration;
With over 37 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer.
Current Project: Restoration of three, 36 ton steel vault doors and drop floors, in the old Federal Reserve Building, San Francisco.
Experience 37 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
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
Awards and Honors Retired US Army, with many decorations and awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Op Iraqi Freedom.
Past/Present Clients Secret Service, FBI, Dept. of Homeland Defense, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Lawerence Livermore National Lab, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, various local banks, credit unions, state agencies, Jewelers, and many commercial and residential customers.
Service Area is Northern California (Fresno to Oregon and Western Nevada)
Question Andy,
I have inherited an older safe from my Mother who passed away in September. This is a small safe about 2.5ft Sq. I do not have any idea where the combination is located. The Model number is just a 2, the serial number is 76-78773. How do I find out the combination or do I need to have it broken into?
Thanks for your help.
Rod Hollen
Answer Rod,
You have a couple of choices, first the least expensive method would be to check to see if the safe is still on the original factory combination. I will need to have an email address to send you the combination request form. This is not a guarantee as the combo may have been changed several times, but if it is still on the original combo it will be your best value.
The second method would be to have a professional safe technician open and repair the safe. Cost should be $350-$500, and should take about 2 hours to open and repair the safe. Note: Locksmiths are not usually trained to open safes and as such may cause unrepairable damage to the safe, and charge you fees that border on the ridiculous. Check your yellow pages under safes & vaults for a company in your area. If necessary call me and I'll see who I can refer in your area.
Be advised that you will need to have a letter of authorization from the executor of the estate in either case to obtain the combo or have the safe opened.
