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 QUESTION: Hi Andy
I have a victor safe which is locked and I don't have the combination.There is a number on the dial 803432 .There is also a marking Victor Safe Cabinet Co. Marietta Ohio -1904.Do you have any ideas on how to open this safe.
Thank You
Bill
ANSWER: Bill,
Unfortunately the serial number doesn't help. All of the factory records disappeared when the company went out of business.
Yes, I do have ideas on opening the safe, unfortunately all of them require a safe technician. I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but if you want to keep and use the safe it is your best bet.
Check in the yellow pages under "safes & vaults" for a trained safe technician. Most locksmiths are not trained and will cause more damage than is necessary, which may result in larger fees and repairs.
If you have any questions concerning the methods the safe company will use, the prices charged or if you need a referral let me know.
Estimate cost of opening the safe: $350 to $500
Andy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Andy
Can this safe be opened from the inside?I remember a few years ago the safe at our work wouldn't open and if I remember correctly the locksmith drilled a hole in the side of the safe and passed a rigid wire through the hole and it opened from the inside.Would the outside handle be connected to a handle on the inside which could be turned?I live in a small town and the closest locksmith is 500 miles away and the safe is very heavy to move.Thank You for your time and response to my questions.
Bill
Answer Bill,
There is no handle on the inside of the safe. Probably what the locksmith did was to use the wire as a probe to decode the lock. It's not the way I would have done it, but it obviously worked for him.
Your safe probably weighs in the neighborhood of 350-500 lbs which is heavy (I'm used to dealing with safes that weigh up to 10,000 lbs.) But your alternatives would be to have the safe man come to you or for you to go to the safe man. A third alternative would be to ship the safe to me. You would have to palletize it and shipping would probably cost $175-$200 each way.
