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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Victoria B.C.
    Posts
    38
    Country: Canada

    Default Help to open unknown chest

    Hi all, just wondering if anyone can identify the make of this box.
    We need to open it and fit a key.
    If you know what make it is can you provide a drill point or info
    on how to pick it open, # of levers, etc?
    The cover that slides over the keyhole is missing...only
    the fixed part of it is still there...shown unscrewed from it's location.
    There's a bit of gold paint coming through the brown on the door
    but no other indication of a makers name or symbol.
    I've included a few pics showing the few unique features of it.
    the dimensions are 28" going parallel with the hinges and 22" both others
    ways.

    Thanks for any help you may provide.

    Tom
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_20180412_133025.jpg   IMG_20180412_133046.jpg   IMG_20180412_133057.jpg   IMG_20180412_133148.jpg   IMG_20180412_133210.jpg  

    IMG_20180412_133233.jpg  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default

    There were boxes like that made by lots of manufacturers. I doubt if it will be possible to identify it simply from external photographs.

    The locks are relatively unsophisticated. A good locksmith should be able to pick it open for you and make a new key.

    I would feel uncomfortable discussing drilling points on a public forum.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Victoria B.C.
    Posts
    38
    Country: Canada

    Default

    thanks for your input.

    The customer that brought it into our lock shop couldn't tell us much about it
    but we think it's empty.

    Would anyone care to guess which way the key turns to unlock or
    how many levers there are or where to get a good pick for this type of lock.

    thanks
    Tom

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    266
    Country: Germany

    Default

    Probably there is no pick available for this lock and everything has to be found out by examination of the lock to make the pick yourself.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default

    I would suspect that it would turn clockwise to unlock.

    You will probably need to kae your own pick as has been stated above.

    I am considered a Phillistine on the forum, with good reason. If I were trying to open it the first thing I would do would be put a good blast of air through the lock. With no escutcheon and the keyhole being on the top there will be many years of dust at least inside the lock plus possibly all sorts of other detritus. I would follow that up with a second blast of some decent freeing and lubricating spray. Next thing, drop it a couple of times on the hinged side. There is always a chance that it isn't locked, just stuck, and that might free it.

    If that fails, find all the pipe blank keys you have got, and try them all. It isn't going to be anything sophisticated, so there is a chance that you have a key which will do the job.

    If that fails, well you are going to have to either pick it, or drill it. Do you have a scope?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default

    In my earlier post, for kae read make.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Victoria B.C.
    Posts
    38
    Country: Canada

    Default

    Chubby,

    I did as you suggested with the comp air and lube.
    The door hinges out 1 or 2 mm but then there is a solid stop so
    I'm pretty sure it's locked.
    I used the largest dia blank and made the hole bigger and trimmed the blade length so it will go in & turn.
    But it only turns not quite 1/4 turn either way and stops dead.
    I suppose it may have wards stopping the blank from turning.
    I feel no spring resistance from any of the levers....assuming it has levers.
    So, I haven't got very far with it.

    Yes, I'll try to get a right angle scope in there and have a look.

    We've had a couple of these types of safes come into the shop
    and they both had fairly sophisticated lever locks with 6 to 8 levers so
    if I make up a pick it may be hard to pick. We had to drill them and
    one door ended up looking like Swiss cheese.
    I'd like to avoid that if possible.

    Thanks for your comments.
    Tom

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default

    See your PMs

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    new york / NYC area
    Posts
    94
    Country: United States

    Default Chest

    This looks a lot like a George Price chest. With out scoping the key hole I can't ID what lock . Hope this helps Tim

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