A common call I receive is that someone has inherited a dial safe, along with the combination written on a piece of paper, but the safe isn't opening. Below are instructions for opening common dial safes.
Before you begin! There are some things you should keep in mind.
- Work slowly. The safe may not be in good condition and turning the dial quickly may cause a failure.
- The dial may have more than one "point" to line the numbers up to. Use the point at the 12 o'clock position.
- If you make a mistake, you will need to start over. Going a little too far while turning means you must start over from the beginning.
- Dial safes can be unforgiving. You must get the numbers exactly right.
Sentry Safes (and many gun safes):
Example Combination 25-50-75
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial clockwise (right) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning clockwise (right) to 25.
3. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 50, then continue turning it counter-clockwise (left) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 75.
5. Open with the handle
(If there is no handle you will need to turn the dial counter-clockwise after step 4 until the dial stops turning in order to unlock the safe)
These instructions work for most Sentry safes but I have seen instructions that REVERSE all of the directions above. If the above instructions don't work, try that. If that doesn't work, see the section below titled "None of this is working!"
Example Combination 25-50-75
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial clockwise (right) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning clockwise (right) to 25.
3. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 50, then continue turning it counter-clockwise (left) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 75.
5. Open with the handle
(If there is no handle you will need to turn the dial counter-clockwise after step 4 until the dial stops turning in order to unlock the safe)
These instructions work for most Sentry safes but I have seen instructions that REVERSE all of the directions above. If the above instructions don't work, try that. If that doesn't work, see the section below titled "None of this is working!"
Antique Safes, 3 numbers in combination:
Example combination 25-50-75
Generally, if the hinge is on the right side you will use these instructions:
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial clockwise (right) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning clockwise (right) to 25.
3. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 50, then continue turning it counter-clockwise (left) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 75.
5. (This step is not needed on some safes) Turn the dial counter-clockwise until it stops turning (you may need to turn it with a bit of force here).
6. Open with the handle
Generally, if the hinge is on the left side you will use these instructions:
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning counter-clockwise (left) to 25.
3. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 50, then continue turning it clockwise (right) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 75.
5. (This step is not needed on some safes) Turn the dial clockwise until it stops turning (you may need to have to turn it with a bit of force here).
6. Open with the handle
Example combination 25-50-75
Generally, if the hinge is on the right side you will use these instructions:
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial clockwise (right) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning clockwise (right) to 25.
3. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 50, then continue turning it counter-clockwise (left) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 75.
5. (This step is not needed on some safes) Turn the dial counter-clockwise until it stops turning (you may need to turn it with a bit of force here).
6. Open with the handle
Generally, if the hinge is on the left side you will use these instructions:
Starting at 0 (100).
1. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) 3 full rotations.
2. Continue turning counter-clockwise (left) to 25.
3. Turn the dial clockwise (right) to 50, then continue turning it clockwise (right) to 50 again.
4. Turn the dial counter-clockwise (left) to 75.
5. (This step is not needed on some safes) Turn the dial clockwise until it stops turning (you may need to have to turn it with a bit of force here).
6. Open with the handle
None of this is working!
You've tried everything above many times very carefully and you just aren't getting anywhere. There are a few tricks you can try that may help (but no guarantees!)
You've tried everything above many times very carefully and you just aren't getting anywhere. There are a few tricks you can try that may help (but no guarantees!)
- Make sure you tried reversing whichever instructions you used (Right instead of left, Left instead of right).
- sometimes the numbers drift on a safe. If your combination were 25-50-75, you would want to try these each of these two combinations. Note: Half means halfway between the two numbers, so 25 and a half is halfway between 25 and 26. Try: 25 AND A HALF, 49 AND A HALF, 75 AND A HALF. Next try 24 AND A HALF, 50 AND A HALF, 74 AND A HALF. You should also try moving a full number. 25-50-75 becomes 24-51-74 or 26-49-76
- Dial in the first two numbers, then slowly try different 3rd numbers. If the combination is 25-50-75 try dialing in 25 and 50 and then, as you approach within about 5 numbers of 75, stop at each number and try the handle (or try turning it in the opposite direction for about 20 numbers to see if it stops turning). If not, turn to the next number in the sequence.
- On rare occasions people will write the combinations out backwards, so 25-50-75 may be actually 75-50-25.
- Jiggling. Jiggling the dial or the handle a bit might work if everything is VERY close to lining up, but not quite there.
Written by Sandy Eisele 2021