# attn: safecrackers-locksmiths **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660 "2003-03-19T23:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@dp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dp)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/1 "2003-03-19T23:20:54Z")
i bought a house and a locked safe came with it. the man that i bought it from has forgotten the combination. probably not much of any value inside, but i would like to open it. nearest locksmith is too far away+ safe is heavy+dont want to spend the money to have it opened. i am curious to know what is inside of it, and i would like to use it if i could figure out the combination. can anybody help me? the dimensions are 30" tall ,25" wide, 21" deep. it was probably made in the 70’s the manufacturer’s nameplate is gone dial goes from 1-100 4 “M”'s on dial serial # is 72-20739 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/2 "2003-03-19T23:23:40Z")
I’d call a locksmith. They’ll be able to get it open for you. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/3 "2003-03-19T23:25:08Z")
Oops…didn’t see the “don’t want a locksmith” bit. I think that’s really the only way, though. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/4 "2003-03-20T00:52:50Z")
1. Get a stethoscope. Works in the movies 2. Get some explosives and blow it. Almost always works in the movies. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/5 "2003-03-20T00:55:02Z")
Spin the dial twice to the right. Then: 29R 49L 66R 02L If it opens, I want half of whatever’s inside. Seriously, the great Richard Feynman had an anecdote about safecracking in one of his memoirs. He took a stethoscope into the office and made everyone leave the room. Then he pulled out the secretary’s flat “copyboard” (shelf above the top drawer in an old office desk). As expected, the combination was written thereon. Human engineering is the quickest solution - look under the safe and behind it, see if there’s a little card taped to it with the combo. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/6 "2003-03-20T00:56:45Z")
Only solution is locksmith mate. Without a nameplate, it’ll be too hard for any locksmith via the internet to really tell you much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/7 "2003-03-20T01:07:30Z")
Or you could buy this [_link deleted_]. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/8 "2003-03-20T01:20:03Z")
I have the same problem. My mom has this little safe and the only record I have for its combination did not work. I am wondering how much would opening a safe like this cost? ---
**Author:** ![dp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@dp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/9 "2003-03-20T01:35:04Z")
im not giving up hope yet, maybe a locksmith will see this in the next day or two. i am going to try to find out more info, maybe i can find something helpful. as X~Slayer said, i would like to find out the estimated cost if getting it opened by a professional. also, would it be destroyed if locksmith opened it? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-safecrackers-locksmiths/162660/10 "2003-03-20T01:49:03Z")
I think your only option is to get a locksmith. We are not going to provide information on how to defeat locks’ security. We are not going to link to safecracking techniques either. This is closed. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator