Combination resets, lockout opening, and on-site servicing for residential and commercial safes - including older Group 2 mechanical-dial models. We try manipulation first; drilling only when necessary, and we tell you in advance.
Safe service pricing: Most jobs run $200–$500. Lost-combination manipulation: 30–90 minutes typical. Combination reset after opening: included. Drilling (when required): we drill at a manufacturer-spec access point and plug after, restoring the safe to working condition.
Manipulation means listening to and feeling the dial mechanism to deduce the combination without forcing the safe. It works on most residential mechanical-dial safes (Sargent & Greenleaf 6730, S&G 6630, AMSEC ESL10, Mosler MR302, etc.) and takes 30–90 minutes. The safe ends up undamaged and we set you a new combination on the spot.
Drilling is a last resort. When required (some Group 1 safes, fire safes with electronic locks that have failed open-state, some commercial vaults), we drill at the manufacturer's spec access point - usually a small hole that lets us trip the bolt mechanism - and then plug it cleanly after. The safe remains usable.
Most of our residential safe work clusters in the North Shore - the lakefront homes in Bayside, Fox Point, and Whitefish Bay tend to have the older Group 2 mechanical-dial safes that need manipulation rather than a quick keypad swap. If you are in that corridor, our Bayside locksmith page covers what a typical high-security residential call looks like.
Most of the time, yes. For lost combinations, manipulation is the first approach - no damage, no parts replacement, just dialing-by-feel to read the wheel positions. We use this on Group 2 mechanical-dial safes (Sentinel, SentrySafe, Honeywell, AMSEC BF series). Drilling is a last resort, and we tell you in advance if a particular safe will require it. Usual service runs $200 to $500.
Residential: SentrySafe, AMSEC BF, Liberty, Cannon. Commercial: AMSEC BFII, ISM, Hayman, Tann (UK). Gun safes: Liberty, Browning, Fort Knox, Cannon. Floor safes and wall safes. Group 2 mechanical dials and electronic keypads alike. If you have a specific make/model, mention it on dispatch - we’ll confirm we have the right manipulation tools or override cards before heading out.
Yes - once we have it open (or if it’s already open and you’ve forgotten the combo), we can set a new 3-digit or 4-digit combination on most mechanical-dial safes. Electronic keypad safes have user-set codes that we walk you through resetting. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for combo reset on a standard residential model.
Floor and wall safes are common in older homes around {city}. We work on them in place - we don’t pull them out. Drilling, manipulation, and combo reset all work the same; access can take longer if the safe sits in a tight cabinet or under flooring. We confirm clearance on dispatch.
We can advise on placement and anchoring - bolting a floor safe through to the slab, securing a wall safe to studs, leveling a gun safe so the door swings properly. We don’t move heavy safes ourselves; gun safes over 500 lb usually need a 2-person moving crew with a stair dolly, which is a separate service we can refer.
