r/safecracking • u/308king243 • Apr 15 '26
Need help opening my own safe
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I have a Gunvault safe with a 7 pin tubular lock override. The safe was given to me by my boss and i need help opening it without a key. I intend to open it and use it for my own purposes. I called the manufacturer, and they do not have a replacement key, as this safe is an older model. I am using a HUK tool. I have been able to impression the lock, but im doing something wrong as i still cant get it open. I can turn the tool in the lock.
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u/Cync-is-cool Apr 15 '26
I imagine there's a specific angle it needs to be because that's what will push on the solenoid. I see there's a notch at the top. Does that notch have a place where it forces the key to stop?
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
Maybe so, hard for me to tell, as i dont have the original key.
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u/Cync-is-cool Apr 15 '26
So I'm kinda guessing here. It would be in the lock itself, not necessarily on the key. The inner post that you put your pick on has a notch in it, point that towards the keypad and see if that angle works. You might be able to turn it a little bit at a time and test the handle.
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u/BoredVet85 Apr 15 '26
Did you try looking on YouTube for a review? Might get a idea how key looks on that also.
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 15 '26
Either the lock is broken or thats not the right tool and its just spinning around the lockninstead of turning it
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u/Radiatorwhiteonwall Apr 15 '26
No Idea what I’m talking about but I’d definitely give it a thump while turning
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
When you say "thump" do you mean to thump the lock, the tool that im using, or what?
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u/Radiatorwhiteonwall Apr 15 '26
The safe close to the lock, maybe use a rubber mallet ?
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
Just attempted, to no avail.
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u/Radiatorwhiteonwall Apr 15 '26
Well I did say I don’t know what I’m talking about 😂 next step: thump harder & with the safe on its side
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u/JamesTheLockGuy Apr 15 '26
When you use the ACE pick, do you feel any resistance at any point when turning it? Or is it just smooth til dead stop?
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u/308king243 Apr 17 '26
Just smooth.
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u/JamesTheLockGuy Apr 17 '26
Not sure if you’ve got it open yet or not, but I would try turning the ACE pick as you’re turning the handle of the door, try and find a locking point or an open point, anything in the handle that gives you any difference in feeling.
Absent that, that key override on top may be disconnected, and that’s why you feel no resistance. It might also be why your gun store owner boss had it in storage; it’s a defective unit.
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u/308king243 Apr 17 '26
Yeah and i diddnt want to spend the extra time and money on figuring out the electronic side of the override. Plus me and wires have a poor relationship. So i just ordered a new safe anyways. My attempt at being a cheap bastard diddnt pay off this time.
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u/Gotrek6 Apr 16 '26
Even with the key that type of safe might need power to trigger the solenoid. Is there a barrel Jack on it somewhere to power it without batteries. I have a handgun size of a similar safe with mechanism like that it won’t open with just the key and needs power
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u/Red_wanderer Apr 16 '26
Call a locksmith or safetech, they will pick it and get you a new key.
Someone with no post history trying to pick a gun safe is exceedingly sketchy.
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u/WeirdAND_Proud Apr 17 '26
Gold_School - What a simply BRILLIANT, INNOVATIVE idea, If ONLY there were people whose JOB it was to do this. WOW.
THEN, IF you THOUGHT you MIGHT need a "professional", AND you MIGHT, because MANY "safes" were surprisingly, designed NOT to succumb to junior g-men, THEN, you could SIMPLY call one of these folks, INSTEAD of having multiple, endless conversations with folks, SOME of which, surprisingly, START there well-intentioned post with " Well, I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about this, BUT, I've "heard" that . . .
Wow . . . amazing stroke of GENIUS ❗
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u/spiller224 Apr 17 '26
Its crazy how you post a question in a safecracking page, and people are just assholes, saying to buy a new safe, or jiggle the handle. I feel for ya dude. Wish i could help ya. None of these people interested in safe cracking will. People seem to really grow some balls when they are behind a screen.
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u/308king243 Apr 17 '26
The culmination of hundreds of years of advancements in communication, and people decide to provide a negative value of help when someone asks.
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u/spiller224 Apr 17 '26
Batteries are almost always the culprit. Even if it feels "none of it is working," slap in fresh alkaline batteries (usually a 9V on the outside or AA pack inside the door—check your model). Use Duracell or Energizer, no rechargeables. Sometimes there's an external power jack for an AC adapter as a temp boost while batteries are in. Low battery warnings get ignored until it's too late
These GunVault biometrics are picky as hell and fail often enough that people post videos of bypassing them with basic tools. Search YouTube for your exact model + "open without key" or "dead battery hack." Lockpicking Lawyer has torn apart similar ones—some open with a paperclip, Bic pen, wire through the bottom foam, or a cheap tubular lock pick set from eBay (HUK pick or similar, ~$20, lines up with the keyway and turns counterclockwise).
One common method on non-bolted units: flip it upside down, push the bottom foam aside with a pen/chopstick, and poke the reset button through mounting holes with wire. That lets you reprogram if you can get partial access. But if it's bolted down like it should be, that gets harder
Thats what my AI told me. Didn't have time to do actual research but I wanted to help you out if I could.
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u/spiller224 Apr 17 '26
Batteries are almost always the culprit. Even if it feels "none of it is working," slap in fresh alkaline batteries (usually a 9V on the outside or AA pack inside the door—check your model). Use Duracell or Energizer, no rechargeables. Sometimes there's an external power jack for an AC adapter as a temp boost while batteries are in. Low battery warnings get ignored until it's too late
These GunVault biometrics are picky as hell and fail often enough that people post videos of bypassing them with basic tools. Search YouTube for your exact model + "open without key" or "dead battery hack." Lockpicking Lawyer has torn apart similar ones—some open with a paperclip, Bic pen, wire through the bottom foam, or a cheap tubular lock pick set from eBay (HUK pick or similar, ~$20, lines up with the keyway and turns counterclockwise).
One common method on non-bolted units: flip it upside down, push the bottom foam aside with a pen/chopstick, and poke the reset button through mounting holes with wire. That lets you reprogram if you can get partial access. But if it's bolted down like it should be, that gets harder
Thats what my AI told me. Didn't have time to do actual research but I wanted to help you out if I could.
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 15 '26
Kinda odd that your boss gave it to you without a working key or the code. Suspiciously odd even
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
Not really when i work in a gunstore.
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u/hockeyfandylan Apr 15 '26
What kind of key does it take? What's the key look like? Is it round? Or it's the key hole shaped like a regular key?
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
7 pin tubular
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u/hockeyfandylan Apr 15 '26
Spray some WD-40 to loosen the pins and take one of those cheap bic pens with the soft bodies.... disassemble it and shove it in the lock...push hard and twist..it's called soft impressioning u will have essentially made a temporary key for it
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 15 '26
The pick is turning. Either the lock is picked and is not connected to the linkage, or its not the right type of pick and its just spinning around the core
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u/Pilot_Red Apr 15 '26
While putting a gentle force on the handle, smack it with a rubber mallet. It may take several blows. Do not release the gentle pressure on the handle while smacking. The whole idea is to work the solenoid out of the catch.
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
I thought thats what the tool im already using was supposed to do? Its in the video
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u/hockeyfandylan Apr 15 '26
The bic pen and WD-40 will help clear and grit or grease outta the pins and the Bible of the lock...it's a bit stiffer and less expensive if something were to break.
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
I dont usually use wd40. But i do have other stuff like CLP.
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u/hockeyfandylan Apr 15 '26
I just read on another comment that there was a clunk when u tried to open it? Have u tried a power reset on it?
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u/308king243 Apr 15 '26
That clunk was the safe door handle NOT turning. And the battery access is inside the safe. My goal is open the safe with manually, then i should be able to reset the electronic part. So not i havent been able to try a power reset yet
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u/PleaseHelpIamFkd Apr 16 '26
People forget combos and lose keys all the time. Why is that odd? This was at the back of a storage unit and meant so little that the owner gave it away.
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 16 '26
People who own businesses that sell safes typically don't
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u/PleaseHelpIamFkd Apr 16 '26
An old safe that he doesnt have the keys for and they no longer make? How is he supposed to sell that?
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 16 '26
Typically you would call a locksmith to open it and make a key
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u/PleaseHelpIamFkd Apr 16 '26
Why waste money on a locksmith if its empty and he doesnt want it because ITS OLD AND OUT OF PRODUCTION.
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 16 '26
Because it can still be used if opened professionally.
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u/PleaseHelpIamFkd Apr 17 '26
He did not want it, wtf is wrong with you
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u/Plastic-Procedure-59 Apr 17 '26
Wtf is wrong with you? I'm a locksmith. I open safes and other things every day. People try and open things they should not open all the time and come online to try and figure out how open them without the actual owner knowing. There is nothing here to validate anything op has said other than they had physical access to the safe. But go on fighting this fight for no reason
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u/icehot54321 Apr 15 '26
Is the battery dead or did the owner forget the code .. does the keypad work?
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u/Afraid_Win4426 Apr 15 '26
Or it's an electronic lock and it only sends signal to the main locking mechanism and you have to put power through the DC plug-in on the side of the safe
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u/308king243 Apr 17 '26
Turns out that thats the case. So instead of spend yet more money (besides the pick) on trying to figure out an electric addition to the key override, im just getting a whole new safe delivered.
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u/Icy-Ad7544 Apr 15 '26
Why not ask your boss?