I can't get to my guns! Please help!!!

stubob2517 · November 30, 2004, 08:49 PM

Hi,

I recently moved and during the move either the movers or I have managed to lose the keys to one of my gun safes - yes I'm a moron. I have searched the web but can't find Homaks home page to get replacement keys and although perfectly capable would prefer not to blow the safe open....Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Homak to get a new key? Thanks for your help.

Stu

Indy_SIG · November 30, 2004, 09:17 PM

HOMAK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
5151 West 73rd Street
Bedford Park, IL 60638
Phone: (708) 594-0123 Fax: (708) 594-2907

stubob2517 · November 30, 2004, 09:59 PM

THANKS Indy. If you were to pick the one safe I wouldn't want to lose the keys to it would've been this one - all of the guns that were passed to me from my father. I'll be shooting them again with him in my heart as soon as I get it open!! Molon Labe!

Sincerely,

Stu.

rkc · December 31, 2004, 07:44 AM

If it is any consolation you are far from the first one to have done this!

Blue Jays · December 31, 2004, 12:09 PM

Hi StuBob-

Were the guns tightly secured inside the safe before moving? I can't imagine all the knocking, jumbling, and jostling could have been too good for them if they were stored inside while being carted around.

~ Blue Jays ~

mikikanazawa · January 2, 2005, 02:09 AM

If Homak can't or won't get you a new key, find yourself a safecracker. Yes they do exist. When I was in high school I worked for a locksmith, and the owner could open a combination safe (assuming yours is a combination safe, LOL) with NO tools. Just his ears and hands. And he only charged around $90 to perform a "crack."

Ignition · January 8, 2005, 04:32 AM

yup find yourself a safe-tech( SAVTA- Safe and Vault Technicians Assosication) if the company wont give you anything, because they will give out the info to a safe-tech

my boss is a certified safe tec.

in fact we just got to help open someones gun safe just last month after he decided to move.

hope you get it open again

ruger270man · January 12, 2005, 01:37 AM

if you just need a key to open it, call a locksmith

357MagFan · January 12, 2005, 08:26 AM

Nah just blow it, if I had the capability thats what I would do because Im very very impatient when I want something really bad ... LIKE MY OWN GUNS
Then I would be kicking myself for ruining the safe and having to pay 1500 dollars for a new one

shaggy · January 17, 2005, 12:21 PM

Is this Homak one of those with a round/tubular key/lock mechanism or does it have a standard flat key?

If so, a Bic pen tube should open it easily.

1BadF350 · January 17, 2005, 04:42 PM

A Bic pen tube will not work,LOL.

shaggy · January 17, 2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

A Bic pen tube will not work,LOL.

Perhaps you missed all the recent news of Kryptonite bike locks being opened with Bic pen tubes? The same trick will work on almost any round/tubular lock, including those used on many of the low end gun cabinets/safes. You might need a pair of pliers to get a good grip on the pen tube though.

Here's a link to the NY Times article...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/ny...er=rssuserland

1BadF350 · January 17, 2005, 05:09 PM

No I saw it. I just believe that was an isolated incident. You need to machine the edges of the pen tube so each noch presses each pin down precisely as it was keyed, which means you need to know exactly how the key was cut to begin with or the pin code for the lock. I believe the bike lock thing was a manufacturing defect with that specific brand and model of lock. An average Joe isn't going to be able to just grab a pen and pick barrel key locks all day lock at will.

shaggy · January 17, 2005, 05:24 PM

Really? Isolated incident? Wouldn't work on a gun safe/cabinet?

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?...ws&c=2,1035941

(Google is your friend.

)

sterno · January 17, 2005, 05:42 PM

That's scary stuff!

You bolt your safe to a wall or the floor but a bic pen is all that stands between your collection and some thief.

I guess it's better to hide your safe than bolting it down.

Ignition · January 18, 2005, 12:12 AM

thats why most locksmiths wont install tubular locks, that and the fact that the pins easily jam.

i have many many many times had to drill out a lock on a window display at a jewlers store or something like that because of a faulty tubular lock.

cal · January 22, 2005, 04:41 PM

I take a center punch to make a dent in the front of the lock. Most of the time I didn't even bother with the punch. Drill motor and 1/4 inch drill or larger. In 5 minutes or less I/m in. Go to a lock shop and buy to new locks and install em where you took the others out. Little trick I learned as a maint. tech and my learned superiors were always locking their file cabinets or whatever and losing the keys.

Doerdie · January 22, 2005, 06:30 PM

I second that all it takes is to drill the pins out. The hard part is knowing where to drill. We use precise diagrams before drilling, if you screw up the first drilling you will be making a very large hole later.

November 30, 2004, 08:49 PM	#1
stubob2517 Junior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Posts: 8	I can't get to my guns! Please help!!! Hi, I recently moved and during the move either the movers or I have managed to lose the keys to one of my gun safes - yes I'm a moron. I have searched the web but can't find Homaks home page to get replacement keys and although perfectly capable would prefer not to blow the safe open....Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Homak to get a new key? Thanks for your help. Stu

November 30, 2004, 09:17 PM	#2
Indy_SIG Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 441	HOMAK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. 5151 West 73rd Street Bedford Park, IL 60638 Phone: (708) 594-0123 Fax: (708) 594-2907 __________________ I refuse to be a willing victim.

December 31, 2004, 07:44 AM	#4
rkc Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2001 Location: South Posts: 295	If it is any consolation you are far from the first one to have done this! __________________ rkc

January 17, 2005, 05:42 PM	#15
sterno Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 362	That's scary stuff! You bolt your safe to a wall or the floor but a bic pen is all that stands between your collection and some thief. I guess it's better to hide your safe than bolting it down. __________________ .38, .39; whatever it took. Sterno's Myspace - Grayskull Myspace

January 22, 2005, 04:41 PM	#17
cal Member Join Date: July 6, 2001 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 50	Homak gun safes with tubular locks I take a center punch to make a dent in the front of the lock. Most of the time I didn't even bother with the punch. Drill motor and 1/4 inch drill or larger. In 5 minutes or less I/m in. Go to a lock shop and buy to new locks and install em where you took the others out. Little trick I learned as a maint. tech and my learned superiors were always locking their file cabinets or whatever and losing the keys.

November 30, 2004, 09:59 PM	#3
stubob2517 Junior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Posts: 8	THANKS Indy. If you were to pick the one safe I wouldn't want to lose the keys to it would've been this one - all of the guns that were passed to me from my father. I'll be shooting them again with him in my heart as soon as I get it open!! Molon Labe! Sincerely, Stu.

December 31, 2004, 12:09 PM	#5
Blue Jays Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 1999 Location: United States Posts: 395	Hi StuBob- Were the guns tightly secured inside the safe before moving? I can't imagine all the knocking, jumbling, and jostling could have been too good for them if they were stored inside while being carted around. ~ Blue Jays ~

January 2, 2005, 02:09 AM	#6
mikikanazawa Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2004 Posts: 449	If Homak can't or won't get you a new key, find yourself a safecracker. Yes they do exist. When I was in high school I worked for a locksmith, and the owner could open a combination safe (assuming yours is a combination safe, LOL) with NO tools. Just his ears and hands. And he only charged around $90 to perform a "crack."

January 12, 2005, 01:37 AM	#8
ruger270man Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2004 Posts: 178	if you just need a key to open it, call a locksmith

January 12, 2005, 08:26 AM	#9
357MagFan Junior member Join Date: December 28, 2004 Posts: 205	Nah just blow it, if I had the capability thats what I would do because Im very very impatient when I want something really bad ... LIKE MY OWN GUNS Then I would be kicking myself for ruining the safe and having to pay 1500 dollars for a new one

January 17, 2005, 12:21 PM	#10
shaggy Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Posts: 1,519	Is this Homak one of those with a round/tubular key/lock mechanism or does it have a standard flat key? If so, a Bic pen tube should open it easily.

January 17, 2005, 04:42 PM	#11
1BadF350 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2005 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 915	A Bic pen tube will not work,LOL.

January 17, 2005, 05:09 PM	#13
1BadF350 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2005 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 915	No I saw it. I just believe that was an isolated incident. You need to machine the edges of the pen tube so each noch presses each pin down precisely as it was keyed, which means you need to know exactly how the key was cut to begin with or the pin code for the lock. I believe the bike lock thing was a manufacturing defect with that specific brand and model of lock. An average Joe isn't going to be able to just grab a pen and pick barrel key locks all day lock at will.

January 17, 2005, 05:24 PM	#14
shaggy Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Posts: 1,519	Really? Isolated incident? Wouldn't work on a gun safe/cabinet? http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?...ws&c=2,1035941 (Google is your friend. )

January 22, 2005, 06:30 PM	#18
Doerdie Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2004 Location: PA Posts: 171	I second that all it takes is to drill the pins out. The hard part is knowing where to drill. We use precise diagrams before drilling, if you screw up the first drilling you will be making a very large hole later. __________________ Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 (3-screw) Ruger P89 Stainless,S&W 422, Kel-Tec P11, Saiga 7.62x39, Ruger 10/22 carbine, Crossman 700 air rifle w Red Dot