Can we really open a mechanical combination safe like the thieves in the movies?

Can we really open a mechanical combination safe like the thieves in the movies? The answer is yes. Technically speaking, there is no safe that cannot be opened; you just need to understand how safes work and have enough time.

Let me explain how thieves open safes in movies. In the movies, thieves listen carefully to the sound of the dial to determine if they've turned it correctly. Some even wear stethoscopes or hearing aids and turn the volume up to maximum before turning it. However, this method requires specialized training to discern. The principle is that there's a lever that constantly presses against the edge of the dial. If you gently and slowly turn the dial, it will produce a metallic clanging sound, but there will be no scraping sound, and it might feel slightly stuck. This means you've turned it correctly. (The sound it makes inside the safe door is very faint and difficult for most people to hear outside. Therefore, you need to use the stethoscope or hearing aid and practice repeatedly to hear and distinguish the sound.) Then, continue to turn the knob to find the second number and the third number. When all three sets are turned correctly in this way, the notches of the three discs will completely overlap, and a louder metallic clanging sound will be made. That is the sound of the lever bolt extending into the three overlapping notches. At this time, the lock is completely opened.

However, the above method can only open the simplest, old-fashioned safes. So how do modern locksmiths open safes? Actually, the methods are simpler. There are three common methods for opening mechanical safe locks:

First, use a dial lock opener. Open the mechanical lock first, then use a dial lock opener to pull out the dial and break the cotter pin inside. This will cause the three inner discs to fall out, allowing you to turn the handle and open the safe. After opening the safe, simply replace the cotter pin and reset it. A dial lock opener can open ordinary, older safes, but many modern safes don't use cotter pins. They use nuts to secure the discs, and there's a small lock box inside that encloses the discs to prevent them from being pulled out with a dial lock opener. Even if you pull out the dial, the discs won't fall out because of the box. Therefore, a dial lock opener cannot open these types of mechanical lock safes.

The second method is drilling. A small hole is drilled at the nine o'clock position on the dial. Then, a steel wire is used to align the notches on the several discs with a line, allowing the lever to open the safe. This method is faster, but requires some knowledge, reference materials, and special tools to be effective. Common tools include an electric drill, special drill bits, and a viewing mirror. The drill bit must be hard enough to penetrate the door of the mechanical safe and the multiple layers of steel plates on the dial. Only then can the rotation of the discs inside the mechanical safe be clearly seen, allowing the steel wire to align the notches of the discs with the nine o'clock position (the direction the lever is inserted). This is how the safe can be opened. However, some safes have an anti-drilling steel plate inside, which cannot be penetrated by any drill bit, no matter how hard it is. (The anti-drilling steel plate is small, so it can be drilled directly into it. Alternatively, you can drill into the area where there are a few screws on the outer base that secures the dial.)

Third, use the offset unlocking method to first open the hidden lock. Then, turn the lock cylinder clockwise as far as possible (usually within 300 degrees). When you can no longer turn the lock cylinder, use one hand (usually the left hand) to forcefully turn the opening handle so that it cannot reverse. At this point, the lever bolt will be pressing against the outer edge of the lock's disc. Then, use the other hand (right hand) to turn the dial. The right hand will clearly feel that turning the dial is much tighter and requires much more effort than usual. The tighter the left hand turns the handle, the tighter and more difficult it will be to turn the dial. Conversely, the looser the right hand is, the less noticeable the left hand will feel. When the left hand is constantly turning the dial and suddenly feels a loosening, as if there is no resistance, then you have turned the second disc. After successfully turning the second disc, turn the third set, which is the outermost disc, in the same way. After turning all three discs correctly, you will suddenly feel a loosening sensation in your left hand, which is more noticeable than when the first two sets were turned correctly. At this point, you can turn the lock cylinder of the concealed lock to 90 degrees, and both locks (the main lock and the concealed lock) will be opened.