Safes and Safe Locks

[Colonel Daddy]

Like many of us, I had multiple firearms before even thinking about a safe. Way back before joining Ruger Forum, I had heard the oft repeated "buy a bigger safe than you think you will ever need". I did, and the safe has been overcrowded for sometime :?
Another safe is in the near future and the next one will definitely have a mechanical lock! The current safe has an electrical (9 volt) keypad and the sales person nor the directions said anything about the pad being touch sensitive. With me, my wife and our son having access there is sometimes a problem!! after 4 tries, an alarm goes off and you must wait 15 minutes and it will usually then open on the first try.
Anyone have any experience converting from electrical keypad to mechanical lock? The safe is an American Eagle by Cannon.

 

[Pat-inCO]

For the conversion, I would talk with a good locksmith. They should also
be able to tell you and know how much it will cost.

I have one that is a keypad type. It also has a L O N G key that will open
it. You pull the face plate as if you were going to change the battery, and
then use the key. Speaking of which, next time your alarm goes off, try
pulling the battery for a minute, reinstall and see if it has not reset.

P.S. My key is located in another dial type safe.

 

[tom black]

I've got an older Winchester safe that had an electrical key pad. When it tore up I had to have a locksmith replace it an it cost a small fortune to convert it to a combination lock, took him about 6 hours to get it open an a bunch of ruined drill bits. No more electrical pad locks for me. Just my 2 cents worth.
Tom Black

 

[contender]

I never wanted an electrical lock after a buddy of mine got his. He's had issues with broken wires, weak batteries, etc. According to him,, you can get the lock swapped out by a good locksmith who deals in safes.
Maybe a call to Cannon will get you better, more direct answers.

 

[gramps]

My son is a locksmith. He highly reccomends mechanical locks over electronic. He has spent a week drilling open high security safes (think .gov). Consequently, my walk in safe has a deadbolt. The key to it is in another safe, that though electronic, can also be opened with a key. Good luck.
gramps

 

[Captain America]

When I bought my safe I went to a locksmith/safe dealer. They had dozens in stock and I learned a lot from the sales lady about safes that I never thought of, the advantage to the electric lock is it's a little faster to open and you can change the combination yourself. She also said whenever there's a lock problem phone call it's always an electronic lock. My mechanical lock requires a key to unlock the dial before it will turn.

 

[pete44ru]

.

The only caveat I've found with a mechanical dial is that spinning the dial rapidly (some folks are impatient), constitutes abuse, and will eventually cause opening issues.


.

 

[callshot]

Mine has an electronic pad. I've never had any problems with it in about 20 years.

 

[Robb Barnes]

I had the same problem with the electronic lock on my Browning safe. Finally called the local Browning service center and paid to have it changed to a dial and never looked back.

 

[redhawker]

I've always had a dial lock safe just for the reason described. However, I have a small bedside safe that does have a "keypad" (4 buttons actually) that I have set for a 6 touch access. There's no way being woke up at 0-dark-30 you're going to be able to dial a combo in. Some would argue that a biometric would be better but I've had experience with this before. Some swear by them but we had a biometric access pad on the elevator at the place I used to work to get to an employees only secured floor of our building. It was so unreliable that the brass finally gave everybody a code to operate it (thank God it had a keypad option).

 

[exavid]

I'd prefer a mechanical combination lock on my safe but I got such a good deal I took one with an keypad. I've had it for nearly ten years with no problems. I wipe off the pad fairly often to make sure I don't leave fingerprints on it that might help someone find the combination.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I use only mechanical dials... As others have suggested, getting one converted isn't a huge deal. Just takes time & money! (Like everything else!)