Sad deal, but my good friend had a stroke. His degree of recovery is unknown at this point.

He can't remember the combination to his gun safe and we can't find where he thought he had it written down. He thinks he remembers the first of the 4 numbers but that's all we have to go on.

The safe is a Browning Sterling ProSteel with an old school dial type lock.
It's small - 22" W x 50" H x 15" D, not very heavy and not bolted down. I can easily tip it over and rock it back and forth.
I've been told the options available seem to be pay a locksmith to get it open - maybe by drilling the lock?
or, take it out in the yard and somehow cut it open maybe from the back - I'm guessing probably with abrasive wheels.

Any ideas?

I've looked online and can't find any info on that particular safe.
one question is what a safe like that is worth which would probably help decide to go with plan A locksmith or Plan B, cut it open.
And if it would be cost effective to have it repaired in the event locksmith was able to drill it out which would destroy the lock but maybe still be repairable by putting a new lock back into it.

Bill is 68 and going to need a miracle to ever get back to anything close to where he was but miracles do happen so praying for the best.

Thanks all.

Prayers for your friends speedy recovery.

I would go with the lock smith since more than likely you could put a new lock in it...but then how much does the correct lock cost...
My 2 cents

Sorry, no help but I do have a story.
Dad was sick and had lost the keys to the gun closet (actual hidden room built into the house) after several weeks I decided to have the local locksmith meet me over at mom and dads place to pick the locks, my wife and I were over there a few minutes early waiting on him when my wife finds the keys hidden in a little golf ball desk top thingy. I quickly called the locksmith to cancel but he was already pulling in the drive. I paid his his service call fee and had him make me 2 more keys while he was there. Good luck and I hope your friend gets better.

What is he sense of urgency to get it opened?

Maybe he will remember in time.

Locksmith is the only logical option IMO.

Contact the manufacturer for advice.
Especially if he is the original owner and registered it they may be a help.

Otherwise locksmith.

If anyone other than him wants it open then I would question their motive. There are thieves among us.

When you buy a safe, it comes with paperwork that has the serial number on it. That paperwork states to keep it in a separate spot, not in the safe. IF you lose your combo, you can get the combo from the company with that number. If he bought the safe new, might want to check through the filing cabinet and paperwork to see if he still has it. Also if he registered his purchase they should have it.

If you go this route odds are that the manufacturer will also ask you to provide a police report and a signed and notarized affidavit stating who wants the information and why.
Been there, done that after Dad died and Mom had a TIA.

Try YouTube. Honestly. You would be surprised what you can find on there and accomplish on your own.

A locksmith will destroy it, so you might as well do this:



Bolt your safes down!

Prayers up

I agree.

My brother's SIL has a safe that looks brand new, you would never know that it has a hole in the bottom. He forget his new really combo number so we flipped it over and in 15 minutes my brother and a sawsall made a hole big enough they could easily reach in and pull out the guns. Then they remembered the combo. My brother always joked that he could cut the top off of gun safe in 30 minutes with a sawall, I bet he could.
I wonder if a thief has ever flipped over a safe to see if he can get in through the bottom?

I watched a surveillance video once of a couple of guys stealing a safe. They used a sledge hammer, pry bar and a dolly. One guy did all the work while the other played on his phone. Took them about 42 seconds to bust the safe loose from the concrete floor it was attached to and wheel it out. Granted it wasnt a huge safe but it was a decent size.

There should be a label/sticker somewhere on the safe that will have the serial number. Call the manufacturer with that and see what requirements they have to give you the combo. It should work if you can provide the documentation unless he had the combo changed at some point.

I had to go thru this with a friend who passed away unexpectedly. Only he knew the combo and he took it with him.

Where is the serial number on a Browning safe?
Your safe's serial number is located on the upper right-hand corner of the rear of the safe.

Thanks for the info guys!

As far as sense of urgency with that safe, it's not immediate at this point. He is the one that wanted us to try and get it open.

His first stroke was memorial day weekend and after hospital stay he was discharged to rehab.

Then on July 4th he had another stroke and back to the hospital.
That set him back some more of course but he's improved enough they'll probably be discharging him to skilled nursing/rehab maybe end of this week.
We're praying for a significant recovery and maybe he'll remember that combination!
I wish i was closer, but I'm back home now and 300 miles away.

Thanks again for the info and options available.

FWIW I had a digital lock fail on me. Called a locksmith. He drilled it out and put in a new (manual this time!!) lock. No damage - all was good.