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#1 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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Long read...
Last year, Shannon’s sister was cleaning her house out getting ready to sell it. She had their grandmothers safe that hasn’t been opened in 25ish years. The grandmother passed away several years ago and she was the only one that knew the combination. I was elected to bring the safe home and see what I could do with it. ![]() Old Victor floor safe, weights appx 600#. They began making them in 1885 but this one was made at or a little after 1920. Reason why I know that will be explained later... I got it moved and set it in my garage and researched in my spare time. I knew of a guy not far from here that had a robotic safe dialer. I tried to get in touch with him several times but never got a response. I hope he’s ok as he was fairly old. So, without his help, there’s not a lot of information online to help crack this type of safe as it doesn’t have a separate handle in order to “feel” for the gates. Luckily, there were two numbers marked on the dial. On a couple forums it said one number in particular was used more often than not as the last number. Knowing it was a 4 digit combination, knowing what could be the last number and having two numbers marked I decided to give it a try. Well, one of the marked numbers was the potential last number. I sat down in my garage and started in... beginning the turns to the left first, going thru the potential marked numbers in the sequence that normally happens with safes (4,3,2,1), no luck. Decided to begin the pattern going right. Here’s where it gets weird... the supposed last number is 54. So I go thru a number sequence, stop on 54, try to turn the dial and there’s a lot of resistance... CLUNK! It opened!! I couldn’t believe it!! I texted Shannon a picture and told her that I wasn’t going to open the inner door until she got home from work. It took me a total of NINE minutes! ![]() ![]() She gets home and she tells me that her dad said there’s supposed to be some gold bars in there. Turns out, there wasn’t. Mostly paperwork, old computer cassette recorders (pre-floppy discs), some jewelry (some valuable, some broken, some cheap) and a few coin collections. ![]() Cue the eerie music... This is where things go crazy. I knew better than to close the safe without verifying the combination. So I engaged the bolts with the door open. Tried the combination again... and again... and again... for an hour and a half. Switched things up in the number sequence, and the direction of the dial... no luck. So I decide to remove the doors inside panel to access the locking mechanism... I got lucky in more ways than one... ![]() ![]() See those glass vials towards the bottom? That’s not a light... That’s tear gas! It was used as a booietrap. They didn’t start doing that until 1920. The wire is strung taught behind the locking mechanism and wrapped around one of the screws... so if someone were to try to break into the safe by “punching” the dial, it would put tension on the wire and POP! Tear gas! ![]() Now cue the Mission Impossible theme music... I CAREFULLY remove the screws to access the gates. Everything is going smooth until the eerie music begins to play again... I turned the dial to verify the gate positions. Turns out, the combination I tried DID NOT WORK! I’m sitting there watching the dials and gates as I’m verifying the numbers on the dial. They weren’t even remotely close! ![]() ![]() ![]() So, I tried both combinations numerous times to verify and they worked flawlessly. I closed the safe and tried both again without failure. Now begins the long process of cleaning and restoring this 100 year old piece of history. Sorry for the long read but I honestly don’t know how it opened for me. Maybe Shannon’s grandmother was lending me a hand. ![]() Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by Tubby; 05-22-2020 at 11:39 AM. |
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#2 |
Six Point
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Justin
Hunt In: MO,TX, GA
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That is awesome! Glad you didn't get gassed!
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#3 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Mckinney
Hunt In: Baylor County,Collin County
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Thats awesome.
Theres a podcast called "Stuff You Should Know". They did an episode on cracking safes and it was pretty interesting. Might check it out. |
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#4 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Houston, TX
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You sir, should go out and buy $20 worth of lottery tickets ASAP.
That is awesome, thanks for sharing such a great story. |
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#5 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: May 2009
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That’s **** cool
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#6 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Helotes
Hunt In: Kimble County
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That's really neat, great write up too!!
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#7 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Merkel, Tx
Hunt In: Mason, Callahan, and Stonewall Counties
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That’s awesome!! Glad you got it opened!
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#8 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Kingwood, TX
Hunt In: Leon County
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Great story! I always knew u wuz a cracka
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#9 |
Six Point
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Splendora, TX
Hunt In: Webb County
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Very cool. Enjoyed the read.
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#10 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Beeville
Hunt In: Mason ,Brady,Menard
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Cool read thanks for sharing and congrats on the bounty.
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#11 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montalba
Hunt In: Anderson County
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Cool! Better lucky than good. Lol
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#12 |
Eight Point
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Austin
Hunt In: Burnet
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Cool story. Thanks for sharing.
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#13 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rockwall
Hunt In: Kent county
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How cool is that! Were you aware of the possibility of the gas when you started? That is a very cool piece please share some photos when you complete the re store.
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#14 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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Once I took the panel off and saw it, I told myself "oh hell". Yesterday I researched what it could be and a couple forums stated it was tear gas. Once reading that, I remembered movies about safe crackers getting "gassed" trying to break into a safe. I always thought that was a movie myth as you never heard about it... I guess its not a myth after all! As far as the restoration, It'll probably be just a deep cleaning inside and out. I doubt I'll actually "restore" it but may look into that in the future. |
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#15 |
Six Point
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Lake Highlands, Dallas
Hunt In: Callahan County
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Love these types of stories!
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#16 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: McKinney
Hunt In: Oklahoma- Public
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that is really cool! we will never know how it came open and i am sure a blast to the face of 1920s tear gas would be sooooooo much worse then getting hit with 2020 tear gas idk why i feel that way but feel its riht haha. congrats on getting it open! hope there is a safe restore DIY thread soon.
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#17 |
Four Point
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oklahoma
Hunt In: Oklahoma
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I have that exact same safe. Everything looks the same other than my interior door still has the keyed lock.
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#18 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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![]() I debated on starting a thread a while back asking who had one of if they had any knowledge about them. I wish I would have but I'm kinda glad I didn't as it was an awesome experience in itself. |
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#19 | |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rockwall
Hunt In: Kent county
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#20 |
Four Point
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oklahoma
Hunt In: Oklahoma
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I don't think so...I would have to look though. I had no idea it had gas inside it. Guess mine could be a different year without gas...hopefully. Looks identical other than my grandpa painted it grey. It was still in my grandparents house when I bought it.
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#21 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Marcos/Hempstead
Hunt In: Jim Wells
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That tear gas is rowdy
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#22 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Apr 2014
Hunt In: Votaw, Del Rio, Eldorado, Bon Wier
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So what are you gonna do with the tear gas? So many possibilities come to mind.
Putting one under the toilet seat at deer camp could be awesome. Just make sure everyone had a big meal that day ![]() |
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#23 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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If you haven't and you decide to remove the interior door panel, be careful! That metal is thicker and heavier than you think and will want to slide down as it's not sitting on much of a lip.
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#24 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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#25 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NE Texas
Hunt In: Dickens, Hunt, and Red River Co.
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That's awesome!
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#26 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Briscoe Tx
Hunt In: Hemphill Co
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Cool. Play with the tear gas. Maybe we can get your son vick involved somehow.
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#27 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: North Texas
Hunt In: Young County Mostly Mack’s Creek Missouri on occasion
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Guardian Angel?
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#28 |
Six Point
![]() Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Pasadena, TX
Hunt In: Anderson and Mills County
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That is really cool.
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#29 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Manvel, TX mostly in the Doghouse
Hunt In: My Truck at night.
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That's cool stuff.
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#30 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: TX
Hunt In: Central Texas
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The tear gas part is amazing. It might conceal the cure for Corona lol
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#31 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kingwood, Tx
Hunt In: Planet Earth
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Supercool!
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#32 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Austin,TX
Hunt In: Llano and San Saba
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That is really cool. Thanks for sharing.
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#33 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Georgetown, TX
Hunt In: Panhandle
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Cool. Want to sell the safe?
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#34 |
Eight Point
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Texas
Hunt In: Sam
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Wow!
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#35 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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#36 |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Poetry, TX
Hunt In: Haskell Co., TX
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Fascinating stuff!
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#37 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Cool story and cooler safe.
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#38 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Awesome, thanks for sharing!
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#39 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fairfield
Hunt In: Freestone/Schleicher Counties
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****, that's freaky and cool at the same time.
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#40 |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview
Hunt In: Harrison county, Irion County, Gregg, Bowie, Cass, Upshur counties TX and Arkansas
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Absolutely love the history aspect of this story as well as all of the interesting twists and turns. Thanks so much for sharing!!! I want ZERO part of any tear gas, let alone... tear gas from 1920.
![]() Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#41 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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#42 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston
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Cool story.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#43 | |
Ten Point
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview
Hunt In: Harrison county, Irion County, Gregg, Bowie, Cass, Upshur counties TX and Arkansas
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1904 letter is really cool. Well done sir. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#44 | |
Pope & Young
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Noonday, TX. ✞ CM ✞ ✞Jaspro✞ ✞ Rsatt ✞
Hunt In: Sterling County & The Diamond C!
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When it first opened... the smell... you know, that old smell. Like walking into a 100 year old house. I know the safe isn't airtight but the smell hit me like a ton of bricks as soon as it cracked open. |
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#45 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Spring,Texas
Hunt In: West Texas, Dryden area, Forestville, Canada
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Very cool. Love these type of stories
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#46 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Fruitvale, TX
Hunt In: Fruitvale, TX
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Way cool.
-john |
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#47 |
Ten Point
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Antonio
Hunt In: Atascosa County
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Been in the safe cracking business for more than 20 years and I still learn something new almost every day. More times than not, those old safes never open, even with the "correct combination! Congratulations!
Todd |
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#48 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Hunt In: Texas
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Thanks for sharing...…………………….
![]() Now, call Geraldo and rub his nose in it...…………... ![]() |
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#49 |
Pope & Young
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Awesome ness
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#50 |
Eight Point
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Grapevine
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Cool story, and good pics of the safe. Getting those numbers to work, and not finding that tear gas the hard way I agree, Grandmother might have been around.
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