need help on a safe

[Jessie]

You should not be satisfied with 3 years of service out of a quality safe!
I've had my Liberty for 20 problem free years. It is a manual, which is all I would ever buy.
Still, I'll bet that Cannon was not cheap and I would be disappointed with that reply from CS.
Try them again and see if you can't get a supervisor to help.
Polite requests to the right person can go far, especially if they know you are close to a large number of the shooting community.
You might mention how you bought that particular safe based on your research among ALL your friends here and other shooting forums and that they are surprised and disappointed that Cannon can't help you with this very recent purchase.

 

[hittman77]

The cannon will be cut open and i will pit it in my shop to hold zip ties or something. Thanks for the responses

Crying shame you aren't close enough for a face to face sale on that safe! A used gun safe around here would be mighty popular!

Yes, Liberty is worth the money. Sadly, we've got a couple of real good locksmiths around here and I know they've retro-fitted electronic to manual many times before.

 

[rwsmith]

I think Lincoln is the best value...

I got a cheapie Stack On safe to keep kids away from my guns. It does the job, but I realized that Liberty is a cut above Stack On for not too much money.

 

[bdblk12v]

You should not be satisfied with 3 years of service out of a quality safe!
I've had my Liberty for 20 problem free years. It is a manual, which is all I would ever buy.
Still, I'll bet that Cannon was not cheap and I would be disappointed with that reply from CS.
Try them again and see if you can't get a supervisor to help.
Polite requests to the right person can go far, especially if they know you are close to a large number of the shooting community.
You might mention how you bought that particular safe based on your research among ALL your friends here and other shooting forums and that they are surprised and disappointed that Cannon can't help you with this very recent purchase.

Actually having my cannon safe fail and my brothers cannon safe fail i really cant see saying that cannon is a quality safe. Yes customer service basically blew me off because the safe is over a year old. They did say they would send me the parts for free.

 

[TX-Dennis]

It's too bad the electronic lock doesn't have a backup key. My cheap Stack On with electronic lock has a big key for backup. It's an Elite so not their cheapest line, but still not terribly high quality. I've never needed the key, but I did try it out to make sure it works. It does.

I thought my lock had failed once because it still didn't work after I changed the battery. I had bought a store brand 9v battery. On a hunch I went back and bought an Energizer. Presto - it worked like a charm. No more cheapo batteries for me.

I know my Chinese made electronic lock will fail eventually, but at least I will still be able to get in without cutting it. If/when that happens I should be able to have a new mechanical lock fitted. I might be better off to put that money toward a better safe, though.

 

[gman51]

I bought an American Security and it had an electric lock on it. After three years sometimes the lock wouldn't open. So I got it open and called a safe company to come change out the electric lock for a combination lock. CHA CHING $370 and I had a combination lock installed.
Checking the old electric lock I found a wire had a poor connection and I wiggled the wire back into the lock. The lock works every time now out of the safe. Remove the lock key pad and wiggle the wires going into the safe. You might find the lock will start working again.
I was told if I hadn't been able to get the lock to open the last time then it would have cost me a couple hundred to get it open to change out the lock. Looking at the lock mechanism if I ever have to get into the safe I will drill a hole through the door center bottom of the combination dial. Then I should be able to insert something to pry the lock block up and then can turn the handle to open the safe.

I will never buy another safe with an electronic lock and key pad. I bought supposedly a top line safe figuring it would be better quality than a big box store safe. I paid $1300 for my safe and I found out a $400 big store safe would have been built just as well. I found don't believe all the hype about big box store safes are junk.
I do realize you have to check any safe for sealing well and with strong metal lipped door opening to help stop using a pry bar to bend the safe frame away to open the door.
I thought from reading the flier on the safe in the store that the safe had a lifetime warranty. WRONG Closely reading the safe is warranted only for one year but in case of fire or burglary then the safe had a lifetime warranty.

I will not pay some safe company several hundred bucks to get into a safe. I will drill it myself to pry the lock block up or if that doesn't work then I will take a grinding wheel and cut the locking mechanism out to open the door.

 

[Kanewpadle]

It's too bad the electronic lock doesn't have a backup key. My cheap Stack On with electronic lock has a big key for backup. It's an Elite so not their cheapest line, but still not terribly high quality. I've never needed the key, but I did try it out to make sure it works. It does.

I thought my lock had failed once because it still didn't work after I changed the battery. I had bought a store brand 9v battery. On a hunch I went back and bought an Energizer. Presto - it worked like a charm. No more cheapo batteries for me.

I know my Chinese made electronic lock will fail eventually, but at least I will still be able to get in without cutting it. If/when that happens I should be able to have a new mechanical lock fitted. I might be better off to put that money toward a better safe, though.

The key back up is a nice feature. But they put it there not as a convenience but because they know eventually the lock will fail. American safe manufactures do no install such a lock because it's a weakness that can be exploited.

 

[pawngal]

It's too bad the electronic lock doesn't have a backup key. My cheap Stack On with electronic lock has a big key for backup. It's an Elite so not their cheapest line, but still not terribly high quality. I've never needed the key, but I did try it out to make sure it works. It does.

I thought my lock had failed once because it still didn't work after I changed the battery. I had bought a store brand 9v battery. On a hunch I went back and bought an Energizer. Presto - it worked like a charm. No more cheapo batteries for me.

I know my Chinese made electronic lock will fail eventually, but at least I will still be able to get in without cutting it. If/when that happens I should be able to have a new mechanical lock fitted. I might be better off to put that money toward a better safe, though.

I have a similar safe, not something I would have picked out if I were shopping for one but the price was right. A friend won it at a Pheasants Forever event and didn't need it. $150 delivered, down a flight of stairs and into a back closet. I did need it because my old (ancient) one getting too small.

 

[model3sw]

I am a locksmith.

Have the safe drilled open by a professional. Then have them install a rotary safe lock. It will be expensive but it will cost less than a new safe.

I've said many times how I hate digital safe locks. This why. They are made in China. A rotary dial lock will last many years with no problems and may need occasional maintenance.

Do not cut a hole in the safe. It won't help.

The batteries MUST be Duracell or Energizer. All others are not strong enough.

If all modalities to open the lock have been exhausted then drilling the lock would be "the" proper, most convenient, and logical way to go. He states there is no locksmith with these qualifications near him or it may not be cost effective.

If I read the specs correctly that Canon is more of a locked steel box instead of a "safe" (by proper definition). At a weight of 550 lbs empty compared to similar size NSS at 2200 lbs., should be like opening a cracker box. Automotive panel cutters can eat 1/8" steel plate and still be hungry when done.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi bdblk12v:

I had my own issues with a Cannon gun safe as indicated here:

Cannon gun safe - is this normal?

If it helps, the person I spoke with at Cannon, and who ultimately helped me come to a satisfactory conclusion was a Mr. Angel Del Castillo. You might want to call Cannon and ask to speak with him to see if he can assist you.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[loknload]

Just a shame to have to cut it open but it is what it is!
Personally never cared for those electronic keypads on a safe, like to do it the old fashioned way!

 

[vmumford]

I have a Liberty 60 Presidential. Purchased it in 2011 with dial. The only time I cant open it is when I have had to many glasses of Whiskey. I think this is a good unintentional secury option that they gave me for free....LOL
This will be an heirloom to my daughter some day and most likely will be to her children. They are very well made and I would spend the money again given the choice. Good luck on getting your Cannon open. Its not the safe but the contents inside that matter most I'm sure.

 

[bdblk12v]

I have a Liberty 60 Presidential. Purchased it in 2011 with dial. The only time I cant open it is when I have had to many glasses of Whiskey. I think this is a good unintentional secury option that they gave me for free....LOL
This will be an heirloom to my daughter some day and most likely will be to her children. They are very well made and I would spend the money again given the choice. Good luck on getting your Cannon open. Its not the safe but the contents inside that matter most I'm sure.

Yes sir exactly. I did put a liberty lincoln on lay away. Its the 50 model and i believe it will be money well spent. The second i opened the door and it felt like it weighed 500lbs i knew thats what i want. Your correct its the contents on the safe not the safe. I could care less it was 500$ when i bought it and i think i got my moneys worth. I do like your security feature of whiskey sounds like a great one thats pretty fool proof lol.

 

[MetalMan]

Another vote for Liberty safe with a manual combination lock.

 

[Tom S.]

Have your cake and eat it too:

 

[Toyman]

In this thread several have expressed their dislike of electronic key pads for their safes. I have a Fort Knox with electronic pad and I am thinking about changing to conventional lock system.
Are any of you concerned about some type of electric pulse attack that will disable electric looks ??

 

[jsfricks]

In this thread several have expressed their dislike of electronic key pads for their safes. I have a Fort Knox with electronic pad and I am thinking about changing to conventional lock system.
Are any of you concerned about some type of electric pulse attack that will disable electric looks ??

Many Liberty safes use the S&G brand electronic lock which are guaranteed against electronic pulse attack. From my reading guarding electronics from EMP is not expensive and takes very little resources, something the US and Canada need to look at. Liberty has a 5 YEAR parts and labor on S&G UL LISTED LOCKS (Mechanical or Electronic). I have the S&G on mine and I'm not worried in the least about it. One locksmith I've talked to goes on calls for electronic locks but not for the S&G.

 

[Tom S.]

In this thread several have expressed their dislike of electronic key pads for their safes. I have a Fort Knox with electronic pad and I am thinking about changing to conventional lock system.
Are any of you concerned about some type of electric pulse attack that will disable electric looks ??

Depending on the year your safe was made, the keypad may already be of the anti-EMP design. Contact Fort Knox and ask. Also, the keypad may have a life time warranty - mine does.