Gun Safe Locksmith in Philadelphia

By Michael Schiavone, owner of Aspire Safe and Lock · Updated October 31, 2026

Why gun safes lock people out

• Dead or weak batteries. The keypad may still beep and light up but not have enough power to move the lock. Search terms like "gun safe just beeps" and "won't open after battery change" are common for a reason.
• Failed keypad or lock. Keypads wear and electronics fail, especially in damp basements and garages.
• Forgotten code or combination. Many gun safes get opened only a few times a year, during hunting season or before a trip to the range.
• An aging electronic lock. Electronic locks have about a ten-year life from their manufacture date. Past that, they're a lockout waiting to happen.
• Handle or bolt problems. Spoke handles can strip when forced, and bolts can bind if something is leaning on the door. Mike repairs wheel handles.
• Inherited or bought used. The person who knew the combination has passed away or sold the safe without passing it on.

What to check, and what not to do

• Check the battery. Look at the brand and the expiration date. Mike recommends Duracell Procell or Energizer Industrial, dated at least five years out.
• Broken battery connector or keypad wire? Don't play around with the wires. Call.
• Don't spray WD-40 or any lubricant into the keypad, the dial or the lock.
• Don't cut the hinges. It will not open the door, and it makes the opening more dangerous.

More on the safe won't open page.

Gun cabinets

A gun cabinet, like the Sentinel below, is basically a cheaper solution to a gun safe. It's a budget-friendly option for keeping your firearms secured.

How Mike handles a gun safe lockout

Text Mike clear photos of the whole safe door, the handle and the keypad or dial at (661) 927-7473 or email info@aspiresafeandlock.com, plus photos above, below and on each side of the safe. Tell him what happened, what you've tried, and whether the safe is bolted down. The photos help him tell you what kind of lock it is and what the opening will involve.

His goal is to open the safe in the least destructive way possible, in a reasonable amount of time, and then repair it correctly. Once it's open, the failed parts get repaired or replaced, often with a new lock and keypad, so the safe goes back into use.

If you'd like a different lock after the opening, a dial or a keypad, see electronic safe locks.

Gun boxes and small handgun safes

Small biometric, keypad and key-lock gun boxes lock people out too, and they're easy to damage by forcing. Charles wrote this after Mike helped with his gun box:

THANK YOU,Mike for all your help with my gun box and for helping me feel less embarrassed,wil be definitely recommending you to other friends and family. Thank you so very much. You are a big help.

If you feel silly for getting locked out of your own safe, you're far from the first. It happens to careful people.

Inherited gun safes

A gun safe left behind by a parent or relative is a common situation, often with no combination and no paperwork. The estate or the heir will usually need to show they have the right to open it. See inherited and antique safes for what documents can help.

Moving and bolting down

Need a gun safe moved to a new room, carried down to a basement or bolted to the floor? Mike gives estimates for safe moving and bolt-down work. See safe moving and installation.