Subject: [Shop-talk] Old toolbox combo lock

From: Brian Kemp <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:06:54 +0000

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Anyone know how to work the combo lock on the attached old wooden toolbox? =
 It was my dad's and I'm trying to open it to see what is inside.  There is=
 a combination taped to the back of the toolbox, so I think I know it.  I =
just can't figure out the turns.

If you don't mind, please include my e-mail in your reply as I can't seem =
to stop team.net e-mails from being threated as spam.

Thanks,

Brian

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_______________________________________________

[email-masked]
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive

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From: Brian Kemp <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:56:03 +0000

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John - Thanks.  It was a variation of method one.  I stopped at the last =
number then turned the dial to the right about 3 numbers to pull the =
latches.

Lots of vintage tools.

Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: John Innis <[email-masked]>
Sent: Jun 10, 2026 3:36 PM
To: Brian Kemp <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Old toolbox combo lock

These typically work on single turn R-L-R pattern. =20
Turn the dial to the right, at least full revolution, then continue turning=
 right to the first number. =20
Turn Left to the 2nd number directly (do NOT do a full turn first). =20
Then turn right to the 3rd number directly, again, not making a full turn =
first. =20

This pattern works on very simple combination locks found on some toolboxes=
.  If that pattern does NOT work try this:
Turn the dial to the right, at least THREE full revolutions, then continue =
turning right to the first number. =20
Turn Left one full revolution, past the first number, then turn to the left=
 to the 2nd number
Then turn right to the 3rd number directly, not making a full turn first. =
=20
=20
One of these two patterns should work on 95% of the dial combination locks =
out there.

On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 5:21=E2=80=AFPM Brian Kemp <[email-masked] =
(mailto:[email-masked])> wrote:

If you don't mind, please include my e-mail in your reply as I can't seem =
to stop team.net (http://team.net) e-mails from being threated as spam.

Thanks,

Brian

[email-masked] (mailto:[email-masked])
Archive:  http://autox.team.net/archive (http://www.team.=
net/pipermail/shop-talk)

@gmail.com

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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=3D Never offend people with style when you   =3D
=3D can offend with substance --- Sam Brown  =3D
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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<div style=3D"color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12p=
t"><p style=3D"line-height: 1;">John - Thanks.&nbsp; It was a variation of =
method one.&nbsp; I stopped at the last number then turned the dial to the =
right about 3 numbers to pull the latches.</p><p style=3D"line-height: =
1;"><br></p><p style=3D"line-height: 1;">Lots of vintage tools.</p><p =
style=3D"line-height: 1;"><br></p><p style=3D"line-height: 1;">Brian</p><p =
style=3D"line-height: 1;"></p><br></div><div class=3D"elnk-inline-message-c=
ontainer" style=3D"border-left:1px solid #aaa;box-sizing:border-box;padding=
:10px 0 10px 15px;margin:0"><p style=3D"line-height: 1;">-----Original =
Message-----<br>From: John Innis &lt;[email-masked]&gt;<br>Sent: Jun 10,=
 2026 3:36 PM<br>To: Brian Kemp &lt;[email-masked]&gt;<br>Subject: Re: =
[Shop-talk] Old toolbox combo lock</p><p style=3D"margin: 0; padding: 0; =
line-height: 1.5;"><br></p><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>These typically work on =
single turn R-L-R pattern.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Turn the dial to the right=
, at least full revolution, then continue turning right to the first number=
.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Turn Left to the 2nd number directly (do NOT do a =
full turn first).&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Then turn right to the 3rd number =
directly, again, not making a full turn first.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></=
div><div>This pattern works on very simple combination locks found on some =
toolboxes.&nbsp; If that pattern does NOT work try this:</div><div>
<div>Turn the dial to the right, at least THREE full revolutions, then =
continue turning right to the first number.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Turn Left=
 one full revolution, past the first number, then turn to the left to the =
2nd number</div><div>Then turn right to the 3rd number directly, not making=
 a full turn first.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;</div><div>One of these two =
patterns should work on 95% of the dial combination locks out there.=
</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote =
gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jun 10=
, 2026 at 5:21=E2=80=AFPM Brian Kemp &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:bk13@earthlink.=
net">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px =
solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Anyone know how to work the combo =
lock on the attached old wooden toolbox?&nbsp; It was my dad's and I'm =
trying to open it to see what is inside.&nbsp; There is a combination taped=
 to the back of the toolbox, so I think I know it.&nbsp; I just can't =
figure out the turns.<br>
<br>
<br>
If you don't mind, please include my e-mail in your reply as I can't seem =
to stop <a href=3D"http://team.net" rel=3D"noreferrer" =
target=3D"_blank">team.net</a> e-mails from being threated as spam.<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
<br>
Brian<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">Shop-talk@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" =
rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.=
net/pipermail/shop-talk</a> <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" =
rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
alk/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.=
team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><br><span =
class=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" =
class=3D"gmail_signature">=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br>=3D Never offend =
people with style when you&nbsp;&nbsp; =3D<br>=3D can offend with substance=
 --- Sam Brown&nbsp; =3D<br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</div>
</div>
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[email-masked]

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