Safe repair?

[Guest UberDuper]

So we hired some people to come out and unload the 28' trailer we moved all our stuff in. These guys did a great job until they got to the very last item to come out.. My gun safe.

They tried to use a small dolly and wheel it down the ramp. When I walked out of my house and saw them doing this, instead of hollering at them to stop, I ran over and tried to help. Just as I get there the safe is about 2' down the 12' ramp and the guy holding onto the dolly up in the trailer say it's slipping. He lays the dolly flat and the safe tips off the dolly sideways, does a 180 and lands door first in the street. About a 4' drop.

The door was knocked half way off its hinges. We had to pound on them with a hammer to get it back on the hinges right so I could even open the door. The door is a little warped at the hinges and doesn't close flush anymore. When closed, the bottom of the door is about 1/4 - 1/2" inside the box. I'm not even sure if the box is square anymore. The knob feels loose and clunky. It still operates but I'm afraid to put anything in the safe now for fear that the lock will fail in a closed state.

It wasn't a particularly expensive safe and I don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing safe repair so I might be SOL here.

[MacGyver]

The thing that really matters in that safe, the fire rating, is likely shot. With the door being out of square, it also presents a nice pry point for a theif to try and get in it.

I would write this safe off. At this point you've got a really heavy box that may keep an unmotivated person out. If your movers were insured, maybe you could make a claim on that. It's probably worth checking with your homeowners insurance as well to see if they'll cover it.

Sorry about the accident. At least no one was hurt and your weapons were unharmed.

[peejman]

Do the people you hired have insurance? They dropped it, they should replace it. If they don't and aren't going to replace it, your home owner's is likely your only option. If the safe wasn't a lot more than your deductible... I'd say you're SOL.

[gregintenn]

Had the hired movers dropped a lamp, wouldn't you expect them to replace it? Same difference. You didn't hire them to break things; just ot move them.

[Jonnin]

They buy you a new safe. Use the old one to store ammo or something if you can get it to open.

[Guest UberDuper]

This was a low cost "not responsible for damages" kinda outfit. We've talked to them a couple times but I don't have my hopes up.

[56FordGuy]

Check with The Safe House in Nashville. With the door/ body being out of square, the others are probably right and this one's done. But if anyone can fix it, it'll be the guys at The Safe House. If nothing else, they can tell you for sure if it's toast or not.

[Guest UberDuper]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

[56FordGuy]

Just curious, what brand of safe was it? I had a Champion safe that was dropped by a forklift from 20-30 feet multiple times. The sheetrock inside turned to dust, and the handle broke, but the body still seemed fairly sound and straight. If you do have to replace it, you might consider Champion. I was impressed.

[Guest UberDuper]

The box is probably okay. I'll take a square to it tomorrow to see if it's just the door or not.

It's a Winchester. I'm not sure of the model but it was pretty cheap as far as safes that size go. I got it from Sam's Club or Costco about 5 years ago for $600.

[av88tor]

We would be happy to look at your Winchester safe and let you know if it is repairable. We are a authorized Winchester dealer and we do all of their warranty repair work in the Middle Tennessee area. You can call us at 615-255-0500 or come by our showroom in Nashville,TN

[Guest safes]

if is a 1/4 plate door you can put a 2 by 4 in one corner and flex it back real close this is if the box is not warped and out of square if the lock did not take a hit should be ok would not hurt to have it looked at new lock and install about $150.00 to $200.00 the mover should pay for it or new safe just my thoughts Daryl Rowe

southland safes

[DaveTN]

Welcome to Murfreesboro.

So we hired some people to come out and unload the 28' trailer we moved all our stuff in.

I'm guessin' that means you gave some MTSU students beer money.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

Do you have home owners insurance?