A friend needs help: He's accidentally locked his attache case

[Maddy McCall]

It's a Halliburton Zero metal case. He accidentally reset the code and now it is locked and he can't get into it. He has been called out to work (to Dubai, and he needs to get in to get his passport).

Does ANYONE here have any suggestions on how to get into the thing? Is there some kind of default code he can try?

(I know, it serves him right for carrying anything stamped with the Halliburton name :-) but he really needs to get into the thing without destroying it in the process.)

Thanks in advance for ANY suggestions I can relay to him! :hi:

On edit: No, a hacksaw or axe won't work...these things are virtually indestructable.

[Kamika]

1. test all codes

he will tops have to try and open the case 999 times

start with 000 then 001 etc

[eyesroll]

2. Locksmith?

Usually, the default code on luggage is "000," "999" or "123." (Similar if the locks are 4 or 5 numbers.)

[Maddy McCall]

4. Thanks, EYES! I will call him back and tell him to try those...

It is a three-digit tumbler. Can't be that hard to figure out.

I'll report back.

[DS1]

3. call Halliburton

:think:

[Maddy McCall]

7. He doesn't work for Halliburton...

And I am sure they don't have a "briefcase specialist" who handles questions like this.

The locksmith suggestion above is probably the best.

[DS1]

14. Does he own a Halliburton case or not?

It doesn't matter if he works for them :eyes:

Sometimes the simplest answer...

[Maddy McCall]

17. It has the halliburton name, but is made by a seperate company

out of Utah. Got the contact info to him and he is going to call them tomorrow AM. Bad thing is, though, that if they ask him to send it in to them for repair or whatever, his PASSPORT is inside it, and he can be called out overseas at any moment--he's always on call--so he was trying to find a fix without having to resort to mailing it in or waiting a week for a solution.


Does that now make sense?

Thanks for your suggestions.

On edit: Let me clarify that he has received his call for stand-by for Dubai right now. He will get the next call, probably tomorrow, which tells him when the plane will leave and when he needs to be in N.O. so he needs a quick solution.

[Tripper11]

8. Call Dick Cheney....

he has all the codes doesn't he? :hi:

[Cleita]

5. Popping out the hinges?

Or is it too sleek and modern for that? Yeah, I think a locksmith is the solution.

[RC]

6. Does he have a government issue picture of

Ben Franklin he can wave in front of a good locksmith?

[Maddy McCall]

10. LOL!

No, but we do have an on-call locksmith here, so I am going to suggest the three default codes mentioned by eyesroll above and then tell him to try the smith.

[mrfrapp]

9. 000

Is this the case in question. The article briefly mentions that the default code is '000'.

[Maddy McCall]

11. THANK YOU!

I am calling him right now! I have scoured the net! See, this is why I posted this question on DU. You are god, Mr. Frapp!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. I don't think that is the case

I have an Aluminum Halliburton case and I keep it at 000 when in the locked position.

I think if your friend SLOWLY moves the combo it will have a lighter click on the combo numbers...In the meantime, I will cal my sister..she used to work for Halliburton..that is how i got my case.

[Maddy McCall]

19. THANKS NSMA!!!

Thanks a million! :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. I called her...she doesn't recall

if it is stcuk then try WD40 and proceed as I said..it really is easy to crack.

[Maddy McCall]

21. Thanks for calling her.

If he doesn't have to leave tonight, it won't hurt him to sit around and try the tumblers. I told him what you said about listening to them. Thanks for your suggestions!

[hlthe2b]

12. Locksmith?

Ahh, the Haliburton curse, strikes again....

[jpgray]

13. Cool! Will he handcuff it to his wrist at any point? (nt)

[Tripper11]

15. Did the default code work? (nt)

[Maddy McCall]

18. No...it looks like the lock is jammed...

He is right now sitting in his den floor trying combinations starting with 000, 001, 002, 003...until he gets to 999.

He is desperate because his passport is inside and he might get called out. He is on call all the time. If he gets called out between now and tomorrow AM when he talks to the company's customer service rep, he is screwed. And he has received his call that he is on stand-by for Dubai right now. The next call will probably come in the next twenty-four hours, and that is the call that tells him when his flight is and when to be at the airport.

And if the briefcase company tell him to mail it in for them to reset the combination, he is REALLY screwed. He will have to sacrifice the $400 case for his passport at that point and get into it however he can.

Thanks, though, to everyone who offered solutions. I will update if he cracks the code. ;-)

[Kamika]

22. wee

My advice won

[ProudGerman]

23. cutting torch?

He'd get inside in only a few minutes.