Question

Notice on a brief case lost while traveling by bus

Answer 1

How do you open a briefcase when the combination is lost?One way - Look through the gap between the number wheel and the frame of the briefcase. Do one full rotation of the number wheel. While rotating, look for a dip line through the axial line of the number wheel. Keep the dial so that that line exactly faces you. Now to find the correct number, add 5 to the number shown in front of the number wheel. If the result crosses 9, you should subtract 5 from the number shown in front. It should be done for each of the number wheels. It should be done in a min :) This results in the least number of combinations on each of the three wheels i.e 3* 10 = Only 30 combinations :) Another Way - especially if you can't see the dip in the wheel- Set the combo to 0x0, (the middle number doesn't matter right now) and while holding the open lever as if to open the lock, spin the middle dial (that's the "x" in the notation I'm using)... If your combo is hit, the lock will spring open. If not, try 0x1, then 0x2, thru to 0x9, then 1x0,1x1,...1x9, then with 2, 3, etc. This allows only 100 options instead of 1000, and I just opened mine in about 4 minutes... (combo was 391, so even if it had been 999, it would have only taken about 12 minutes) Additional Info : I cracked my (late) father's Samsonite case by holding the case upright under a bright light: looking down the cracks whilst turning the dials I could see a gap about 3 digits wide. This area was dark as opposed to the brass coloured (split) ring which reflects the light. I find it helps to understand how the lock works. The C-shaped ring is rotated by the digit wheel. Each wheel prevents a spring-loaded bar from moving closer to the lock. Where there is a gap, no pressure is exerted on the bar. Thus all wheels have to line up with the gap away from the lock. When this occurs, the bar moves closer to the lock, and the hooks on the lid are released. The two side handles play no part in the lock mechanism, therefore can be kept open all the time. As soon as the correct combination is reached, the lid flips open without any mechanism.