how to open a locked cabinet?

[Torquative]

hey all

I inherited a damaged glass display cabinet from work this week to display my almighty Holden model cars in.

The glass door and the shelves had been smashed into nothingness so they decided rather then repair they would throw out

The problem is like all display cabinets it has a locked storage area underneath it, and work has lost the key because nothing was ever stored down there

Its one of those filing cabinet type key locks.

Anyway I started to dismantle the top of the cabinet to remove the old door hinge, but it'd take hours to dismantle the whole thing down to the base just to get inside the cabinet. Plus I risk shattering the other 3 glass panels along the way. Ive also had it on its roof, theres no way of dismantling the cabinet from the bottom.

I wanted to know if anyone has ever had to break into a filing cabinet (for legit reasons of course), if so, how???

I was thinking of just hitting the lock barrel with a drill and breaking it into many pieces, but I thought before I create a mess I'd ask if someone can help.

Help via PM is fine

[scrabet]

can you drill the lock out

[LUMPY 8]

if its the same as the cabnet in my room get a hammer nd a flat head nd try nd pry the lock off or if that didnt work smash the lock until it comes off

OR get a hacksaw blade nd stick it in the gap where the lock is nd cut off the little mettle thing that sticks up nd it should open

[keza87]

I have managed to get one of thoes barrels out with a letter opener before, but that may have been a fluke.
I say "Just smash it open" lol

[Torquative]

i sort of figured the general idea would be "just smash it open"

gives me something to do on the weekend

[System]

... u can use explosives? lol

[POVRTY]

drop it from up high. ,lol

[wildss]

if you do take that path please take pics

[BANKS]

id go with drilling it out. progressively use larger bits untill the barrel no longer locks it is there a small bolt or circlip on the back?

[evil_monkey]

my alarm box had a cir clip, tried drilling the lock out without sucess so i jammed a screw driver in the hole and twisted it around heaps and the clip bounced off n the panel opened

[xlr8_87]

+1 vote for drilling, it can't make it harder to unlock so go for that first

if that fails try the hacksaw blade

if that fails, cut the whole doors off, can't be hard to fix new doors on

[Void]

slide hammer with a pointy screw head on it
simply screw it into the lock so it solidly in and slide hammer away

If that fails then get a drill and drill it out

[mischa]

hammer and drill.... hmmm im going to need a bigger hammer

[Bax]

I'd just go with a flathead screwdriver and a hammer. I'd say it would either unlock it or push it out the back.

[pow3rslave]

watch no country for old men, that'll give you an idea of how to deal with locks

[VN_Luke]

pow3rslave is back!!!!!!!!