Look what I found...

[usmcboltaction]

I was checking out some family land, and found this safe. My uncle says he got it in a trade from a guy who bought part of the rail line that was used to build Grand Coulee Damn. He has both combos and it looks like it has no damage on the inside. I am gonna try to find a way to finagle it out of him.

I know absolutely nothing about safes, so can anyone tell me anything about value?

[HallisChalmers]

Looks heavy as hell - and built like a tank.

Excellent!

[usmcboltaction]

Yeah it is heavy. We have a Korea era tank lifting crane not too far from it tho.

[happykill]

Man, I love old pieces like that... it's one hell of a find!

[LocksmithArmy]

wholly cool...

[chris]

Pretty sweet looking mechanism and hinges on the inside lockbox too, very nice find.

[the lockpickkid]

Nice find! Looks to be in great shape as well!

[elbowmacaroni]

Ya see, the value thing is tricky, but it is also of historical significance, so that throws another monkey wrench into the works of figuring that out. Can your uncle document the origin in relation to the rail-line?

[usmcboltaction]

I dunno if we can document it. It has been on the property for years, so I will prolly just wait til it gets passed down to me.

[lockpickingmick]

great find dude also east west boggie wheels i love this stuff

[the lockpickkid]

It's worth money for sure, but remember, most anything railroad marked is worth even more, we have some stuff that is railroad marked and it does add a considerable more value to most items.

[chris]

lockpickkid, if stuff such as safes and locks and whatnot was used on a railroad it is worth more money? why is that?

[HallisChalmers]

lockpickkid, if stuff such as safes and locks and whatnot was used on a railroad it is worth more money? why is that?

Just as lockfreaks get weirded out over antique locks or unique locksmith items - same goes for railroad nuts. Take a look at the huge stock of stuff on eBay for sale: old padlocks, signs, lanterns, schedules, maps...the list goes on.

http://collectibles.shop.ebay.com/Railroadiana-Trains-/1444/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A2564&_nkw=railroad&_catref=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_pgn=2

Which is probably why there are so many fake items being passed off as genuine articles. I think if usmcboltaction is able to prove the history of the safe - he may have a little goldmine. With collecting - it is the provenance of the article in question that is critical.

If usmcboltaction is able to find some type of documentary evidence relating to the safe - be it a ledger, receipt, inventory list - or better yet - photos - anything that corroborates the history of the safe and how it got into his grandfather's possession, he's got a worthwhile piece of history.

Research is the key - you have to spend a lot of time searching through old papers, boxes, etc to find that one tidbit of info that can bring in the cash.

[the lockpickkid]

Exactly what Hallis said. I have heard of items being proven to be used in the railroad industry, etc, etc, by researching serial numbers, sometimes there is still a record somewhere of said piece being bought by "such and such" Railroad. A safe especially is something that could very easily be identified by the serial number because of it being stolen, and for insurance purposes.

[magician59]

I dont think this particular safe is a railroad safe, though. The lettering onthe safe reads, "Railway Express Agency". That may have been a rail transport-related company, but not any particular railroad. (But, again, there I go thinking!)