How to Open an Old Vintage Antique Trunk or Chest Lock

Man, this video was handy. My wife locked the key in the trunk, and I used this same method to open hers.

Am amazed how easy that was. Have two locked trunks needing this technique. Thank you.

I tried several times clockwise, even bought a set of T46k keys, they just bent. Just tried it again counter clockwise this time and with second screwdriver prying up on the lock & it worked! Awesome! Thank you so much!

Omg thank you!

Thank goodness this vid is here lol, I finally got it! I didn’t have a narrow enough flathead screwdriver but my tweezers did the job 😅

wowo you're a genius! I picked up this exact chest on the srreets lol.

It won’t work for me, im trying my best and I can’t get it to open, there’s important stuff in there my dad wanted me to have after he passed away 😔

My trunk is 40 years old. I had it in my basement. When we moved, I started using it again. I have no idea where the key is. I inadvertently locked it. Used this method and it worked. Thank you!

Its not working for me ive tried so mamy ways ugh

This worked for me to unlock a bunch of wonderful letters between my parents. The trick was I had to lay the trunk down so that the lock was facing up. It did not work when I tried to do it with the lock in its normal vertical position.

Yes! It worked. Took me 2 seconds. THANK YOU

By golly, it worked! 1st try. A million thanks.🎉

Thank you. It worked but I had to do it twice to release both sides.

Thank you, believing me 90% of people are here for totally legal reasons the other nine are bored, them one percent are trying to start their life of crime. I was bored.

I appreciate this video but it didn't work for me :/

Great video. I got in on the first try with your advice but accidently locked it again and now I can't seem to get it like the first time lol.

Thank you. I just used your technique to open a trunk thats been in the cellar for decades.What did I find? An old mirror and some frames. Thanks again for your help.

Nice!! I just got one of these someone was chucking and was like "am I going to have to drill this for it to be useful as more than a coffee table, it looks old I'd rather not damage it" . 2 seconds later, I'm in ! The inside of mine was all like wood-panneled too!!! Super cool! I wonder how old these are XD

thank you!

I just bought the same one at Goodwill today and it worked!!

I was skeptical, but your method worked for an old brass steamer trunk of my late mother's. Thanks!

Every time my toddlers lock my steamer trunk, I come back to this video and it works like a charm! You're a lifesaver!

Thank you so much for this. It worked perfectly.

Thanks! I acquired 3 trunks of a different brand but the locks work in a very similar way as the one in your video. I managed to get them open after some struggle. I intend to keep using the trunks to store blankets and stuff and I don't want to have to go through the screw driver process every time that I need to open them. Is there some way that I can just disable the locks with out having to destroy them or break them off of the trunk? I can feel springs inside that hold the locking tabs out. I wonder if you could jam something down inside of those little access holes above each locking tab in order to keep the locking tabs from extending out? There must be a lot of people that would like to just bypass the lock mechanism to make their trunks more usable.

I’m not sure if there are different sizes of these locks, but if anyone else is having trouble with the size of the flathead screwdriver, 1/8” worked for me

Great idea..however, it's unsuccessful for me..mechanism goes all the way around and still locked..I am probably causing more damage while bending up the screw drivers...not your fault, not mechanically inclined..lol

Thank you! :-)

It helped so much 🎉
Thanks!

I had a screwdriver that was too large, but found that the more pointed side of scissors also works quite well well if used at the appropriate angle.
Thank you so very much!!

Ty so much for this video!! I was able to get into my grandfather's old army chest!

This worked first time, I was amazed - thanks so much!

Thankyou!!,

Accidently locked while carrying with strap. Tried lifting the sides a little...to jam it open. Take to a locksmith?? Looked up on internet. Saw your informative video. After a few minutes of trying....Success! Thank you so much. Trust me, you have performed a true public service.

super helpful, especially your very straightforward instruction! thanks so much !!

This worked for me. Big thanks!

Now I can recover all the gold. That's great.

This 100% helped me out. I bought an old trunk from my work today to store some clothes in, didn’t realize it was locked. I was about to cut the latch. Thanks man! Also I work at a thrift store and no loot to be had :( but I can now use it as intended

Thanks for this! Like a few hundred others I found this super-helpful! I took a second screwdriver and used it to lift the mechanism
once the first side was free, while working my way to the other side to free that part. We have two of these trunks full of old stamps!

Mate thank you so much - I stupidly locked my late mums trunk with stuff inti - and spent hours trying to unlock and you method to surprise worked a treat. I really damage it as obviously massive sentimental value - so massive thanks - cheers mate :)

I still can't get mine open and I literally have the exact same one... all it does is spin the lock but without actually opening it and it's not roasted in anyway.

Thank you so much for this! I bought an old trunk at a friend's yard sale - she had no key for it so she left it unlocked and open - then another friend of ours accidentally locked it while admiring it 😅 With your help I had it open in minutes!

Thank you so much!!! It worked!

My lock doesn't look like that and still won't open. it has a double slot. I think I broke a piece of metal off into it so might be hooped

Thanks very much! Just opened a truck that's been locked for 33 years! Trick is to use a small screwdriver.

Im going to college this year and my family has an old trunk i wanted to use. The problem was it was locked I tried to open it myself gave up the looked up the lock. Thanks you. The key was found later but I was impatient.

Omg thank you I lost the key to mine also it's the same one too

do you know what chest this is?

Thank you!!! It worked.

Thanks

Thank you. I did mine within a matter of seconds while listening to your instructions 🎉