KIDDE SAFETY 001005 Commercial Portable Keysafe Assorted

This is a key lockbox with a dial combination lock and a shackle that can be used to attach it to a doorknob or pipe. It is pretty well built for its class.The main box is sturdy metal. There is a notch in the left arm of the shackle and there is a spring-loaded lever and catch that holds the shackle shut. You open the shackle by pulling on the level. Since it is spring loaded, one might imagine putting tension on the shackle and hitting the main box with hammer to make the catch momentarily release. But there is a pin the holds the lever in place when the lock is fully closed. (Nice touch.) The shackle has a diameter of 0.25 inches and is covered with plastic tubing.The combination lock is a standard disk-based combination lock. The code is in letters, from A - Z. So there are only 26 x 26 x 26 = 17576 possible combinations. In a few trials I found that it would sometimes open when the entered combination was one character off. It is easy to find the last digit by feel. So this lowers the search space down to 26 x 26 = 676 tries. From the factory, the combination is set to a value documented in the instructions. So it is imperative that you change the combination before using the lockbox.Changing the combination is not at all difficult for someone with reasonable skill at manipulating small objects, but could be daunting for the technically challenged. One problem is that there are spacers between the disks, and the instructions tell to put the spacers in "with the short leg on the right". But they don't tell you which way they expected you to be holding the device. In the orientation with the long edge vertical and the dial at the bottom, the spacers should be put in with the short leg down. This error should have been caught and corrected before these things shipped.The biggest potential security issue is that the disks that implement the combination are plastic. It might be that a good downward (i.e. in the direction of the longest axis) impact with a hammer on the "push button" (more like a slider) would shatter the plastic disks and instantly let the attacker in.This is the "commercial" version. This one has a metal dial while the consumer version apparently has a plastic dial (found this in other postings), and there may be other differences.

I used this for a house renovation so contractors could get in without my having to drive an hour just to let them in. I didn't have any trouble setting the combination, and it was also easy to securely attach to an outdoor water faucet. I put it on a faucet behind some bushes and covered it up with one of those foam freeze protectors so it would not be immediately visible. It worked great, although a couple of contractors seemed to have difficulty with there being letters on the dial (instead of numbers). I like the letters better because you can set it to something easy to remember (initials, letters on your license plate, etc.). This little lockbox saved me a lot of driving.I'm sure it's possible to break it open or pick the lock, but it's also possible (and a lot faster) to kick a door in. Not that I've ever done that.

Only three stars because haven't put it in use yet. Seems ok.My girlfriend and I had a dickens of a time opening it, though. The instructions and diagram are ambiguous, but it's easy once you finally interpret it correctly. For the second letter: spin past it once and stop on it the second time it comes around. Voila. The first and third letter, stop on them immediately when you hit them the first time. (Head slap.) You're welcome.

This is the best key safe available - thow not as easy to use as push button safes, it is as secure as it gets. The difference between this model and the non-comercial dial one, is this one has just clips holding the combo change plate in place. The other has screws holding the plate. So this one is easier to change the combo on, if you want people to be able to easily change it. Also the dial is metal on this unit, though that has no significant impact on functionally. Since coverplate is only accessible when lock is open, they are both equally secure.

Sturdy and functional. Renters have had no problems using it. The process for changing codes is complicated and mechanically challenging, but not bad once you get the hang of it.

not like photos has a bright Yellow protective sleeve. I needed it to be inconspicuous so I could not use. Seems sturdy otherwise. Returned.

I just lost an hour of my life trying to open this thing with the factory code. No amount of reading the instructions, re-reading the instructions, or watching YouTube videos could help. I bought it to leave keys for guests when I'm not around. If I can't get it open at all, what is the point for my guests? I imagine even if I do figure out the trick, there will be no end to the problems for my guests.

I was surprised to receive a BRIGHT YELLOW lockbox when a gray/black one was pictured in the product photos. Not exactly ideal for conspicuous placement in an urban setting. Didn't even open it — I'll just return it and go buy one from my local hardware store.