How do you get the combination to an old combination lock?

Trial and error.

Start at 00001 and work your way around.

You could probably do it while watching television over a period of time, do a bit every night.

**

That would work, but it would take a while and is does not use much style!

Here is a better way: If it is a lock that the user sets the combination, they frequently use a number that they will not forget.

So try :

Birthdays

Boyfriend/Girlfriend/husband/Wife birthday

last 4 of SSN

first 4 of SSN

address

zip code

Phone number

etc.

And try them different ways, for example 04/09/65 could be 0409 or 4965 or 0965.

You get the idea. This can cut the number of possibles to a couple of dozen.