(youtube) Lock picking is as old as locks themselves, and is enjoyed as a hobby and practical skill worldwide. While it has been tainted in many people's minds as something only done by criminals, it is in fact a skill that could very well save your life if kidnapped, as well as saving hundreds of dollars in locksmithing costs to open things for which the key has been lost. Criminals and thieves are far more likely to break a window and in other ways use force to open things rather than trouble with the delicate, and many times lengthy method of picking.
Practice locks such as the one used in this video can be found for sale online with little searching, but all that is really necessary to practice is a simple padlock. Practicing lock picking should only be done on a lock that is not essential to some purpose, as it is possible to damage a lock if done incorrectly. It of course should also not be done on a lock that does not belong to you, as doing so is likely illegal.
8 Comments
Fairbssays...Cool info, but I thought there was something in locks these days that prevented common lock picking.
notarobotIf zombies ever get the hang of this, we're doomed.
mxxconAt the end of the video you can some pins are shaped like dumbbells to try to combat such picking.
look at http://www.slideshare.net/antitree/lock-picking-2600 starting from slide 18
Cool info, but I thought there was something in locks these days that prevented common lock picking.
rayoksays...I worked with a locksmith for about 18 months as part of a senior highschool job study thing. The way he taught to pick a lock wasn't so complicated. You just apply rotational force just like in the video except instead of going at the pins one-by-one you "rake" the pins quickly a few times and it eventually open. Raking is moving the tool from back to forward while keeping a slight upward pressure. I think this is how the electronic ones work as well.
aimpointsays...Combolocks
If zombies ever get the hang of this, we're doomed.
PHJFBut that isn't going to work with a hairpin, you need an actual set of rakes to do that reliably. I saw this amazing instructional years ago and was lockpicking as a hobby for a while. With the first pick I made I broke into my house in under two minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auQbi_fkdGE
I worked with a locksmith for about 18 months as part of a senior highschool job study thing. The way he taught to pick a lock wasn't so complicated. You just apply rotational force just like in the video except instead of going at the pins one-by-one you "rake" the pins quickly a few times and it eventually open. Raking is moving the tool from back to forward while keeping a slight upward pressure. I think this is how the electronic ones work as well.
yellowcsays...You'd be surprised how budget most locks are, especially on apartments, which is funny because this is often when a lock is actually moderately useful as other entry can be difficult passed the first floor.
Obviously that comes with noise and what not but really, if people aren't going to get up for fire alarms, they're not gonna get up if they hear some "construction work".
There are techniques to picking far harder locks than the one shown, what you actual aim for in a good lock is increasing the time required to pick it to a point where threat of detection is too high. This can be your trade-off between cost and security.
Actually if you're in USA, you can source very good locks for pretty cheap ($80-90 for the barrel), Abloys are pretty good but I haven't kept up with how picking them has gone.
Thing is, any of these locks protecting a normal residential home can really just be drilled right through in about 10 seconds
Cool info, but I thought there was something in locks these days that prevented common lock picking.
chingaleraHey man, too many trade secrets already!! Except for Americans, fuck them-tell those dumb motherfuckers anything and they'll forget!!
You'd be surprised how budget most locks are, especially on apartments, which is funny because this is often when a lock is actually moderately useful as other entry can be difficult passed the first floor.
There are techniques to picking far harder locks than the one shown, what you actual aim for in a good lock is increasing the time required to pick it to a point where threat of detection is too high. This can be your trade-off between cost and security.
Actually if you're in USA, you can source very good locks for pretty cheap ($80-90 for the barrel), Abloys are pretty good but I haven't kept up with how picking them has gone.
Thing is, any of these locks protecting a normal residential home can really just be drilled right through in about 10 seconds Obviously that comes with noise and what not but really, if people aren't going to get up for fire alarms, they're not gonna get up if they hear some "construction work".
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