Anyone a locksmith or lock picker?

[93nav]

Deviant Ollam

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=deviant+ollam

[A930Rocket]

All I can do is rekey Schlage entrance locks and deadbolts. I have to do it when the supply house doesn’t send locks all keyed the same.

Used to be able to pop the entrance lock with a drivers license easily but haven’t don’t it awhile. That can really distort your license and people ask why it’s so beat up.

I would like to learn how to pick licks though.

[masraum]

Interesting!



I have managed to open the keyed door knob that I bought several times, both by raking and by attacking each pin individually (SPP - single pin picking), but I am certainly not an expert.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It is a bit of knowledge that seems to have a level of secret society secret handshake mystique about it. Knowing TV and Hollywood I feel certain that 99.99% of lock-picking as shown is as accurate as guns and especially silencers.

This is the lock pick set that I ordered.


I want a top-of-the-keyway pry bar (tensioner) and a bogota rake, but other than those, I'm pretty happy with the set.

I have managed to open the lock in the video using 6 different picks and 3 or 4 different techniques. I have also managed to use a few picks and a few techniques on the kwikset door lock that I bought. Now I need more locks to get more practice.

[masraum]

More interesting stuff

[dad911]

Originally Posted by masraum

...... Now I need more locks to get more practice.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Love-locks-were-a-nuisance-in-Paris-but-in-13159038.php

[masraum]

Originally Posted by dad911

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Love-locks-were-a-nuisance-in-Paris-but-in-13159038.php

Yeah, I've seen that article. I saw one that spoke about that phenomenon that mentioned an ethical lock pickers code that said something to the effect of "if the city thinks the locks are a nuisance, then pick them and take them off but with the view of eventually replacing them someplace that's not a nuisance, but if they aren't considered a nuisance, then leave them where they are. I suppose you could open them and then re-lock them and leave them there.

[BlueWing]

Nothing much to add here but I am just retired from Schlage Lock my first SSA deposit just this past Wednesday.

Short history, fist a local locksmith lots of residential, commercial and bank work. I had a contract with the IRS for years doing seizures involving safes and safety deposit boxes and securing premises siezed . Bank contracts for the boxes, teller stations and general locksmithing services. That lasted until major banks bought all the local branches and did it in house.

Back in the eighties I decided electronic security was the future and was able to eventually work for Schlage as a member of IBEW Local 363 which is also a separate retirement.

The big box stores with cheap hardware is the demise of locksmiths. In the day when quality lifelong lasting hardware rekeying and repairing locks was worth it. Now it is break it and replace it. When that cheap finish deteriorates replace it.

If you want a quality solid material lock just order it on line.

The movie thing is somewhat possible. I met a few folks over the years that can put me to shame when it comes to opening safes and picking but I am capable.

I am currently relocation to North Carolina and will set my shop back up to hobby it. Planning on antique/old auto locks and keep building up my padlock collection.
I have locks dating from mid 18th century to modern. Just sold my last 2 safes from about 1840.

Locksmithing really caught me when I was facinated at some of the precision engineering involved and the mystique of THE LOCKSMITH.

Anyway I just thought this was the first time I can brag about retiring, no one else seems to care.

All is well and secure.

Terry

PS I believe that bridge is void of locks the last I heard, it was a structural issue of weight maybe?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BlueWing

Nothing much to add here but I am just retired from Schlage Lock my first SSA deposit just this past Wednesday.

Short history, fist a local locksmith lots of residential, commercial and bank work. I had a contract with the IRS for years doing seizures involving safes and safety deposit boxes and securing premises siezed . Bank contracts for the boxes, teller stations and general locksmithing services. That lasted until major banks bought all the local branches and did it in house.

Back in the eighties I decided electronic security was the future and was able to eventually work for Schlage as a member of IBEW Local 363 which is also a separate retirement.

The big box stores with cheap hardware is the demise of locksmiths. In the day when quality lifelong lasting hardware rekeying and repairing locks was worth it. Now it is break it and replace it. When that cheap finish deteriorates replace it.

If you want a quality solid material lock just order it on line.

The movie thing is somewhat possible. I met a few folks over the years that can put me to shame when it comes to opening safes and picking but I am capable.

I am currently relocation to North Carolina and will set my shop back up to hobby it. Planning on antique/old auto locks and keep building up my padlock collection.
I have locks dating from mid 18th century to modern. Just sold my last 2 safes from about 1840.

Locksmithing really caught me when I was facinated at some of the precision engineering involved and the mystique of THE LOCKSMITH.

Anyway I just thought this was the first time I can brag about retiring, no one else seems to care.

All is well and secure.

Terry

PS I believe that bridge is void of locks the last I heard, it was a structural issue of weight maybe?

Congrats on being newly retired. I've probably got 15-20 years before I'll be retiring unless I wind a ridiculous lottery (which is unlikely since I don't play the lottery).

What are some interesting locks that you've collected?

I imagine you've probably also got interesting stories about locks that you've picked or safes that you've opened or maybe the contents of safes or safety deposit boxes? Regale us!

What would you consider good quality solid material locks?

[Jolly Amaranto]

I help restore old railroad passenger cars and cabooses for museums and tourist railroads. These cars are loaded with heavy brass door locks installed on toilet/wash rooms, storage cabinets, electrical cabinets, vestibule doors, et cetera. Over the years most of them have been disabled or broken and the keys are usually missing. I have a collection of various keys used by the different railroads and usually can find the correct one but sometimes have to make a key after disassembling the lock and figuring out what it should look like. If I have a key that works but need spares, I can sometimes find new ones on line or I can make a copy myself. Most are a type of skeleton key. Sometimes I have to machine new parts for the inside of the lock. It is all volunteer work and the challenge is kind of a hobby.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

I help restore old railroad passenger cars and cabooses for museums and tourist railroads. These cars are loaded with heavy brass door locks installed on toilet/wash rooms, storage cabinets, electrical cabinets, vestibule doors, et cetera. Over the years most of them have been disabled or broken and the keys are usually missing. I have a collection of various keys used by the different railroads and usually can find the correct one but sometimes have to make a key after disassembling the lock and figuring out what it should look like. If I have a key that works but need spares, I can sometimes find new ones on line or I can make a copy myself. Most are a type of skeleton key. Sometimes I have to machine new parts for the inside of the lock. It is all volunteer work and the challenge is kind of a hobby.

Very cool. Need more pictures!!

[BlueWing]

masraum - It really feels good after 30+ years on call 24/7/365

Best lock is Schlage of course.

No but really I only use Schlage out of respect and my connection but if I were to really need to step it up I would go commercial grade Schlage (using on my new garage/shop), Sargent, Baldwin, Medeco to name a few.

Most of the time safety deposit boxes are either empty, full of pictures , or just legal estate paperwork. The IRS stuff was usually empty as the "customer" knew what was coming their way.

Safes were the usual items to be expected in business but some times in residential cases some estates got unexpected windfalls and surprises. In estates I would typically unlock and leave the opening to the client with out me viewing.

I worked in a tourist area and had many a roadside negotiation with bikini clad tubers with lock outs or lost keys. And drunk skiers waiting until Sunday night
ready to go home when no one turned in their keys to lost and found.

Those were some of the reasons why I went to industrial services, better enviorment, always paying customers, and the benefits raising a family.
The reason I needed to go Union was I specialized in industrial chemical plant security and here in N.Y. unions rule.

But on a better note here are a couple of pictures of a lock from about 1735-1740 and one of the safes I just sold from about 1840.

I live in a pre-colonial area so kind of just found an attachment to the very old. My largest part of my collection are Smokehouse padlocks from the late 19th century to about the 1940s.










Maybe this is why my Porsche is special to me - it is built as strong as and as precise as a lock

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by 93nav

Deviant Ollam

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=deviant+ollam

Similar; best random YouTube click I've had in a long time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnmcRTnTNC8&t=56s

[BlueWing]

Jolly Amaranto, great of you to do what you do, volunteers are sometimes under appreciated for the talent required.

I came up with a way to open safe deposit boxes with no lock damage as at the time the local banks had no budget to retrofit the boxes and most of the locks were NLA. Everyone gained from the challenge.

It is the challenge and final result that can be more rewarding that a sum of money, now I can go forward as more of a hobby than needing the income/benefits. When I get settled in my new digs I will need to find a way to volunteer my services as well.

Railroad hardware has always been on the same level as banking, marine and aircraft. I was only afforded very few railroad padlocks and keys over the years, they
have always been very expensive due to the cross collectabilty.

Terry

[Jolly Amaranto]

Originally Posted by masraum

Very cool. Need more pictures!!

I should have taken more photos of what I did. Here is a typical lock for a storage locker. The key lines up the two spring levers to allow the bolt to slide into the strike plate. Once the bolt is all the way extended the key keeps turning allowing the levers to drop back and lock it in place while the key is removed. I made the key out of bits of brass from my junk box, mostly old pluming parts. I think the shaft is from a Moen cartridge valve body.



Here is a typical mortice lock from a toilet/washroom door. A lever handle is mounted on either side of the square hole into which a square rod is inserted. The privacy bolt at the bottom has a lever on the inside and can be retracted from the outside with a key if a passenger is stuck on the inside and in need of assistance.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Great thread and retirement congratulation Terry

My house 'period correct' front door key and my car key, both do the same job of opening a door but only one works all of the time

[herr_oberst]

^^

That is frickin' cool. The giant chunk of wood is just as cool.

It looks it could open the lock on a medieval drawbridge.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Great thread and retirement congratulation Terry



My house 'period correct' front door key and my car key, both do the same job of opening a door but only one works all of the time

And only one never needs a battery and will work fine after an EMP event.

[masraum]

Lots of great, cool stuff here guys.

Thanks to Terry, Jolly and Captain for posting their interesting stuff.

I believe that's called a warded key/lock. There are even some locks made today that are warded, but they are a little different than yours.

[BlueWing]

Captain Ahab Jr - Nice contrast of old and new. What is the age of your home? My best friend lives in Belgium and he kids me about what I think are old homes. Where I live the neighboring town has the oldest four corners with the original structures here in America. Mid 18th century.

My home was first occupied and taxed in 1840. It is what I can say is my George Washingtons Axe if you all are familiar with that.

The thing about lockpicking is it barely serves a purpose anymore. Unless a locked item is of historical, personal or preservation need. The old days with expensive quality hardware with limited availability it was a needed service to be able to preserve the lock.

We were living in a time of minimal quality of life crimes. Today there is no respect so it is a smash and grab attitude. So the fact something is locked just means destroy what it is attached to and onto the next. The best locks will not prevail in a poorly structured mount.

The lock is only there to send a small message of I don't want you to have access but I can't stop you.

Commercially keys are still critical to assure positive secured areas with some accoutabilty. Physically secured with a hands on positive mechanical connection.

Safes had an image of solid and secure place to store any valuables. The truth is the majority safes are just fire resistant boxes using a combo lock and not a key to restrict who has access. If you have a modern safe look at the rating, probably just a rating of 15 minutes for attack unless it is a very high quality insurance company required unit.

So back to masraum' original post. I have to resharpen my picking skills for my hobby level. I have boxed up hundreds of pounds of my locks to move and when I get set up at my new location I will catalog all of them and build some sort of display. I still have all my key machines and thousands of keyblanks to keep me busy.

I have only one safe I'm keeping, a 1930s Diebold. It was my first safe opened when I had my locksmith service and took the safe in exchange for my service.

Terry