006 The Arts of Lockpicking II

Published in

· 28 Dec 2019

  

The Arts of Lockpicking II             courtesy of The Jolly Roger 

So you want to be a criminal.  Well, if you want to be like James  
Bond and open a lock in fifteen seconds, then go to Hollywood,  
because that is the only place you are ever going to do it.  Even  
experienced locksmiths can spend five to ten minutes on a lock if 
they are unlucky.  If you are wanting extremely quick access, look 
elsewhere.  The following instructions will pertain mostly to the 
"lock in knob" type lock, since it is the easiest to pick. 

First of all, you need a pick set.  If you know a locksmith, get  
him to make you a set.  This will be the best possible set for you 
to use.  If you find a locksmith unwilling to supply a set, don't  
give up hope.  It is possible to make your own, if you have access 
to a grinder (you can use a file, but it takes forever). 

The thing you need is an allen wrench set (very small).  These  
should be small enough to fit into the keyhole slot.  Now, bend  
the long end of the allen wrench at a slight angle (not 90   
degrees).  Now, take your pick to a grinder or a file, and smooth  
the end until it is rounded so it won't hang inside the lock.   
Test your tool out on doorknobs at your house to see if it will  
slide in and out smoothly.  Now, this is where the screwdriver  
comes in.  It must be small enough for it and your pick to be used 
in the same lock at the same time, one above the other.  In the  
coming instructions, please refer to this chart of the interior of 
a lock: 
______________________________ 
                              \ K 
        |  |  |  |   |   |    / E 
           |     |   |   |    \ Y           [|]  Upper tumbler pin 
        ^     ^               / H           [^]  Lower tumbler pin 
        ^  ^  ^  ^   ^   ^    \ O           [-]  Cylinder wall 
                              / L   (This is a greatly simplified 
                              \ E    drawing) 
______________________________/ 

The object is to press the pin up so that the space between the  
upper pin and the lower pin is level with the cylinder wall.  Now, 
if you push a pin up, it's tendency is to fall back down, right? 
That is where the screwdriver comes in.  Insert the screwdriver  
into the slot and turn.  This tension will keep the "solved" pins 
from falling back down.  Now, work from the back of the lock to  
the front, and when you are through, there will be a click, the 
screwdriver will turn freely, and the door will open. 

Do not get discouraged on your first try!  It will probably take  
you about twenty to thirty minutes your first time.  After that, 
you will quickly improve with practice.