Lock Pickers

[David_Parker03]

@Mark Greenman,

While Raimundo's Bogata picks are indeed skillfully crafted, there needs to be some clarification: The picks do not open doors, the user does. They are highly effective, but ultimately its up to the user. There is no easy, full-proof way to open all locks. Its going to take practice, plain and simple.

But I do recommend them.

[Picksmith]

Drilling the shearline is the quick and reliable way to open common residential grade locksets. The amount of practice required before picking becomes as reliable is pretty ludicrous. You shouldn't even be considering carrying the picks if you think it's illegal to use them. BTW the credit card trick shouldn't work on a properly installed deadlocking spring latch.

[mercop]

Nothing better than carrying burglary tools in your bug out bag- George

[Tim20637]

No reason to carry picks if you dont know how to use them. Picking Locks isnt exactly like riding a bicycle either. Def. need to get used to the tension required if you havent used them in a while.

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

Well, first time I used my pick in the field today...and it worked I'm so happy.

We got to a house we've been taking care of for 2 months now, and the stupid realtor changed the lock on us and we had work to do inside. So we called the office and had them pull paper work for this house to try and find the lock box code, hoping that the realtor put a key in the box...he didn't. So I got to pick it. I raked the lock twice to free up the pins ( it was a brand new lock so they where easy to move ), then I did a quick rake/pick and the dead bolt popped open. It took less than 10 seconds, I was so proud. Then I got hung on the stupid knob lock, so we used our trusty Lowes card to bypass that

[razorsdescent]

Good going. Its much trickier doing it in real life.

[mark greenman]

Yes, you absolutely must keep your picks in your bugout bag. Ideally next to the duct tape, zipties and gloves. Oh, and of course the plastic sheeting for use an improvised tarp, the entrenching shovel, to say nothing of the knives and saws

Satire aside, George makes a very valid point here- you really need to ask yourself whether the juice is worth the squeeze, and be careful about the context in which these tools are carried.

In my case, CA treats picks in the same category as scredrivers and vice grip pliers, in the sense that these tools are only BT's if the context seems shady ie prowling outside of Tiffany's at 3am.

However, if you're well dressed and articulate, chances are you encounter more locks than you do police. Given the fact that there are hundreds of millions of locks, but less than a million police nationally, I feel that the tools benefits far outweigh their risk.

Of all my preps, I can say the Picks are the only ones that I have actually used in an emergency to help myself and others.

YMMV

@ David

Of course, "its the arrow, not the indian," so yes it absolutely is the person and not the tool that opens the locks. But the Bogota's are disproportionately effective compared to other tools- once a user understands just how little tension is needed, they can open 50% of the worlds locks with very little practice. Opening the other 40% requires a lot of practice, and the last 10% can't be picked with these tools(tubular locks, etc.)

[Fieldtestornothing]

Invest in a good book to gain some knowledge of lock mechanics. I recommend 'A visual guide to lockpicking' to start.

Buy a practice lock and a basic set of pics.

Practice in 15 minute intervals every day.

Acquire a collection of locks and learn the mechanics of them, most lock schematics can be found online.

Understand that most locks can be bypassed more efficiently than picked depending on mission and time.

Practice practice practice

Good luck.

[mwerner]

A friend of mine bought a big, snazzy wooden desk at auction and the drawer on the thing had a quality pin-tumbler lock...And of course no key.
We stopped at a locksmith and he used one of those pistol-type lockpick devices. Took seconds.... Then with the serial number from the lock just a few minutes to make a new key.
Alas, no goodies in the drawer.....