Breaking padlocks off

I saw chain break, not lock.

I saw nothing disrespectful from 300Six, but wow the responses were rude. Just another pissing match, everyone feel better?
 
Oh no, another none believer. Who rattled the troll thread to attract all here?
I have seen the locks busted in person and real folks do use these tools. I guess the SEALs , Marine Recon, Canadian SF, US Special Forces etc are knuckleheads who use outdated gear and need enlightenment from the likes of internet commandos such as some who post here.
I don't eat with chopsticks but wouldn't jump on the "chopstick thread" criticize them folks and their eating utensils and then rant the merits of the modern day fork and spoon post after post.
Semper Fi
 
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Troll? If it makes you feel better to keep calling names, instead of looking at what I said, you'd know better. I said I saw the chain in the video link break. The video sucks, the guy breaks something, and then cuts the video off without showing a lock. I'm not saying, nor did I say an axe, tomahawk, or hatchet can't break a lock. They are able to break them and many professionals use them with no problem.

My other point is that you don't want dialogue, you just want a pissing match and name calling.
 
WJC01 said:
Who rattled the troll thread to attract all here?
Click to expand...

Wait...I'm confused...who's rattled in this thread?

I have a question related to a prior post - Can an RMJ or similar hawk really chop through the hardened shackle of a padlock without major destruction to the hawk?
 
M3mphis said:
Wait...I'm confused...who's rattled in this thread?

I have a question related to a prior post - Can an RMJ or similar hawk really chop through the hardened shackle of a padlock without major destruction to the hawk?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Since the move....its been very difficult to engauge in the activities I did a year ago but I will try and show you some first hand results from my own VTAC this weekend. I will be working until Saturday evening.
 
I apologize.No more name calling.
I've punched steel drums and inadvertently hit nails and that dinged the blade in a minor way. No experience on locks and chains yet.
 
Yo Mama - It is not the best video, but it's not the only one out there. There have been photos and videos on RMJ Tactical's Facebook page recently that show clearly that the locks are what's breaking. That, and I believe they demonstrate lock breaking at the Blade Show.

I went ahead and tried padlock breaking for the first time with one of my Wreckers that I was hanging onto for myself to shoot some demonstration videos later. I wasn't as quick or graceful about it as Ryan Johnson, but I was successful. My spike doesn't fit as well in the shackle of the padlock as the RMJ does. Don't know if that will lead to changing the design down the road or not as busting padlocks is not the only design consideration with them.

Prior to starting on the lock, a standard Master Lock:



After the shackle broke:



Hard to tell from that pic. Let's take a closer look:



You can see that I struck at the body of the lock with the point of the spike. I honestly don't know if it was prying or striking that broke the shackle. It wasn't a dramatic event and I didn't see it was broken at first.

I decided to try it with a lock with a shorter shackle. It was even more difficult to fit the spike in with the heavy chain links. I ended up striking with the spike until the lock popped open. You could not re-lock it afterwards due to the damage.



Here's a close look at the longer-shackeld lock:



And the various places on the shorter one that got hit:







It was hard to get my camera to focus on the end of the spike's point, but you can see that while the steel wasn't untouched, it almost was exactly like it started out.



I still plan on shooting video of lock breaking sometime down the road.
 
My post has absolutely nothing to do with padlocks or chains. My "tactical" days are long over, but speaking as a military veteran and former Federal Law Enforcement officer, I'm not ashamed one bit to currently carry a 'hawk everywhere I go. It's a multi-functional tool that I fully trust to get the job done. Sure, there are other tools that will perform certain tasks better. Case in point: I have 4 different kinds of coffee makers in my house that work perfectly....but, I prefer to go on my back porch and make coffee with my camping gear.:D

Backyard coffee


Storm Crow "War Chief" with some Valhalla Java
 
Storm Crow,

Now that's what I call 'hawk testing...:thumbup:

I may have to try that next time I visit the shop...:D
 
Thanks for posting Storm Crow. I will still see if I can't get out this weekend and do the same with the VTAC like I mentioned I would.
 
That's pretty darn cool. I was pretty skeptical, but I also thought you were going to chop through the shackle with the blade of the hawk. I just couldn't understand how that would really work let alone not damage the blade.

I would be interested to see what could be done with a professional grade lock. I mean like people use in the real world to lock up their work yards, trailers, and such. Anyone want to destroy one of these?:

img.jsp


Generally, in an emergency (or theft) situation going through a lock isn't the easiest way into an enclosure anyway. That is fun stuff, though.
 
I will be using the blade to chop through the shackle. I wish I could get to it sooner but I'm guessing tomorrow evening or Sunday will be as soon as I can due to work.

After I chop through the shackle, I will show you how the edge holds up under repeated blows against the body of the lock as well.
 
Snakebreaker said:
I will be using the blade to chop through the shackle. I wish I could get to it sooner but I'm guessing tomorrow evening or Sunday will be as soon as I can due to work.

After I chop through the shackle, I will show you how the edge holds up under repeated blows against the body of the lock as well.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's crazy. I can't wait to see that!
 
Riverwarrior - Sure thing. I still have a few padlocks on hand. :)

Snakebreaker - Looking forward to your results. I'm pretty confident it'll do what you say.

M3mphis - I may try the blade at some point on the shackle, but I make mine with a decent wood-chopping bevel that'll cut thick sheet metal and still hold a working edge. I don't know that it'll be pretty trying to break a shackle with it. The VTAC has an edge more like (not just like, but more like) a cold chisel, and I could see it doing the job. Mine are aimed at a bit of a different direction. If I felt like the tomahawks already on the market covered all areas of need and I had nothing different to contribute, I wouldn't be making mine. :)

With a lock like what you're posting, it's likely that there's a weaker point to attack instead. The chain itself, the gate or hinges, the wall or door.

This was an interesting exercise and has the gears turning in my head. We'll see what results. :D
 
The locks I did had the longer shackle and was on a gate lock. I admit, it did bend the latch bur it also broke the lock. StormCrow, you are right the spike is a little awkward to get in sice it is a little shorter and taller than the RMJ, but because of that I have been able to bust a lot of ice this winter with no damage to the hawk.
 
Back in the day, I guess Master made a decent lock. It would be interesting to see if their best product could be compromised by the swift allocation of a properly tempered hawk. Granit Steel Palocks are another notable mention. I was told that the American Lock Co. made some sweet padlocks also, but those nasty boron shackles would make me run for cover during such an 'exercise'.

In Finland, they make the PL350 and PL362 by Abloy. These are purchased by military outfits, shipping companies and truckers with valuable cargo. I'd venture to say that you'd punch a hole all around these locks before they took a knee to our beloved hawk.
 
Storm Crow said:
- I may try the blade at some point on the shackle, but I make mine with a decent wood-chopping bevel that'll cut thick sheet metal and still hold a working edge. I don't know that it'll be pretty trying to break a shackle with it. The VTAC has an edge more like (not just like, but more like) a cold chisel, and I could see it doing the job. Mine are aimed at a bit of a different direction.
Click to expand...

You would definitely want a different shape on the edge if you were planning to chop steel with the tool. I wouldn't expect any tool sharpened to chop wood to be able to chop steel unharmed. Bolt cutter blades are hardened to cut steel. But they do it with pressure not impact. Put an impact on steel that hard and it will chip or crack.

A tool has to be designed for its purpose.
 
Square_peg said:
You would definitely want a different shape on the edge if you were planning to chop steel with the tool. I wouldn't expect any tool sharpened to chop wood to be able to chop steel unharmed. Bolt cutter blades are hardened to cut steel. But they do it with pressure not impact. Put an impact on steel that hard and it will chip or crack.

A tool has to be designed for its purpose.
Click to expand...

Very well put. :)
 
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