Lockpicking. A useful survival skill?

R

Ralf

Joined
Oct 11, 1998
Messages
565
I often wonder if I shouldn't learn how to pick locks. While it's not your typical outdoor activity skill it seems that it would come quite in handy in several "survival" situations, not to mention when you forgot the front door key.

Has anybody tried it?
 
Yeah. The most useful situations I've found for it are when some idiot pushes the little press locks in on filing cabinets. No one ever seems to know where the keys are for those things, or they're inside one of the drawers.

There are some decent websites around on the topic, and with a little basic understanding of what's going on when you use a lock, you can quickly learn how hoaky Hollywood is (no surprise there), how similar keys can open various doors (my housekey has opened friends' houses and the deadbolt at a place I worked, my car key has opened and started my girlfriend's car, etc.)

Fortunately, I've never had to depend on it for survival, but it is sort of a neat skill to have.

cj
s002cjs@yahoo.com
 
Well, I happen to know a small bit about this, as I just happen to be a locksmith
smile.gif
I suppose its convinient to know how, although I have run into very few situations where its a matter of life or death (survival situation). I have personally been called by the fire/police departments, mainly to open cars (not as easy as the movies make it look). When they called, it was usually to see if I was close, as they would have a baby locked in a car on a hot day with no AC. Sometimes the situation is such, that breaking a window could be harmful to the babys eyes. (Note: if this happens, and there is not a locksmith close, break the window). Picking of locks is a different story. There is of course skill involved, but also a bit of luck. Some locks can be picked very fast, and sometimes, the same lock can take a few minutes, no rhyme or reason, it just happens that way. In a survival situation, such as a medical emergency, if you happen to be there, and can pick the lock in 30 seconds, fine. If life is in danger, and you cant pick it fast, either kick the door in or go through a window.

As for the guy who posted that his house/car key works other locks, if you understand how all the different locks actually work, you will realize its not all that uncommon.

Also, keep in mind, that in many places, if you are caught with picks, you better be able to prove that you are a locksmith, or have darn good reason to have them. As I understand it, they can possibly be called burglars tools.

Oops, looks like I started to ramble, better stop now
smile.gif




------------------
Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
UPDATED and REVISED
 
How do you think it would be usefull?

------------------
"Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today"
-- James Dean

-Jesse Foust
 
Lockpicking probably isn't the most useful skill in a wilderness survival situation, but in an urban survival situation it could be quite useful. If you have the time and interest you may as well, as you'll probably end up using it sometime, and it could at least save you an expensive bill from a locksmith. I can pick the lock on my handcuffs with a paperclip with both hands cuffed behind my back (taught myself this the night I got them - wouldn't feel safe having them in the house if I couldn't). If you haven't needed the skill yet, you probably won't for a life or death situation. But you never know what will happen, and the more skills/tools you have under your belt, the better off you are.

And check local laws before carrying a lockpick set, I believe they are illegal in here.

------------------
Jason aka medusaoblongata
-----------------------
"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
I'll bet knowing how to "hot-wire" a car would be more useful.
Of course, I have neither of these skills so I'll just have to be inventive.

[This message has been edited by allenC (edited 10-05-2000).]
 
possesion of lock picks, tension wrenches, "slim jims" is illegal in MI and most states as they are considred "burglars tools" only bonafied locksmiths and LEOs are allowed to have these items. A more valuable skill maybe the ability to improvise picks and wrenches. Over the past decade or so I have had occasion to open a few doors and many cars, it is not as easy as it looks. Even with an issued "lock-out kit" and manual complete with illustrations of internal components of car doors and locks there are still many times that I can't open the lock, then I advise the people to call AAA or local tow service.
Be safe,
Chad

------------------
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
"Those who hold the thin blue line keep order, and insure that anarchy and chaos will not prevail." Chad (1992)
"He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. He who dies by the sword did not train hard enough" -Chad (1999)
chad234@email.com
 
On two occasions I have locked my car keys in the trunk of my car while on hunting trips (well back when I was young). This happens when I am using the trunk as my gun locker and general storage. I get up before dawn in the cold (wearing a jacket) and get my gun and gear out of the trunk. I do morning hunt and come back to the car in mid morning with it getting too warm for my coat. I put my gun and coat in the trunk and close the lid. Instantly I realize my keys were in the coat pocket.

On one occasion the passenger compartment was open and I pulled out the back seat and trunk partition to grab my coat. In the other case I picked the trunk lock with my SAK and a heavy paper clip. I consider knowing how to pick locks very handy.
 
When it comes to you personal vehicle, it's best to carry a spare door key in your wallet or purse. This can save a lot of money, and more importantly, embarassment.



------------------
Joshua, aka Feneris,'Destroyer of Whisky' of the Terrible Ironic Horde
But doom'd and devoted by vassal and lord.
MacGregor has still both his heart and his sword!
-MacGregor's Gathering, Sir Walter Scott
 
Being a firefighter I've been to many child locked in car calls.Hears a tip use duct tape to cover the window before breaking it cuts way down on the flying glass.In fact duct tape and a centerpunch will yeild no flying glass.
 
Another option on many cars is removing hte windshield. Some are glued in, and need to be cut free. Some are held in by a few of clips, secured by screws. Also, if breaking the window, break the farthest one from the child that you are able to.

--JB

------------------
e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
I've always thought that lockpicking was a rather useless skill unless you are A) A bona-fide locksmith, or B) A corrupt LEO or military spook who wants to get in, plant bugs, evidence, conduct an illegal search or whatever and get out without anyone knowing about it.

In a survival situation I will simply smash down the door if I want/need what is on the other side of it. If I were a criminal and wanted to steal something, the victim(s) are gonna know I was there anyway, so again, I would simply kick down the door or break a window to get in...

That said, I think I'll go get my handcuffs and work on my paperclip picking technique. Now there's a valuable skill!

PM
 
Well messing around the first time, with a screwdriver and a paper clip I was able to pick a Master lock. Also keep in mind that it is WAY easier to shim a lock than pick one because you can improvise a lot more then.
 
When I was on a volunteer fire department we called the ax/pick combination a "key." It would open any door, eventually.
 
Probably, I would first learn those darn knots that I keep confusing. Next could be plant identification. Closely followed by tracking. Then could come lockpicking.
In short, useful but not critical.
My two centavo,

HM
 
I learned lock manipulation in the early 60's and have had many uses for the skill. A set of picks is in my regular kit.

On rescues I've used them to unlock Forest service gates (find the cheapest lock on the chain)to get the vehicles in to the area. We've unlocked cabins for people, opened locked cars after students lose their keys and many more things. Part of the skill involves the concept that everything in the world belongs to you in an emergency, someone else is just keeping it safe till you need it. Naturally this is only for real emergencies.

Legalities... In most states mere possession is not a crime. Possession while in the commission of a crime adds the picks as a count (burglary tools). If you have a business card with your name and the word "security" or any similar word on it, it is usually good enough to relax the minions of the law... IF you are not committing a crime!

Owning a set of picks is not enough. You can't just buy them and use them. You need to practice, practice, practice. Once you are skilled you can make picks when you need them. Wire from street sweepers, windshield wipers and other things make a reasonable tension wrench. Paper clips can make a usable rake and pick combo. You can make spinners and tubular picks from cartridge cases rubber bands and flat spring steel.

It is NOT illegal to own a skill. If you are worried, get a set of picks, learn to use them and then put them someplace safe. Use your multi-tool to make a set if you need the skill.

Take classes and subscribe to the Locksmiths Ledger, available online.

My .02

Ron

------------------
Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]

[This message has been edited by Doc Ron (edited 10-12-2000).]
 
I think any unconventional skill, whatever it might be, would make you help thinking "outside the box" as they call it, and show you there are things that can be done in a lot of different ways, some of them better than others, in short "improvise"
People tend to trust a lot in locks, and if you learn how to pick them you wild understand why they are not so safe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top