Something that could cut a chain or a steel lock.

Years ago I read an article about someone who got stranded in a snowstorm and tried to head out on foot. Apparently he made it to a small shack that had a lock on it and if he could have gotten in he would have had shelter to survive the night.

For some reason that story really spoke to me so in my BOB I've always carried one of those little plastic handled folding saws that has both a wood blade and a hacksaw blade. It would get through many locks, but not the really good ones. In my car I carry a Stanely folding saw that uses 6" reciprocating saw blades and stores 3 or 4 spare blades in the handle. I have 2 wood blades, a metal blade and a carbide blade in the handle so it would handle most small cutting tasks. I also have a Stanely Fubar II in there to take care of heavier locks, extrications from cars, etc.

I've considered putting a Fubar II in my BOB also, but I don't want to carry the weight. Maybe I need a titanium crowbar or something.
 
A cordless Dremel tool with a few of those thin little cut-off wheels would make short work of any chain or lock shackle. Also small, light, and easy to pack.
 
A set of lock picks and a Lenox tri-fold saw (accepts standard reciprocating saw blades).

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ukknifer said:
Should I go for a saw? or a file?
I want something light and sturdy.
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Something that will take up minimum space?

A chainsaw file.

If you don't know anyone with a chainsaw,
pop along to a hire shop and ask there,
or if you see a tree surgeon,
ask him (or her) to sell you one from their box.
They might give you a used one - which may still cut ordinary chain - for free.
Use a small twig on the pointed end instead of a proper handle to save space in your BOB.
 
A lot of padlocks will open in a moment if you can apply enough leverage. A lot quicker than cutting, except with bolt cutters maybe.
 
it's near impossible to saw a hard metal object completely by hand in an emergency; that is, not unless you have all the time, spare blades and boundless energy in the world!
a sledgehammer isn't going to be very portable but as in the case of most hammers - it's the basic principle of letting the weight do all the work.
next best thing in dropping all that weight, would be to think somewhere along the lines of corrosive substances... and that's going back to some basic chemistry.
so, did anyone pay any attention in science class all those years ago? :-)
 
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A.W.U.K. said:
A lot of padlocks will open in a moment if you can apply enough leverage. A lot quicker than cutting, except with bolt cutters maybe.
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Agrees, it is often easier to force the locking mecanism open rathen than cut through steel.
What I've done several times on locks we had lost the key was putting full size pick-axe tip inside the lock and apply lever action until it fails.
Downward hammer blows also worked too.
 
Forget using acids and the like, unless you have plenty of time and resources. It looks good in the movies, but I'm not aware of any chemical that would be useful for this purpose in a real situation. If you happen to be locked in a lab though, go for a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids (called Aqua Regia).

Thermite might be a much quicker possibility, but as with chemicals, you will need a means of keeping it on the lock/chain long enough to burn through.

Years ago, there was a miniature (really pocket size) cutting torch available. I've not seen one in at least ten years though. It used a pair of cylinders about the size of the little sodastream bulbs. One with oxygen, one with fuel (propane iirc). I wish I could find one now, but no amount of googling has turned them up so far. I always wanted one when I was a teenager. Not sure what the cutting capacity would be with the tiny cylinders though.

I have a saw!

Edit: jw2n already mentioned the gas torch - I missed that.
 
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Oh, those cheap brass Chinese padlocks can normally be popped open with an ordinary screwdriver. They don't need much force either.
 
Hi guys
Some misunderstood my post.

I don't want (just) to cut pad locks. I want something that could cut a steel bar or a steel chain, a window bar. Things of that sort.
Thanks for the reply.
 
a 12 ga. shotgun if barrel is held next to lock works everytime . good idea to turn head away from barrel end.of course this depends on the situation but i know for sure its effective.
 
DennisStrickland said:
a 12 ga. shotgun if barrel is held next to lock works everytime . good idea to turn head away from barrel end.of course this depends on the situation but i know for sure its effective.
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Is that something you can put in your bob and take to a high rise building?
 
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