 | ||
Lock picking is the art of unlocking a lock by manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key.
Contents
- History
- Skeleton keys
- Curtain Pick
- Torsion wrench
- Half diamond pick
- Hook pick
- Ball pick
- Bump keys
- Jigglers or Try out keys
- Pick guns
- Tubular lock pick
- Anti picking methods
- Australia
- Canada
- Germany
- Hungary
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Poland
- United Kingdom
- United States
- References
Although lock picking can be associated with criminal intent, it is an essential skill for the legitimate profession of locksmithing, and is also pursued by law-abiding citizens as a useful skill to learn, or simply as a hobby (locksport).
In some countries, such as Japan, lock picking tools are illegal for most people to possess, but in many others they are available and legal to own as long as there is no intent to use them for criminal purposes.
History
Locks by definition secure or fasten something with the intention that access be possible only with the matching key. Despite this, it is likely that criminal lock picking started with the first locks. Famed locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs said in the mid 1800s:
"..Rogues are very keen in their profession, and know already much more than we can teach them respecting their several kinds of roguery. Rogues knew a good deal about lock-picking long before locksmiths discussed it among themselves..."Professional and recreational lock picking also has a long history. King Louis XVI of France (1754–1793) was a keen designer, picker and manipulator of locks, and physicist Richard Feynman picked locks for fun in the 1940s while employed on the Manhattan Project. The tradition of student roof and tunnel hacking at MIT included lockpicking, and their guide to this was made widely available in 1991 as The MIT Guide to Lock Picking.
Beginning in 1997 more organised recreational lockpicking has now grown and developed a competitive aspect in "locksport" - along with its own governing body, Locksport International
Skeleton keys
The warded pick, also known as a skeleton key, is used for opening warded locks. It is generally made to conform to a generalized key shape relatively simpler than the actual key used to open the lock; this simpler shape allows for internal manipulations. The keys for warded locks only require the back end manipulating which is the end which actually opens the lock. The other parts are there to distinguish between different variation of their locks. I.e if you have a chest of drawers with a warded lock you can make a skeleton key for that type of warded lock by filing away all but the last one or two teeth or bittings on both sides of the blade. Additionally, a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock through the keyway, the wards align with the grooves in the key's profile to allow or deny entry into the lock cylinder.Curtain Pick
Lever Tumbler Lock can be opened by a type of lockpick called Curtain Pick.
Torsion wrench
The torsion wrench is always needed when picking a pin/tumbler or wafer lock, even with the use of a pick gun. It is used to apply torque to the plug of a lock in order to hold any picked pins in place. Once all pins are picked, the torsion wrench is then used to turn the plug and open the lock. It is typically shaped like a letter "L", although the vertical part of the letter is elongated in comparison to the horizontal part. Other torsion tools, especially those for use with cars, resemble a pair of tweezers and allow the user to apply torque to both the top and the bottom of the lock. These are commonly used with double-sided wafer locks.Half-diamond pick
This versatile pick is included in nearly all kits and is mainly used for picking individual pins, but can also be used for raking and for wafer and disk locks. The triangular-shaped half-diamond is usually 2.5 to 12.2 millimeters (0.098 to 0.480 inches) long. The angles that form the base of the half-diamond can be either steep or shallow, depending on the need for picking without affecting neighboring pins, or raking as appropriate. A normal set comprises around three half-diamond picks and a full-diamond pick.Hook pick
The hook pick is similar to the half-diamond pick, but has a hook-shaped tip rather than a half-diamond shape. The hook pick is sometimes referred to as a "feeler" or "finger" and is not used for raking. This is the most basic lockpicking tool and is all that a professional will usually need if the lock is to be picked in the traditional sense rather than opened by raking or using a pick gun. A variety of differently sized and shaped hooks are available in a normal set.Ball pick
The ball pick is similar to the half-diamond pick, except the end of the pick has a Half or full circle shape. This pick is commonly used to open wafer locks.Bump keys
The simplest way to open the majority of pin locks is to insert a key (or variety of keys) which have been cut so that each peak of the key is equal and has been cut down to the lowest groove of the key. This key is then struck sharply with a hammer whilst applying torque. The force of the blow is carried down the length of the key and (operating as does a Newton's cradle) will move only the driver pins leaving the key pins in place. If done correctly this briefly creates a gap around the shear line alowing the plug to rotate freely. Some modern high security locks include bumping protection, such as Master Lock's "BumpStop" and Ilco's "Bump Halt" technology.Jigglers or Try-out keys
Majority of Wafer Tumbler locks can be opened with a set of Jigglers or Try-out keys.
Pick guns
The manual pick gun (or Snap gun) was invented by Ely Epstein. usually has a trigger that creates a movement which (like bump keys) transfers sudden energy to the key pins which communicate this to the driver pins causing those pins only to jump, allowing the cylinder to turn freely for a brief moment, until the pin springs return the pins to their locking position. Electric versions are now also common, where by simply pressing a button the pins are vibrated while the normal torsion wrench is being used.
Tubular lock pick
A tubular lock pick is a specialized lockpicking tool used for opening a tubular pin tumbler lock. Tubular lock picks are all very similar in design and come in sizes to fit all major tubular locks, including 6, 7, 8, and 10-pin locks. The tool is simply inserted into the lock and turned clockwise with medium torque. As the tool is pushed into the lock, each of the pins is slowly forced down until they stop, thus binding the driver pins behind the shear line of the lock. When the final pick is pushed down, the shear plane is clear and the lock opens. This can usually be accomplished in a matter of seconds.
Most tubular lock picks come with a "decoder" which lets the locksmith know at what depths the pins broke the shear plane. By using the decoding key after the lock has been picked, the locksmith can cut a tubular key to the correct pin depths and thus avoid having to replace the lock.
Anti-picking methods
The history of lock development, particularly modern locks is largely one of an arms race between lock pickers and lock inventors.
Today's anti-picking methods in standard pin tumbler locks include the use of side wards which obstruct the key way, and "security pins". These are shaped like a spool, mushroom, or barrel - with the effect that they feel as though they have set when in fact they have not.