Introduction to Lockpicking
Lockpicking is the art of opening a lock without its key. It’s a world-famous hobby that teaches you how locks work and how they can be bypassed. This guide will take you step by step into the fascinating world of lockpicking. Are you ready to pick your first lock?
Many guides are available online. A great book to start with is Locks, Safes, And Security by Marc Weber Tobias. Another classic is the MIT Guide to Lockpicking, published in 1991.
The first step in lockpicking is understanding how a lock works and why its components can be manipulated. Many people skip this step, thinking it’s unnecessary, or they lack the patience to learn it. But trust me, this is the foundation. Without understanding this, you’ll only get frustrated. Take the time to learn this well before picking up your tools.
Pin Positions During Lockpicking
Understanding how pins behave in different positions is crucial when lockpicking. Each pin’s position determines whether the cylinder can rotate or remains blocked. Let’s explore the most common pin positions:
- Overset: A key pin is pushed too high, causing the key pin itself to block the shear line. This often happens with excessive force on the pick.
- Set: The pins are correctly positioned at the shear line, allowing the cylinder to rotate.
- Underset: A pin is not lifted high enough, leaving the driver pin blocking the shear line.
- False Set: Typically occurs with security pins like spools. The cylinder appears to rotate, but one or more pins are not properly set at the shear line.
- At Rest: The pins are in their default positions, held down by the springs. The driver pins fully block the shear line.
Mastering the ability to identify these pin positions through tactile feedback is essential for successful lockpicking. Each position offers distinct resistance and movement patterns that guide your actions.
How Does the Key Work?
The key plays a crucial role in opening a pin tumbler lock. Each notch on the key corresponds to a specific length of key pin inside the lock. When the key is inserted, it lifts the key pins to align the driver pins exactly at the shear line. The springs keep the pins in place when the key is removed.
If the key’s cuts and the pins are correctly aligned, the cylinder can rotate, and the lock will open.
When the pins are not aligned correctly, some driver pins will remain inside the cylinder, blocking its rotation. This makes it impossible to open the lock without the correct key.
The video above clearly demonstrates how the alignment of the pins is essential for the lock to operate. Without the correct alignment, the lock remains secure.
How Does a Lock Work?
Most locks you’ll encounter are pin tumbler locks. If you’re unsure what type of lock you have, feel free to ask. A lock works like a clever puzzle, designed to open only with the correct key. Let’s break down its components step by step.
- Housing: This is the outer shell of the lock that contains all the internal components. Inside, you’ll find the cylinder, which can rotate when the correct key is inserted.
- Cylinder: The part where the key is inserted. At the back of the cylinder is often a cam or tailpiece that operates the bolt, opening the lock when the cylinder turns. The boundary between the cylinder and housing is called the “shear line.”
- Pin Chambers: Small drilled chambers inside the cylinder and housing that hold the pins essential for locking and unlocking the mechanism.
- Key Pins: These pins rest on the key when it’s inserted. Each pin is a different length to match the key’s cuts. Deeper cuts correspond to longer pins.
- Driver Pins: These pins block the shear line when the lock is locked. In higher-quality locks, these pins may vary in length for added security.
- Springs: The springs press the pins downward, keeping them in place when no key is inserted.
When the correct key is inserted, the key pins are lifted so that they align perfectly with the shear line. This allows the cylinder to turn and the lock to open.
In lockpicking, you use a tension wrench to apply slight rotational pressure to the cylinder and a pick to lift the pins one by one until they align with the shear line. Once all the pins are set, the cylinder rotates, and the lock opens.
Want to try this with simple tools like paperclips? Check out our guide on
how to open a lock with paperclips.
How Does Lockpicking Work?
You may already know that a key lifts the pins in a lock to the correct height. But how is this achieved without a key? It may seem impossible, but lockpicking takes advantage of imperfections in the lock.
Even with modern technology, it is impossible to manufacture all components of a lock with perfect precision. These tiny imperfections, often invisible to the naked eye, are what make lockpicking possible. By applying slight rotational pressure to the lock (the plug), only one pin will bind against the edge of its chamber at a time. This is called the “binding pin.”
If every component were perfectly crafted, all pins would bind simultaneously, making lockpicking impossible. In reality, however, differences in the shape and size of chambers and pins allow you to manipulate one pin at a time to open the lock.
What Happens During Lockpicking?
When you apply tension to the lock using a tension wrench, the binding pin blocks the rotation of the plug. You can lift this binding pin with your hook pick until it aligns perfectly at the shear line. When this happens, something interesting occurs:
- The binding pin snaps into place, allowing the plug to rotate slightly.
- The next pin begins to bind, and you can lift it in the same way.
- This process is repeated until all pins are set, and the lock opens.
Each pin you set stays above the shear line thanks to the rotational tension on the plug. This means you only need to focus on one pin at a time.
Why Are Imperfections Important?
Without these minor defects, it would be impossible to feel which pin binds first. This tactile sense, called “feedback,” is your guide during lockpicking. You can feel through the lockpick and tension wrench when a binding pin offers more resistance than the others. This sensation is what allows you to pick locks effectively.
Lockpicking may seem complicated at first, but with practice, you’ll quickly learn how to identify and set binding pins. Soon enough, you’ll be able to open a lock as if you were using its original key!
How to Open a Lock Using a Lockpick Gun
A lockpick gun is a mechanical tool that simplifies the process of aligning pins inside a lock. It works by striking the key pins, transferring energy to the driver pins, and momentarily creating a gap at the shear line. This makes it possible to rotate the lock’s cylinder and open it without a key.
The tool operates on a principle similar to Newton’s Cradle, where energy travels through a series of stationary balls, causing the last one to move. In a lock, the key pins remain still while the driver pins shift upward briefly.
How It Works
Using a lockpick gun requires two essential steps:
- Apply Tension: Use a tension wrench to apply light pressure to the lock’s cylinder. This ensures that when the pins align at the shear line, the cylinder rotates.
- Activate the Gun: Insert the lockpick gun’s needle into the lock and position it to strike the key pins. Pull the trigger to deliver a controlled impact. The energy transfers to the driver pins, creating a temporary alignment at the shear line.
Practice is key to mastering this tool. The angle and strength of the needle strike, combined with proper tension, determine the success of opening the lock.
Advantages and Limitations
Lockpick guns are effective for standard pin tumbler locks, especially older models. They save time and effort compared to manual lockpicking methods. However, they may struggle with locks featuring security pins or tight tolerances, where precision tools like a hook pick might perform better.
These tools are legal in many jurisdictions for hobbyists and professionals, but always ensure compliance with local laws before use.
For more about the physics behind tools like this, check out Newton’s Laws on Wikipedia.
A Good Lockpicking Exercise
Learning to lockpick requires surprisingly little equipment. For this exercise, you’ll need just three items:
- A pin tumbler lock with five pins*
- A standard hook pick**
- A tension wrench
*You can use any 5-pin tumbler lock as long as it can be disassembled to remove pins. A Skylender practice lock is ideal!
**A SouthOrd hook pick is an excellent choice for beginners.
Step 1: Identify the Binding Pin
~20 minutes
This exercise begins with disassembling the lock. Use the correct tools, such as
the HUK Locksmith Set.
If you’re unsure how to disassemble a lock, check out our guide on setting up your own
lockpicking practice lock. For a quick overview, watch this video:
Once the lock is disassembled, remove all pins except the ones in the first chamber (the closest to the keyhole). Also, remove the springs from chambers 2, 3, 4, and 5. Reassemble the lock so that only the first chamber is filled, and you’re ready to start practicing.
Use a tension wrench to apply light pressure to the lock. Gently push the pin in the first chamber with your hook pick. If done correctly, you’ll hear a small click, and the lock will turn slightly. This click indicates the pin has set on the shear line.
Recognizing the Resistance of the Binding Pin
Lock the lock again. This time, use your hook pick without applying tension. Push the pin gently and feel the light resistance from the spring. Repeat this step multiple times to become familiar with this subtle resistance. You can close your eyes during the process to focus solely on the tactile feedback.
Next, apply light tension with the wrench and push the pin again. Don’t push the pin high enough to reach the shear line yet. Notice how the feedback changes as the pin interacts with the edge of the lock chamber. This is the key to identifying the binding pin.
Why Feedback Matters
This tactile feedback is crucial. The resistance from the binding pin helps you determine which pin to set first. Experiment with varying amounts of tension to understand how stronger or lighter pressure affects the feedback from the pin.
Do not move to the next step until you’re confident in identifying the binding pin by its resistance and feedback.
Step 2: Recognize Differences in the Lock
~20 minutes
Disassemble the lock again and add a new set of pins with springs into the second chamber (counting from the keyhole). Leave the first chamber as it was.
You now have a lock with two pin stacks. It’s still a simple lock, but it’s one that would normally require a key. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how to distinguish between a binding pin and a non-binding pin.
Binding Pin vs. Non-Binding Pin
Leave the tension wrench aside for now. Carefully press on the pins inside the lock with your hook pick. You might feel slight differences between the pins. These differences could result from a taller pin stack or a stronger spring.
Now, take your tension wrench and apply light rotational tension to the cylinder core. Use your hook pick to gently move the first pin. Pay close attention to the feedback—does the pin resist movement? If so, that’s the binding pin. Avoid pushing it all the way to the shear line just yet; repeat these steps with the second pin in the lock.
Processing Feedback
Analyze the feedback from the lock. The pin that provides the most resistance is the binding pin. Slowly move this pin until it stops at the shear line (the line between the cylinder core and the housing). You may hear or feel a small click when the pin is correctly positioned.
Repeat these steps until you can confidently identify the difference between binding and non-binding pins. This is an essential skill for successful lockpicking.
Step 3: Lockpick a Real Lock
~20 minutes
Add another set of pins to the third chamber (counting from the keyhole) of the lock and repeat the steps mentioned above.
Continue repeating these steps until you’ve filled the entire lock with pins and successfully picked it without a key.
The pin configuration inside the lock will change each time you add new pins. This helps if you think you’ve memorized the lock’s setup, ensuring a fresh challenge.
Only add a new set of pins once you are 100% confident that you’ve mastered the current setup.
This exercise may feel repetitive, but it’s a vital part of learning a new skill. By practicing lockpicking this way, you’ll be able to open any pin tumbler lock like a professional.
The Lock is Open!
I hope that our free online guide will help you in the beginning of lockpicking. My aim was to create a guide that will help you understand every step of picking a lock. take the time to follow these exercises step by step. With persistence, patience, and attention to detail, you’ll gain a solid foundation in lockpicking.
See this as a free course where each practice will enhance your skills. By completing these three steps, you’ll significantly improve your ability to pick locks.
