Lockpicking sets and the know how

[sadmin]

I suppose this thread is the correct place to inquire about this...although rarely a life saving skill, ive been fascinated with locks and lock picking since I was 9 and found a high quality set on the ground one night. Years passed, and ive since lost it. Has anyone purchased a kit and a book and tried to learn this art? Is it easy to pick tumblers / common locks? Just curious, thanks and Happy Holidays.

[MIKE G]

I have a couple of different sets from Southord and try to practice some. Numerous times I have wished I had them and didnt and now I try to keep a set with me particularly when traveling. It is a good skill to know and is one that for the most part simply takes an investment of time. Get a set and pick every lock you can find.

I like the Jackknife series for convenience but the multi piece sets are useful for things more complicated than your basic master lock or 5 pin door knob lock.

To me this is just another part of entry techniques, it all falls in a spectrum from kicking doors in to picking locks to rams/halligans/sledge to chainsaw/circular saw to explosive breaching. Obviously each has its place and limitations but knowing about each will help you decide what is most appropriate for the situation.

DOC

[sl4mdaddy]

I bought a set from Southord a couple of years back. Filing cabinet locks are quite simple, carried around one of my own Master locks to play with. My lock picking-fu still sucks but it was a great time killer when I was working mids.

[NCPatrolAR]

I was given a simple pick set while attending a class on picking years ago. So far it's worked well for me at work