Lock Pick Sets

JClaude42

JClaude42

Joined
Aug 7, 2002
Messages
342
I've been looking for a good beginners lock pick set. My sister and I want to try it out, not for anything illegal, just cause it looks like an interesting thing to pick up. So what set should I start out with and how do I go about learning? Are books the best way, and if so, which ones? I've always thought a jack knife set would be cool, but my sister wants one that's made up of several picks in a case of some sort. Thanks for the help.
 
Be advised that most places that sell these lock picks only sell them to Law Enforcement personnel with proper ID. Some places will sell to to you assuming that you know the legal issues involved in owning them. Also be warned that if you are found with these items it constitutes possession of burglary tools and your butt will wind up before a judge.

My advice to you is to stick with knives as a hobby. ;)
 
I went through the "hey, lockpicking might be cool!" phase as a kid. :)

Try it with stuff you have around the house first. I just used little hex wrench thingies and assorted other long thin metal objects. Chances are it won't work out and you'll just forget the matter altogether. If it does work, then you're a better lockpick than I.

Try that before you invest in a set of expensive lockpicking tools that might never be used.
 
I have a large lock picking set and love to mess with it when I am bored. I buy a new padlock everytime I am at Wal-Mart or at the hardware store and sit on the coutch and practice. I think its a handy skill as well. I have prevented a few lock outs. :D
 
SnapOn and Mac both have quality lock pick sets and auto lockout tool kits. Good quality and you get the lifetime guarantee. I've used them many times (some times successful, other times not so).

Mark
 
Lol, I also went through the lock picking stage about a year and a half a go. It started when I took my girlfriend away for a romantic weekend to a cottage in the country and ending up having to stick £1 coins in a meter to keep the electric on. I thought it was an all expenses included thing and I was raging as there was this little lock on the meter. I thought to myself if I had a lockpick set I'd make sure I got my moneys worth outta my £1 coin :D
Came home and orderd a small set from the US. It's quite tricky but it's awesome when the lock clicks open, even if you've been working at it for 5 hours. :p I'd say get one, just for the fun of it, it's a cool way to kill a bit of time, have fun.
 
Lockpicking is an interesting hobby and can be useful to help people who lock themselves out. The commercial picks I've seen seem overpriced for a few pieces of bent wire, but a couple of friends who have them say they are better than bent paper clips ... maybe I'll buy a set one of these days, but so far I've been doing pretty well with bent paper clips.

I don't think it's generally true that sale of lockpicks is restricted. (Just because it says on a website they only sell to certain people doesn't mean they make any effort at all to restrict sales. Usually it means there's some fine print on the order form that says "By ordering lockpicks you certify ..." In some extreme cases you might have to check a box on the form.) :cool:
 
Adding a note about the possesion of them, it is a Class 5 felony. long time in jail for a hobby, hell you can get caught with a switch blade and only be looking at a misdemeanor. Not to mention, it aint as easy as it looks or as you think, yea the cheap little padlocks are but other eh not so.
 
Whether possession of lockpicks is legal or not, depends on which state you live in. Some it is, some it isn't.

--JB
 
I'm also a locksmith besides being a knife nut and lockpicking takes a lot of practice. You don't need a pick to open a lock just a small screw driver and a paper clip. My point is unless you understand the workings of a lock you'll pretty much only open a lock by accident.There are lots of places to get picks but if it's just a I wonder if I can do it thing just use a small screwdriver and a large paper clip and try your front door. Thats the best way to stay out of trouble. As for pad locks there are special tools for them that we use to get them open and the practice is not usually shared with the public.:D
 
I don't know what state you're in but searching for "picklock" in the California penal code brought up only the following document.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=3712842845+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

A search for "locksmith" also brings up only this document.

This appears to be all that California has to say about the possession of lockpicking tools. Unless I have misunderstood the above document,anyone can own lock picks in California unless you intend to use them in the commission of a crime.
 
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