Novelty picks

Hello ! Well I don't know nothing about lock picking yet but I have opem some lock before ( combination ) but because I collect pocket knives I'm sure I will buy one of these for my self. Also ( about knives again ) I would like to know if one of you guys ever had any lock opem useing a pocket knife ( Mac Gyver style ) Is it possible? Please let me know.

Offhand, no.

There are commercially produced "jack a pick" or something that contain the necessary tools.

I know enough about the world to know that many of the things MacGyver did were physically impossible.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Yes...

Opening a door with a pocket knife is possible, but only when an outswinging door has too large a gap between the door and the frame... And only if a latch protector plate has not been installed...

Evan, ~~ formerly a maintenance man, now a college student...

A pick in time saves nine.

I have a pen pick but never use it. I got it when I first got into the lock trade. It is a spring loaded model that you loosen, slide down a rake, then tighten in the extended position. You still need a tension wrench in your other hand, and since I prefer the hook to the rake, it would not be my first choice. Also, since its round like a wide pen it feels odd in my hand. You can't change out the rake for one of the other picks, so it's pretty useless in my opinion.

Steve Cohen NIAGARA FRONTIER INVESTIGATIONS

I've carried a jack knife pick set for about 20 years and it has come in handy many times. They are not as sturdy as the straight ones so you have to be a little more gentle with them. Irreguardless of what some folks say (that are obviously not speaking from experience) the one I have works very well. I lost one and had to replace it but I've never broken mine. I had to replace the rubber piece that holds the tension wrench but it is just a piece of automotive vacuum hose. This link shows the one I have (The $24.95 one) but my first one was $9.95 and my second one was $12.95, purchased from Kenco in Omaha, Neb (no longer in business).

I still carry mine (& my Leatherman) and I would feel nekked without them. :^)

Leon Rowell

Storm> Anyone tried the pen pick, jack knife folding pick, or any of those > novelties?

I used to buy from Kenco. They got folded into a larger company. Thanks for the wisdom.

I prefer my own solution: Some kinds of ball-point pen bodies can be emptied out and turned into a case for a few tools. And since in most cases you only need a few...

Mine used to go through airport security screening quite happily. I wouldn't dream of trying it these days, given how paranoid they've gotten about anything with a point.

Especially the hairstyle ;)

HI well, I don't think the hairstyle was something impossible... That was very easy to do in the 80's... I almost had my hair like that.... But I had to shave for the AIR FORCE.... I collect SWISS KNIVES and I was able to get out of trouble many times because I had my pocket knife with me. I know the movies go to far but the can help you a lot of times....I feel naked without my knife.... I hope more understand that.... Mteixeira

" I hope more people understand that...."

Mteixeira

Haven't been here in awhile. I've got one of those things. If you can use it to rake the lock it might work, and it would probably work on some wafer locks, but if you come up against anything remotely difficult you'll need a few more tools. For a few bucks more you can get a small set that, in the right hands with the right training, will open most standard locks. Also, it only comes with one wrench, and I like an assortment.

I think too many people watch too many movies, see someone pick a lock in under 10 seconds and assume these gadgets will work the same for them the same way. It's not having the right tool. It's knowing how to use it.

Amen ! I bought a set of picks a month ago and have been trying to learn how to use them. This is difficult. The more sensitive my fingers become, the more I realize how little I am feeling. It reminds me of trying to learn to play the oboe. I could rake a deadbolt almost without trying, but after a month I can't really claim to pick one. A regular doorknob still defeats me and a simple four pin padlock remains impenetrable. I've made a tension wrench from a ten penny nail, and the extra rigidity seems to help, but I remain awed by people on this newsgroup who take pin-by-pin picking for granted.

It amazes me the number of people who claim that they can pick a lock with a paper clip. I had no idea how many liars I know!

That's how I started. (Well, two paper clips.) But I knew what shapes were useful to bend the clips into, and I don't claim it was easy, and I don't claim it would work on a decent paracentric keyway.

Good tools stay out of your way and let you work. Bad tools don't but you may be able to work past them. In any case, all a pick does is let you reach into the lock...