ARCHIVE 2003-2013 Introduce yourself HERE if you are new. :)

[Sandonn]

Sandonn: 21 years old, community college student studying health and religion. I dont have much religious belief myself but find the idea interesting. Recently bought the HPC "Novice" Lockpick set, I have been interested in learning the skill for quite a while. I have an MFS 40mm padlock I've been fiddling with, I'm pretty sure it's ahead of my skill level by a long shot. I just picked it up and started moving stuff around in there. I came across this site looking for books and affordable clear practice locks, figured they'd be a great place to start. Looked over a few of the posts and this seems like a good group to be a part of. I hope to learn the skill and help out when i can.

[Sandonn]

WOW. Moments after the post I picked the lock. I turned the lock upside down from the way i was originally working it and just popped open.

[weedimo]

hi guys,

was reading a book about Feynman and how he loves puzzles and unlocking safes, etc. got me started on this - am excited to be thinking about this new skill and how i can develop it :) :)

[bw9]

Just found the site yesterday after hearing it mentioned in you tube video. Also just got my first book by deviant. Interesting read to say the least. Still trying to figure out a combo to an old 9xxxxxxx series master lock I found in the garage. The method of spinning the dial and looking for and recording 12 numbers is not working despite numerous attempts but that is ok as I have having fun trying. I did manage to open the lock via a filed down bobby pin but not good enough for me. I want to beat the lock for the sake of the challenge. After watching videos I wont be using this lock on anything I am trying to secure. The lock is now open so if anyone knows how to discover the combo of a open lock let me know if you got a minute. I"m introducing myself first so perhaps I will find the answer in a forum here I have not read yet.

Ordered a pick set before I read recommendations here and got a 20 piece set. Probably more than I need now but what is done is done and it is already i transit to me.

Name is Brad and I"m in the Los Angeles area. Hope to learn a lot here. Really interested in testing and securing my front door. Wont be actually trying to pick the front door but rather an identical lock to what is mounted.
Any way just wanted to introduce my self and say hello to all. I am extremely new to this sport, lets see about 24 hours now but it seems to be a blast.

brad

[brad5452]

My name is Brad (just like the guy above me) and I'm 15 in the eastern Pennsylvania area. I am new to this website, as well as to lock picking. I haven't got any picks yet, but I plan on ordering from SouthOrd today to get a slightly blemished 14 piece set.

I've decided I want to get into lock picking about a year ago when I found a lock on the ground with three dials that was locked. It appears to be a Master lock 630D. Wanting to see if I can open it, I found out how to in about 5 minutes. After a little messing around I found it could easily be opened in under 30 seconds. Shocked at how insecure it was (not saying all are, please don't sue me Master lock), I did some reading online and learned how pin tumbler locks work (even though I knew the lock wasn't pin tumbler, I figured I should learn about common locks first) and thought that lock picking and locks in general might be something I'd be interested in. I forgot about it for about a year (i.e. until a few days ago), but still think it would be fun so I'm going to try it out when my picks arrive. I joined because the forums seem to be a cool close-knit community, with lots of information, and seems friendly to newcomers with all the beginner information and whatnot.

[gun plumber]

hello everybody,
First off, let me say how happy I am to have found such a wealth of knowledge all in one place.
Now that the compliments are out of the way, I can right into the introductions.

I'll apoligize in advance for the lack of proper paragraphs. I'm tapping this out on my tablet and can't for the life of me find the TAB key. I'll start by saying that I'm a novice to the art of lockpicking but am looking forward to learning.
A little about myself. I'm 36 and currently live in Ontario,Canada. I'm employed in the Canadian Army as a Weapons Technican. We preform inspection and repair on everything from 9mm pistol to 155mm howitzer and everything in between. One interesting thing about my trade and the reason I'm here is we are also responsable for all security containers used by the military. I havent had alot of experience with lock picking, so I picked up a starter pick set and came here to learn. Lot's of good info here from what I've seen so far and looking forward to learn.

[Miller661]

Hey everyone, I'm Miller, a police officer from Missouri and became interested in learning to properly pick locks after spending 3 hours waiting for a locksmith to arrive to open a shed during a search warrant.. (meth lab so breaking it wasn't an ideal option). Since then I got into playing with old locks and make shift lock picks while watching along to YouTube videos. I just ordered a set of MPXS-14 lockpicks and I've slowly became fascinated with locks and their functions,and hope to soon have a more professional looking way to assist citizens locked out of their home than jamming an old laminated insurance card I carry around just for that purpose, since in 7 years no one who ever called me locked out of a house has actually had a deadbolt locked....

Great site! Already learned a ton just from reading the new member resources here! Can't wait to really get started learning this cool and practical new skill!

[Ccrunner2787]

Hi everyone... My name is Kevin and I'm from western PA. I have been interested in lockpicking for a little while now ever since seeing it in multiple movies and on tv. I figured it wasn't as simple as it was made out to be and had to try it for myself. So I found this site and have started with the info found here and as well as my g/f's uncle being a locksmith. I surprised myself with how much I enjoy the challenge of picking. To me it's like a puzzle that I have to solve. The best part is that ironically it's stress relieving haha.

So now I'm officially a member and look forward to sharing any tip/tricks I come across as well as learning from others. Just wanted to say hello.

[shifty67]

hi guys/girls
just want to say hello to fellow locksmiths and anyone else reading this im an autolocksmith so generaly work on vehicle locks /keys and programming but call me sad if you like but i love picking locks of all kinds or should i say i like trying to pick locks of all kinds give me a car lock i can pick/decode usualy without any probs but theres nothing other than sex , my s1000rr , mucky beer etc that gives me a better buzz than picking open an high security lock it may take time but when the clik clik comes its a fix although i could never do the rubix cube without cheating and that was just to wind up my brothers i never told them i cudnt do it realy but i suppose what im saying is im out of the closet *ock in hand and yes i did mean lock i guess im either fortunate to enjoy the job i do or im getting ready for my visit to the nearest odd slipper ward

thats enough babling from me
regards
lee
automotive locks

[shifty67]

hi guys / girls
just to update my last post and my first post i didnt realise i had been a member since 2007 how time flys i like this forum so am going to post and visit more often
if i can be of any help to anyone then i will certainly try my best

kind regards
lee
automotive locks

[Old Crow]

Ed. Retired military and working as a logistics contractor in the Middle East and Africa. Got tired of my guys losing keys to the locks on our shipping containers and having to cut perfectly good (and expensive) padlocks. Slowly working my way to more advanced locks. Just got a Schlage re-pinnable cut away to speed up the learning process.

[HeavyHanded]

Taylor, 20, in college. I started messing around with picking in high school, using Bobby pins and the clip off pens. Managed to get open a few master locks and filing cabinet locks, then left the hobby. I've ordered some picks, and managed to reopen my master lock no. 1 with Bobby pins once again. I've found a couple street sweeper bristles so I'll make a few of my own picks pretty soon. And, later on, I'll show you guys the key to the difficult-looking Medeco lock at my place of work that I probably won't ever have a chance to pick, and probably wouldn't have the skill to pick anyways for a long time.

[NosmanN20]

Chris, 25, from Scotland.

Interested in lock picking since reading about it in "the book of forbidden knowledge" at a very young age, but only decided to do something about it last week. Ordered myself a Sparrows Kick Start set to get me off the ground, and I have a set of Serepick's Titanium Bogotas gradually making their way to me across the Atlantic.

Since the Sparrows arrived, my girlfriend & I have been practicing constantly on a cheap padlock I bought in a supermarket. She popped it 5 times before I even got it once... Quite an addictive feeling once you've popped it open for the first time! Here to learn as much as I can about the hobby to compliment my practicing.

[Glubbdrubb]

Hi there

I am a brand new (haven't even touched a pick yet) hobbyist from South Africa. I'm looking forward to all the fun and games that await.

[signoredems]

hello everyone,

i used this forum as a guide when i bought my first lockpick set (MPXS-14) and i'm completely hooked. i live in columbus, oh where we have a small chapter of locksport international but i'm trying to get more people interested (i gave away my first and second sets to friends, one of whom has since given it away to someone else and upgraded his set). i got my degree in physics from the ohio state university so i'd really like to work on a portable device to 'pick' electronic/magnetic locks so please send me a message if you're interested in working with me (especially if you are an electrical or mechanical engineer). i've worked as a software engineer since i graduated so i also enjoy dabbling in IT security (currently working my way through the hbh challenges)

anyway, i love the forum and i hope to talk with you all soon