Lock picking helping Soldiers

[Gapper402]

Just wanted to share this story with everyone, people usually like happy endings. I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan and as you can guess it gets a bit stressful here. The Army tries to supply ways to relax between missions but it just isn't working at my exact base. We don't have time to watch a movie, everyone is usually to tired to workout and the summer is starting up so anything outside is just too hot. My way of relaxing is picking locks, its quiet, relaxing, accomplishing and more. One of my Soldiers came in the other day and asked what I was doing. I gave him a 101 lesson and let him loose with a rake on a Master 3. 20 minutes later he comes in the room smiling and looking for more lessons. That was a week and a half ago.

The Soldier (my medic) received his Southord set in the mail yesterday, so far he has opened masters up to 140, Paclock 100's, an Abus PSU, some wafers, Tricircles and a Fortress. Along with picking constantly he is challenging me to stay ahead of him now, lol. Other Soldiers in the platoon got interested and another 2 ordered the same Southord sets yesterday and we are up to 4 new pickers in the platoon. My guys who use to bicker and argue at each other are laughing and picking locks together now. The influence lock picking had on my platoon was unbelievable, had to share the story with you guys.

[Squelchtone]

A. thank you for serving your country, all of us back home appreciate it very much!

B. That's a great story and a perfect example of this hobby bringing people together.

You guys should hit up the motor pool and take the stainless steel windshield wiper inserts and make wrenches and picks from them, I'm sure there's a couple guys who have access to some hand tools and a bench grinder.

But as you said, time is limited, so taking a pick set and a lock out of your pocket to practice on is easy and convenient.

Have a good day in the sandbox,
Squelchtone

Boston MA

[raimundo]

Please pm me and send me your apo address. I will send you something.

Ray

[LocksmithArmy]

i think picking while deployed is one of the best ways to relax... i picked ALOT when i was deployed to iraq... idk what sort of base you are at but if you have a larger motorpool walk around and you will find lots of cut 5200s on the ground, that should give you a good challange... and somehting to boast about with your fellow lockpickers...

while deployed i tought nearly everyone inmy platoon to pick... granted not many of them still do (some still do tho lol) but while deloyed we all had a good time with it.

thanks for sharing.

[Oldfast]

GOOD STUFF! Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like your medic is taking to it in a big hurry (good luck tryin' to keep up with him )

A. thank you for serving your country, all of us back home appreciate it very much!

I'll 2nd that. Lots of respect for you guys and gals. Thanks

[yono]

nice to hear such kind of stories that enlightened people.. i am sure we will hearing a lot from your guys some times soon.. one thing i do expect too, you will create a bunch of great good lockpickers. regards to the team, and GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

[Knowthebird]

Nice, I took my pick set there to. We used demo on the afghan doors (if there were any) but it came in handy a few times for some gun cases (one had US 5200s and one just master 179s). And of course on sea bags. I had about 5 people in my platoon sit down and practice with them, and now some just ask to barrow my picks back in the barracks when they loose/lock in their keys.

I got lucky one day, I like to get one lock from each country I go to, and I did not think I was going to find one out there. But one day we had to turn this old little plaza into a patrol base. One of the shops still had locks on those garage doors. Didnt have my picks but took some bolt cutters and cut the doors instead of the locks. One is a tri-circle, the others a Zhangshi (whatever that is).

That is a good place to work on a hobby. Good luck man, and keep your eyes open out there.

[raimundo]

I sent this guy some bogota pairs, one for him and another for his medic,
I was a medic my self back in 67-70 cmb from americal div, 1/20bn 11thLIB.

I have not recieved any word of the tools arriving.

[Squelchtone]

I sent this guy some bogota pairs, one for him and another for his medic,
I was a medic my self back in 67-70 cmb from americal div, 1/20bn 11thLIB.

I have not recieved any word of the tools arriving.

He hasn't logged in since April 2nd 2011. Hope he's doing ok.

Nice of you to send our boys some tools. +1

Squelchtone

[chittnp]

I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan and have ordered a set of the bogata's to try and pick up a new skill and pass some time. I think that aside from being a fun hobby, it's definately an applicable skill. Looking forward to learning more about it!