Non-destructive lock-picking of a historical treasure chest

[GWiens2001]

Really cool article on another way of picking/decoding a lock.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235316

Gordon

[Gantry]

Very cool GWien! Thanks for posting this.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

This has always been a concern with certain safe locks.

[billdeserthills]

Funny that someone locked a spare key inside but I see that all the time when opening a client's lock box

[GWiens2001]

I post this knowing it's pie in the sky not bloody likely but what hurdles would one encounter.

There was a website with 100's of .jpgs taken of weird scans and xrays done as "experiments" by students "learning after hours" Its long gone as it proved abuse of school equipment and someone wanted to sue.
The experiments involved humans, pets and physical objects so may have been illegal.

Now days out put is digital so there are no expensive films or paper to worry about.

Scientists opened a old chest without a key with a CT scan

Abstract
An innovative approach to a non-destructive lock mechanism examination by means of X-ray computed tomography (CT) was involved in a careful opening of a locked 19th century chest missing the key, as an interdisciplinary cooperation with the restorers. In regard of the exploration and conservation of such locked objects, their opening is important to the restorers. However, the opening may be complicated, if not impossible, without damaging the object when the key is missing. Moreover, the historical locks might be equipped with protective mechanisms. Despite the exceeding dimensions and the weight of the steel chest, a CT analysis was performed, which enabled a detailed exploration of the lock based on a system of levers and bolts handled by a single key, located in a case on the inside of the chest lid, including the dimensions essential for manufacturing of a new key copy. Moreover, two secret protective mechanisms were revealed, as well as all the damages of the object.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235316

Pickmonger - did you notice that this article was already posted here on the forum about 8 hours ago?

Gordon

[pickmonger]

Vey strange .. I have got to stop posting in the middle of the night