Need help fixing or installing a lock? We welcome questions from the public here! Sorry, no automotive questions, please.
Forum rules
WE DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE OR MOTORCYCLE LOCKS OR IGNITIONS ON THIS FORUM. THIS INCLUDES QUESTIONS ABOUT PICKING, PROGRAMMING, OR TAKING APART DOOR OR IGNITION LOCKS,
I accidentally left an entire backpack with the only key to my girlfriends extra room in the states, is here anything I can do other than call a locksmith for her? Things cost much more in Europe and a locksmith would be 200€ at least.
I would rather open this myself if possible.
Any help would be great! (Obviously the photos of the open door is not the lock in question, but a photo of another door that is the same.
Your best bet is to call a locksmith, even though it's expensive.
There isn't a shortcut to getting in. It's just a matter of learning to pick locks, which takes tools, time and practice.
Since we have no way of verifying if you have the legal right to open that door, I'm afraid we can't offer you any specific advice on how to open that particular lock.
MBI already covered all the bases, but if someone has access to the backpack back in the states, have them send you a photo of the key so a local locksmith will charge you less, or have them overnight the key to you via FedEx which will be expensive but probably half of what you'd pay to get a locksmith there to open it.
Also, we have scammer locksmiths here in the US and I'm sure there are scammer locksmiths there as well, so visit an actual locksmith shop or ask the police for a recommendation of a reputable one so at least you know the price they quote you is real versus some scammer trying to get money off you for something that should cost much less.
Is there no landlord or someone like a building supervisor there who your girlfriend could ask to see if they have a key?
She owns her home as most people in Italy, and I can get confirmation of the ownership if that is needed. Also it is an indoor door, in case that wasn't obvious, so I did not think I needed to prove legal rights to open the door, which also vary from country to country anyway, but I digress.
I was hoping for help specifically , so provide me , if possible with what criteria you need to feel comfortable to help me. I am in a bind as Sicialian girls don't mess around .
The backpack is in my room , and no one has access to that room in the United States, until I come back in 10 months from studying abroad.
Whatever you guys need to help me, I can provide as I know your are being careful and I appreciate that.
I actually thought, as enthusiasts you might have some interest in the old European lock!
Enkeli wrote:She owns her home as most people in Italy, and I can get confirmation of the ownership if that is needed. Also it is an indoor door, in case that wasn't obvious, so I did not think I needed to prove legal rights to open the door, which also vary from country to country anyway, but I digress.
I was hoping for help specifically , so provide me , if possible with what criteria you need to feel comfortable to help me. I am in a bind as Sicialian girls don't mess around .
The backpack is in my room , and no one has access to that room in the United States, until I come back in 10 months from studying abroad.
Whatever you guys need to help me, I can provide as I know your are being careful and I appreciate that.
I actually thought, as enthusiasts you might have some interest in the old European lock!
Thanks again!
Unfortunately, nothing you can provide will help, because this is the internet and I can say I'm Matt Damon and you can't really prove me wrong, and now you know Matt Damon enjoys hobby lock picking. see what I mean?
Most of us don't pick those kinds of locks, the pick sets we use to pick typical pin tumbler locks don't even work on the style of lock in your photos. There's also no simple trick to give you over the internet that will pop that lock open like you might see done in the movies.
if the lock that is locked is truly the same mechanism as the lock in the photos you showed us, the it is worth at least inserting the key you do have into that lock and jiggling around hoping it will open, stranger things have happened.
If you are comfortable sharing a photo of the key for the door that you do have a key to, we can at least tell you if this is something that can be opened with a bend coat hanger or if you're gonna need a machine shop and 2 days work to make a custom tool to even get started.
we have a moderator here who is in Italy, but its 3am there now so he wont see this post for another few hours. perhaps he knows is this is a common local lock and he may offer advice on how to open it or if it is an expert level lock that will require a locksmith to pick it or drill it.
sorry this isn't as easy of a thing as you may have imagined it would be. Squelchtone
Enkeli wrote:She owns her home as most people in Italy, and I can get confirmation of the ownership if that is needed. Also it is an indoor door, in case that wasn't obvious, so I did not think I needed to prove legal rights to open the door, which also vary from country to country anyway, but I digress.
I was hoping for help specifically , so provide me , if possible with what criteria you need to feel comfortable to help me. I am in a bind as Sicialian girls don't mess around .
The backpack is in my room , and no one has access to that room in the United States, until I come back in 10 months from studying abroad.
Whatever you guys need to help me, I can provide as I know your are being careful and I appreciate that.
I actually thought, as enthusiasts you might have some interest in the old European lock!
Thanks again!
So you were hoping that we would ignore all the rules and just do you a solid, eh ?
Someone gave you the key to your room in the states, so contact that person to allow one of your roommates access to your room so they can send you the key you forgot.
Either that or pay the stupidity fee and obtain a duplicate key or have a locksmith come out to make you one, as it is sounding a lot like it was either the only key to this door or you never had one at all.
The key to my room in the United States is with me, there is no extra key for people to enter my home, I don't know why that is assumed . I don't know why a phantom roommate entered the situation
What criteria is required to prove I am not a burglar, which also, is a little offensive but it's fine I'll just go with the flow, can someone helpful tell me if this is even an easy enough tasks without/tools and with just a bit less assumption and fabrication, I only say that because usually burglars are not in the home.
If more responses unrelated to opening this little bedroom door might be tempting, can someone tell me when "ask a locksmith" results in tangible data to opening "this old lock" as opposed to suggestions of postal services, or telling people they are stupid?
In summary, when can I ask a locksmith, and how do I navigate this subjective/ conjecture, this is a real question, I am wholly confused.
If you think I am a burglar with access to what is obviously a room door, I guess you are assuming I am breaking into another room in a home that I have access to. Which is fine, just let me know the criteria you need to satisfy your assumption, as I am an enthusiast of other types I could never think of treating people as robbers, so let me know what you need to help me, I'm sure someone is interested in helping more than the help thus far.
Squelch tone, thank you very much! You are very help ful.
How can I ensure that the Italian mod sees this? I would be so grateful. I am taking photos of the other keys and then going to bed as I have been trying to jiggle keys in it for hours.
Adam, you aren't really a mod or even an admin, so please man, take it easy or refrain from jeopardising the integrity of good faith in others, through your posts.
and dont get too offended about suggestions of being a burglar, we get all sorts of shady folks visiting the forum and everyone has a well rehearsed story, so if we come across judgy or skeptical its just because we dont want to teach some bored teen agers or frat boys how to break into someone's apartment or dorm room. that's all.
look for moderator Femurat to see this in the morning, maybe he can help more Squelchtone
Hello from the Italian moderator that just red the whole thread
Is your room in Sicily? Which university are you going to study for 10 months? I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much.
Back on topic. I see you have typical indoor keys. These are very common here in Italy. The easiest thing you can do is to go to a hardware store or a locksmith shop and buy a new uncut key, similar to the ones you have. It should be less than 5 euro. Make sure to bring one with you so you can check the new one looks the same. Then get a flat file and file down the sides of the flag until the key enters the keyhole. This should allow you to open the door. Take your time and file a little at a time until it enters the keyhole. If you file too much the key will become too fragile and break inside the lock. You don't want this.
Went to the ferra matta and the blank key they gave me literally worked first time. Did not even have to use the file, which was absolute luck because none of the other indoor doors work with this new blank!
What a help you have all been, all is well now!.
Oh yea for clarification, girlfriend is Siciliana but we live in Florence, study with a California study abroad program, and have never been happier in my life, and thanks to everyone but Evan, all is tranquilo!
Thank you so very much All!
Here is the photo of the key and door open! Evan we are horrible robbers!
