Sparrows SSDev Hooks

[Danbot]

Just got these in the mail yesterday! I'm wondering if anyone here has tried them?
They seem really good to me, but I'm still a noob!

http://www.lockpickcanada.com/product_p/ssdev.htm

I spent a couple of hours last night just running the picks through the keyway of an ABUS 85/40 padlock to get the feel for them. They seem very smooth to me.

[Squelchtone]

[Moved from Ask Beginner Questions to Lock Picks]

[cheerIO]

They look nice. But as a self proclaimed "noob" I don't think you will get a tonne of use out of them.

They seem a little tall. And, as the description says, they are geared more toward deep access and are an addition to the line. I think most people use a short hook or half diamond for single pin picking.

Personally I use a short hook or a gem for 99% of my SPP'ing, I have a lot of other picks with taller profiles but only use them once in a blue moon when I run across something that I know I have to set a back pin really deep which rarely comes up. (for me anyway)

Good to have in your arsenal though. And not a bad price either.

[Danbot]

Apologies for posting in the wrong spot Squelchtone!

Thanks for your opinion cheerIO. Yes, two of the picks are quite tall forsure. The third one is pretty slick though. I guess I was hoping they would be suited to getting in those narrow paracentric keyways. I made a Bogota style pick from a windshield wiper insert, but I could only find the thin ones(.100"). I find it difficult to hold. I will be on the lookout for the thicker inserts now though!

[nite0wl]

Apologies for posting in the wrong spot Squelchtone!

Thanks for your opinion cheerIO. Yes, two of the picks are quite tall forsure. The third one is pretty slick though. I guess I was hoping they would be suited to getting in those narrow paracentric keyways. I made a Bogota style pick from a windshield wiper insert, but I could only find the thin ones(.100"). I find it difficult to hold. I will be on the lookout for the thicker inserts now though!

These should work well in narrow keyways but typically the taller a pick is the more difficult it is to fit in a paracentric keyway. The middle one in the picture looks like a decent small or medium hook (hard to tell absolute scale from the photo there). The two taller hooks should be helpful when you hit very deep set pins and may be helpful if you encounter very radical bittings where a very short pin is hidden behind a very long pin (this is a common trick to introduce some additional pick resistance in otherwise simple locks).

[FancyPants]

I've recently gotten them as well. I think they are a great addition to Sparrow's line, they sorely needed deep access picks. Since using them, I have nothing but good things to say about them. Very solid build, and I would say the shape is also a slight improvement from what you usually see from Sparrow. I also enjoy the fact they come handle-less. Also, their new line of 15 thou picks are great as well.

[sir lot is here]

Ive purchased these in the UK and i wasn't disappointed they are what they describe a good addition to any hook set

overall a good set good hook picks 10-10

[Danbot]

Thanks for the input guys!

Sounds like the consensus is that they are excellent picks to have for specific circumstances.
Glad I didn't waste my money on completely useless or redundant tools! I may not get a lot of use out of them, but if I need them...they will be perfect for the job.