Can anyone recommend a good book

[Pintickler]

I'm going on vacation later this month and would love to have a good locksmith related book to read. I've only been in the business for about three years, and mostly I've been doing residential and automotive work. I'd like to start learning about safes I think, but I'm open to suggestions. Having a good book to read, that can make me a more competent locksmith, will greatly enhance my vacation.

[GWiens2001]

The HPC Safe and Vault manual is quite good, as are any of the Dave McOmie books.

Gordon

[Pintickler]

Thanks for that, Gordon. I looked up Dave McOmie books on Amazon. Looks like he wrote several but there are only two copies of one of his books available. Now I REALLY want to read one of them ! Uncommon knowledge is so cool. I'm gonna look up that HPC book now.

[Pintickler]

Ok, Amazon doesn't have that one available either. I'm obviously looking in the wrong place. Where should I be looking ?

[Squelchtone]

Ok, Amazon doesn't have that one available either. I'm obviously looking in the wrong place. Where should I be looking ?

They are trade books with things like drill points, and are not meant for the public, so they are sold as a restricted resource to locksmiths only from places like MBAUSA and Lockmasters.

[Pintickler]

Oh. No wonder. So they're a little trickier to procure. That's a good thing. I do appreciate the suggestions.

[Squelchtone]

Oh. No wonder. So they're a little trickier to procure. That's a good thing. I do appreciate the suggestions.

if you like fiction about a late teens/early 20's lock picker / safe cracker who gets mixed up with the wrong crowd, I have a good book on my shelf I can mail to you free of charge. The book hops from current time to flashback every chapter so its a bit confusing, but it is a good read with lots of safe manipulation jargon. http://www.amazon.com/The-Lock-Artist-A ... 0312380429

or if you want purely technical material Bill Phillips has a line of Locksmithing books. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Loc ... 071448292/

Squelchtone

[blue60]

The Lock Artist is a great read , I got a copy last year I have no idea where is went after I was done reading it

[Squelchtone]

The Lock Artist is a great read , I got a copy last year I have no idea where is went after I was done reading it

we should pass it from member to member and everyone sign their handle on the inside cover to show who's read it.

[blue60]

Thats a cool idea, I will see if I can find the friend I lent it to

[GWiens2001]

Think that is an outstanding idea, Squelchtone. It would be fun, as we will have more shared background for our comments and edification.

Gordon

[Pintickler]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me too. I appreciate the offer from squelchtone to send me that book from off his shelf, but I'm not really much of a fiction reader. I'd probably be a much better writer if I was.
I see books advertised in the Locksmith Ledger and The National Locksmith about wafer lock reading, or SFIC. I've seen ones that are all about tubular locks... Seems like I've seen or heard about some that are all about impressioning, this is kind of what I had in mind, something technical and specific.

[GWiens2001]

Looking at my bookshelf, the best book on impressioning that I have read thus far is:

Impressioning, and is by Oliver Diederichsen.

Other good books are:

Practical Lock Picking (second edition), by Deviant Ollam
Keys to the Kingdom, also by Deviant Ollam

If you want to learn about many lock types, there is:

High Security Mechanical Locks, by Graham Pullford (a member here!). This book is indispensable.
Locks, Safes and Security, by Marc Tobias. Expensive, but really eye-opening.

Antique locks:

The Extreme Antique Padlock Collector, by Lauren Arndt (also a member here)
Locks & Keys Throughout the Ages, by Vincent J.M. Eras

SFIC:

Small Format and Mixed Format Interchangeable Core Servicing, by Don OShall

Any of the papers by Han Fey

There are several good threads on books here if you use the Search button. Found many of the books on my shelves by reading those threads.

If you want non-fiction, but scary since it is real, try:

The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston

Gordon

[Pintickler]

That, Hot Zone book is right up my alley. Very good suggestion. The book I really want to read that's not locksmith related is called "Infested", by Brooke Borel. It's all about bedbugs. I read 2 pages of it on Amazon and realized there was no way on earth I was gonna be able read it AND sleep soundly in a hotel room. I'll be reading that one after vacation.
Thanks again, Gordon, I'm gonna look up all those books you suggested.

[pickmonger]

Working in the office of a large apartment/office complex I need to learn about basic lock repair so I have some idea what I am talking about when dealing with a locksmith.

Can anyone suggest a good book or manual on lock repair.


Any comments about these 2 books from The National Locksmith Catalog would be appreciated.


Door Lock Encyclopedia by Robert Sieveking
#DLE — $39.95
The ability to remove a lock from a door, disassemble the mechanism, and remove the lock cylinder for service is not always a simple straightforward task.
The Door Lock Encyclopedia is a clear and concise illustrated service manual illustrating service
instructions for standard cylindrical locksets including American Eagle, Arrow, Corbin, Dexter, Harlock,Kwikset, Lori, Master, National Lock/Amerock, Sargent, Schlage, Weiser and Yale. It will equip you with specific knowledge and a few tricks to make servicing understandable, easy to master and profitable.


Lock Repair Manual
#LRM-1 — $14.95
Chapters cover installation and repair for the following manufacturers: Abloy, Adams Rite, ASSA, Best,Chicago, Corbin, mortise locks, Sargent, Schlage, Simplex, Weiser, Yale, Unilock, electric gate locks, and cabinet locks. This book contains material reprinted from The National Locksmith. Here, under one cover you have a tremendous amount of lock servicing information. Next time you run into a problem chances are you’ll find the answer in the Lock Repair Manual.