Combination dial Master locks...

[jackbeef]

I am wondering if over the years the internal parts of combination Master locks have changed any. I'm basically looking for a timeline similar to this....1988 - 1996 this particular style, 1996 - 2000 this particular style, and so on. Also, are the black dial internal parts different than the new Extreme (colorful) Master locks and is there a timeline for those? Thanks.

[UWSDWF]

nope

[Krypos]

actually, there have been minor changes, and mostly it has to do with the false gates within the locks.

back in 96 it was very clear where the gates were. now its nearly impossible.

my advice. if you need to get around them, then shim it.

[BazookaMedic]

I attempted to dismantle one that my school was getting rid of. i got a lot of ten of them. My drilling and cutting destroyed the inner mechanism but the keyed lock for administrators and SRO's survied. I took it appart as no one had ever posted info about them.

Here is the link.
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=17313

[Squelchtone]

I attempted to dismantle one that my school was getting rid of. i got a lot of ten of them. My drilling and cutting destroyed the inner mechanism but the keyed lock for administrators and SRO's survied. I took it appart as no one had ever posted info about them.

Here is the link.
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=17313

If you know the drill point on the back, drilling a .25 inch hole in the stainless backplate will reveal a square viewing window which will allow you to see the gates. After that you have to calculate the offset for each number in the combination. This method is obvious and destructive, and only handy to extract a combination or for practice manipulation.


my two cents: we should consider implementing a policy to not allow users with less than 50 posts to discuss any Master locks which are commonly used in schools. Maybe that would cut down on n00bs with 1 post asking how to pop open locker padlocks.

imho.

Squelchtone

[Raccoon]

my two cents: we should consider implementing a policy to not allow users with less than 50 posts to discuss any Master locks which are commonly used in schools. Maybe that would cut down on n00bs with 1 post asking how to pop open locker padlocks.

Probably a good idea, but definitely not applicable in this thread. The usual response to a 1st post combo master thread is a quick flame and the thread gets deleted. They're fun if you're fast enough to catch one.

I am wondering if over the years the internal parts of combination Master locks have changed any. I'm basically looking for a timeline similar to this....1988 - 1996 this particular style, 1996 - 2000 this particular style, and so on. Also, are the black dial internal parts different than the new Extreme (colorful) Master locks and is there a timeline for those? Thanks.

jack, if you do research on this and can plot a timeline using solid references (even if it's just model of the lock w/ or w/o year made), i would love to read it and see it posted on lockwiki (when i get it back online). I do know that there are masters with 0-39 that really have 10 or 12 possible gate values. When they switched from 10 to 12 or back, is a mystery to me. There are also knock-off brand locks, and a good comparison in construction would be excellent.

[jackbeef]

my two cents: we should consider implementing a policy to not allow users with less than 50 posts to discuss any Master locks which are commonly used in schools. Maybe that would cut down on n00bs with 1 post asking how to pop open locker padlocks.

I'm 27 years old, and I'm not looking to steal some kid's text books. Also, if you didn't notice, I wasn't asking how to pop open locker padlocks.


Jackbeef

[Squelchtone]

It wasn't intended at you directly, I realize you were looking for historical changes in master's combination lock design.

The trouble is, even if you aren't a high school kid trying to impress friends or just cause mayhem, this is a public forum which can be read by kids in high school.

So if we were to have a discussion about how to best pick a gym locker lock that has a keyway on the back of it, we may not be up to anything bad, but there could be a teenaged lurker getting a free lesson on how to do it.

[Raccoon]

... but there could be a teenaged lurker getting a free lesson on how to do it.

That is the story of our site. And the official vertict is "oh well". We do our best to keep blatant bypasses off the public forum, but some have slipped through the cracks; such as bump keys and padlock shims. There's not much we can do except completely remove these articles from the public forum, which as been suggested, and rejected.

I just focus on answering questions factually and avoid spelling out any quick-n-easy hand-holding methods that might be misused in a public place. They are easy enough to figure out if you have an ounce of intelligence, which is enough to satisfy me that most of america's short-attention-span youth will gloss over it and flip channels.

[Krypos]

this might be a little late, but there are easy ways to dismantle combo padlocks. as stated, there is a small hole in the back, and drilling there, and then patience with pliers has always worked for me.

i have taken the stainless steel backing off the lock entirely before, many times. so keep at it, the trick is the edge around the back, you have to sort of peel it up.