Who is the best lock picker in the world?

[james5345]

Ok i've just googled this nothing came up, so here i am.

I'm extremely new to lock sport, and so have really only heard of marc tobias and Tobi who he mentioned in the interview with digital blue. Although i'm aware Marc favours bumping, but must be brilliant at both..

Who in your opinion is or was the single greatest lock picker in the world?

[freakparade3]

I was informed by someone who knows such things that Marc is an average picker. I don't know for sure personally. As for the best in the world the list is long. Different parts of the world have different locks. The best American lockpicker may not be so brilliant across the pond.

[james5345]

looks like you've got the sequel to this thread freakparade, which are the harder locks to pick lol, So who would you say is a great picker? The guy who co wrote Marc's new book?... Tobi ?

[freakparade3]

Tobias Bluzmanis is certainly a great lockpicker. As well as Han Fey, Barry Wels, Schuyler Towne, Nick Zakowski, the list goes on and on. Until we get all of the greats in one room to pick together I don't think it's possible to say who is the "best in the world".

[greyman]

Can we include dead people? If so, I'd like to vote for Alfred Hobbs or maybe Josef Bierhaus, who picked the Kromer Protector 22-lever lock. Seriously though, Tommy Watson, of the UK, now retired, is one of the best lock pickers in the UK, AFAIK.

[jos weyers]

SSDeV maintains a list of winners in Dutch and German championships.
According to that list Dr. Manfred Bölker is above par
Last Saturday we tried a little head2head impressioning and yes, he sure knows his stuff.
http://www.ssdev.org/SSDeV/helden.php

Tobias Bluzmanis is certainly a great lockpicker. As well as Han Fey, Barry Wels, Schuyler Towne, Nick Zakowski, the list goes on and on. Until we get all of the greats in one room to pick together I don't think it's possible to say who is the "best in the world".

I would consider Han to be a walking knowledgebase when it comes to locks, a dedicated collecter and recognised member of the lockpickingsport. But putting him on a list as a "great lockpicker" ??

[FrenchKey]

Until we get all of the greats in one room to pick together I don't think it's possible to say who is the "best in the world".

IMHO, it wouldn't be enough, because Barry was the #1 in the LockCon impressioning contest, but did not open his lock during the last German impressioning contest.
For picking, it might be the same. You are good sometimes, and sometimes less good

And as it as been said, it depends on locks. not that some countries have harde than others, but different ones. PIcking Bramah locks is not very hard when you know the inside and have experience. But the best pin tumbler lockpicker will not be at ease in picking a bramah lock


If there is no solution, there is no problem.

[JK_the_CJer]

From the high-sec side of things, Toby Bluzmanis is probably the best Medeco picker in the world. As far as walking tomes of lock knowledge go; for me its a toss-up between Han Fey and Peter Field.

Also I seem to remember Gordon Airporte being able to rip through Assa Twin cylinders; can anyone confirm?