Sparrows Revolver

[MolecularConcept]

So I've got my stuff from sparrows and I'm having alot of trouble with this revolver. Specifically I'm having trouble with getting pins to bind unless I use alot of tension. I raked the first 2 sections when I first got it but haven't been able to get an open since. I picked a schlage mortice cylinder this shouldn't be to different.

Any advice?

[petemoss]

I had/am having a lot of problems picking mine as well. For me I think it is because pin 1 is cut very low, so I have a tendency to overset it when trying to get to the back pins.

My solution was to remove some pins to make it easier and work my way up to the full five pins. See my warning here though. https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=65694

[MolecularConcept]

Haha! brilliant. I would have most likely made exactly the same mistake. So don't feel bad. I think I have similar or the same bitting as you my first cut is deep as well. A low high low situation. The paracentric keyway isnt really beginner friendly either lol.

I think I will do as you did and remove the first 2 sets of pins.... All around. See how that goes.

Also I could use some more picks, some more hooks.

Thanks dude

[GWiens2001]

When you set up the lock for progressive pinning (removing pin stacks), remove the pin stacks at the front of the lock to the back, so the pins that are still in the lock are furthest into the keyway. That way you learn to navigate the keyway with fewer pins in the way. As you add more pin stacks working your way towards the front of the keyway, you are only learning to deal with the extra pin stack, not learning how to get around in the keyway AND learning to deal with pin stacks further into the lock.

Gordon

[MolecularConcept]

Thanks Gordon . For some reason that's what I was planning to do I'm glad it's the correct way to do it.

[jimbo1]

I had/am having a lot of problems picking mine as well. For me I think it is because pin 1 is cut very low, so I have a tendency to overset it when trying to get to the back pins.
https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=65694

I have this very same issue when it come to the revolver, some of the pins are so close to the shear line, over setting them is almost the norm. I find if I stick a standard pin in that low cut position it helps a bit. It can be a headache so as said in the thread progressively un-pin / re-pin & see if you are able to build up the skill set to beat the challenge in stages.

Love my revolver though as it gives me a handy challenge to take places.

[SixClicks12]

I picked up the Revolver too and have been picking different combos of pins through it. Personally I looked at the first pin as being there to enforce some pick discipline. Having something there like that actually slows me down to focus on the pins being individuals as opposed to just slamming around in there and sort of spot raking. Mine came with what looks like key pins so if that’s what they are you could swap out for a shorter one and increase the lift to the shear line. Your key wouldn’t work but you could take a crack at trying to impression a new working one which since I haven’t specifically looked into how that works yet seems like magic.

I’m really liking that Revolver and having four sets of pins I can set up and loop around using one set up as opposed to swapping through four individual locks. The only problem I have is that it gets snagged on the pins so it doesn’t click into the next row. I have to grab the key and shift it over. Apparently it’s common though because I found a video on Youtube where a guy (can’t remember his name right offhand) figured out that if you file the base of the plug, the sharp edges are what’s catching the pins and if you round them out they’ll shift to the next set as intended.

[Bmiller]

Very new to lock picking just started with a Master Lock number 3 is The sparrows revolver worth the money for a practice lock or should I start with something different?

[Squelchtone]

Very new to lock picking just started with a Master Lock number 3 is The sparrows revolver worth the money for a practice lock or should I start with something different?

One of our long time community members Mr Wizard, makes and sells a great practice cylinder. Take a look here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=65759&p=489043#p489043

the Revolver is cool too and the owner of Sparrows is a great guy. You can't go wrong with either one.

Squelchtone

[petemoss]

The concept of the Revolver is pretty cool. Personally, I have had a lot of problems with mine. Granted I brought most of this misery on myself. You can read about my experience here https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=65694&p=488613#p488613.

Personally, I think I would prefer an individual (or several individual) locks that can be easily re-keyed, rather that having the four in one that the revolver offers. Again, I am not downing the Revolver necessarily. I know that I caused a lot of my own problems, but for me it just has too much going on.

Petemoss