Questions about lock picking method

[gr00ve]

i was just messing with a lock before but had no luck with it. Why cant you just stick a tool in to the keyhole and hold all the pins up then apply tension and let the pins just fall into place? assuming they are just standard pins.


also a question about security pins...
why dont all locks just come standard with security pins? a lock is meant to protect something regardless of its value, so why do standard easily pickable locks even exist without security pins?

[MBI]

i was just messing with a lock before but had no luck with it. Why cant you just stick a tool in to the keyhole and hold all the pins up then apply tension and let the pins just fall into place? assuming they are just standard pins.

This technique is called reverse picking, and it's theoretically possible on many locks. I've only messed about with it a couple of times but it's pretty tricky and I haven't been able to get it to work yet. Perhaps someone with more picking skill will chime in here if they've had any success on this.

also a question about security pins...
why dont all locks just come standard with security pins? a lock is meant to protect something regardless of its value, so why do standard easily pickable locks even exist without security pins?

Here is your reason: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It's a matter of profit margins, and security pins cost more. Depending on which type of locks we're talking about, it may only be a few cents difference, but on a production run of tens of thousands of locks that difference can add up in a hurry. Many locks do come with security pins, but the cheaper the lock, it seems the less likely you'll find them.

[Trip Doctor]

i was just messing with a lock before but had no luck with it. Why cant you just stick a tool in to the keyhole and hold all the pins up then apply tension and let the pins just fall into place? assuming they are just standard pins.

As MBI mentioned, that IS a technique, however, it usually is used as part of picking a lock (on one particular overset pin perhaps) rather than on all the pins at once. It seems like a nice tidy way of doing it, in theory, but in practice, it's not that easy. It's very hard to do to a 5 pin lock (I've done it with 3 pins one or twice, that's about it). Give it a try and you'll see.

[ToolyMcgee]

Reverse picking... The problems here come from the fact that when you are pushing a pin into the bible and applying turning force you can feel the shear, then the plug slack of the setting pin. When you reverse pick you don't get the click of a set, only slightly less pressure from 1 spring not acting to force down the pick. The trick here is finding the exact amount of tension it takes to set a pin, but at the same time let other key pins slide back into the plug with enough tension to separate the pin stacks. It isn't as easy as you make it sound. Key pins jammed in the bible prevent a plug from getting a good solid set, so giving them enough freedom to drop lets them all drop unless you are holding up other set pins. It does work well for trouble shooting stubborn pins, but as a technique for picking every pin in a lock it is the reverse of the approach you should taking.

-Tooly

[op-sec]

I've never been able to reverse pick anything. It is a neat technique but, I've never gotten the feeling for it.