Bent rakes in pick sets, what are they for?

[talbuz]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum, though not new to lockpicking. I started years back as a magician, stopped for a while about three years ago but am now picking it up again (no pun intended!). There are new things I am not familiar with, and I'm finding this forum helpful to catch up. I realise there are by far many more lockpickers today than before!

I notice that pick sets today are including rakes that are bent at an angle right before the working bit, including snake heads and half diamonds. I see them on sets like Southord also on the Klom imported sets. Contributors on this forum advising beginners what picks they should equip themselves with, have also included such picks. Can someone tell me what these are useful for? Is it for a technique Im not familiar with or are there types of locks with angled pins they can reach? I tried searching the forum before asking, but no luck there. Thanks!

[jgor]

Can you find a picture of what you're referring to? Is it something like this: http://www.lockpicktools.com/images/twistflexhandle.jpg

[talbuz]

The two picks shown (from the southord set) are an example of what I mean, in this case being the half diamond and the snake head, bothj bent up from the normal horizontal axis.

[tacedeous]

The one on top is an "offset half diamond" Its purpose is to lift a shorter pin behind a longer one... its actually the design a about to make right now... the other is an "offset snake rake" and is just simply another rake design...

[talbuz]

The one on top is an "offset half diamond" Its purpose is to lift a shorter pin behind a longer one

OK, makes sense I guess, especially when the keyway makes it tough to use a larger lifter. Thanks Tadaceus.

[tacedeous]

NP.. keep up the quest, that is lock picking...