Tips for picking a lock with low front pins? W/ pic of key

[bukujutsu]

Here's the key:



Would the pins towards the front of the lock actually be considered the back pins? I've forgotten my terminology.

Anyways, I'm pretty proficient, but I cannot seem to pick this lock!
It's a Schlage deadbolt. The doorknob underneath is keyed alike and I can pick it just fine.

I've tried using the tension wrench to apply tension both ways, carefully avoiding the first 2 pins, varying amounts of tension, raking with a snake, L, and W, and using a long hook for the last 2. I'm going to try using a top torsion wrench once I finish filing down my street cleaner bristle.

Any tips?

[unlisted]

It's a Schlage deadbolt. The doorknob underneath is keyed alike and I can pick it just fine.

Any tips?

1. Do not swear or try to bypass the word filter please.
2. Hate to say it, and I'm sure someone will yell at me for it but.. Don't pick locks in use.

That biting would be very difficult and time consuming to pick. I wish you luck on not damaging the lock, and picking it successfully should you choose to continue.

[bukujutsu]

Censorship is pretty darn silly, but I'll abide by the rules.

This lock isn't in use, it's mounted on a plank of wood.

This lock is demonic! I'm going to pick it if it's the last thing I do.

[unlisted]

Censorship on swearing/cuss words is not bad- since we try to keep this a "family friendly" site.

wait, I just re- read your post..

Both locks are keyed alike, yet you can only (easily) pick one open?

I'd recommend switching the lock cylinders out of the hardware- (knob lock into deadbolt, deadbolt lock into knob) and try again... it could just be your hand position with the different hardware, or different method of tension.. etc.

Lets see some images of the locks!

[bukujutsu]

Oh, the pick set I have is the Southord MPSX-14. It has the following picks:

# Long Hook
# Snake Rake Pick
# Double Ball Pick
# Jagged Rake Pick
# Both Large & Small Half Diamond Picks
# Short Hook Pick
# Jagged Snake Rake Pick
# Single Ball Pick

Is there any pick that I'm missing that would be ideal for this kind of lock? It seems like a w-rake could work well:
http://www.lockpickshop.com/MP-10.html

I'm going to try using the top of the keyway torsion wrench I just finished making. The extra room to maneuver should help.

[unlisted]

Are you SPP'ing or are you raking the lock? its two different things..

Also read my reply up above, and try doing that stuff too.

[CaptHook]

For something like this, a reach hook or deforest pick are extremely useful. You need something that can get to the back of the cylinder without over-setting the low pins up front. Other than that, you can over-set them on purpose, pick the back pins and try to reverse pick the 2 low ones. But your best bet is a thinner, reach type hook pick.
Chuck

[bukujutsu]

Well, I tried top of the keyway tension and a long hook for quite a while and no luck. The warding actually makes TOK tension necessary to use a long hook and even if you do use TOKT it still gets in the way of getting to the 4 and 5th pin back quite a lot. It seems I can only get 1 or 2 pins to set, unless I'm hearing more than one drop at the same time or I just over-set them.

Here's a pic of the lock:



I invite anyone near Berkeley, California to try to pick this lock.

[unlisted]

This lock isn't in use, it's mounted on a plank of wood.

Lets see the whole setup! Looks pretty good so far, and we here are always looking for new display/ picking setups . (also looks like you have been really trying to pick that lock...your wearing it down pretty quick)

[bukujutsu]

Oh, the setup isn't interesting. Just the usual

[amlwchlocksmiths]

the lock is in a door,you can see it is a white door behind,i use old doors as my setup.iv also used a door frame to hold the door and made the door work in the past but it tuck to much room so i tuck it down.

as the lock i love to have a go but to far away,i would use a huck only and pick one at a time,of the pick they looks like they is a bit of play in the lock to help out.

[nostromo]

You might want to give a ramped rake a go. It's second from the right in this picture;

[raimundo]

That keyway is familiar to every one here, its the common schlage C keyway.

looking at your photo, there is a small pile of brass shavings at the bottom of the keyway and I think I can see the beginning of a groove being eroded into the cylinder wall at the bottom of the keyway, this can ground your tension and tends to mean that the tensor you are using is cut with a sharp edge and perhaps a rough edge that is grounding into that cylinder wall causing all tension to simply be jammed and not turnning the plug. you should use a different tension tool, any tool used at the bottom of the keyway should not present any sharp edge where it contacts the cylinder wall, the tensor should be loose in the lock, if its jammed and will not move when you release tension, that indicates that your tension is not turning the plug but is binding it.

You can reduce the tendency of your picks to grind away parts of the pins and plug, by sanding the pick shaft and tip smooth and rounding the 90 degree edges of the pickshaft, so that it slips off the warding rather than digs into it.

with the bitting shown on the key,
you probably should be using slimline picks, the shaft is thinner and fits better beneath those pins.

[bukujutsu]

Finally got it after I did some more practice on other locks and learned how to deal better with binding pins and security pins, and how to decode a lock better. It took me about 20 minutes.

I used TOK tension, and a Southord short hook and a long hook. Because of the warding I had to press it all the way against the bottom and angle the tip downward to move it forward, then move it up above the point of the warding on the left side and use my finger to hold it steady and pivot it from that position; very awkward.

It feels good knowing that I could break into my room if I wanted to(yeah, it's in use, SUCKERS(JK)).