XxodinxX wrote:Hello all
Just a few questions to begin with...
1) Do people actually use bump keys or is it an easy way out taking away the art of lock picking?
2) How many lock pick sets does the averageerson have?
3) How many years experience does the average person have?
4) Is there anyone here from the UK?
That's all for now folks.
1) Yes and... maybe sort of, I guess. Or not.
2) Hard to measure. Some picks are sold as sets (with a lot of useless garbage cluttering it up), a lot of picks are sold individually and a lot of folks make their own picks. But if I had to guess I'd say most beginners have one set. People who stick with it for a while probably end up with two or three. As for the tool wh0res... could be dozens of sets.
3) How many roads must a man walk down? Or do you mean experience in lockpicking? I hope that's what you mean. Because otherwise that question opens up the discussion to a whole host of things. In terms of regular activity on the lockpicking forums I'd guess 6-12 months on average, with a smaller group of serious pickers who stick with it for years.
4) Yes. Or did you mean besides yourself? In which case, yes.
Also, welcome to the forum.
Please bear in mind, these answers are just one person's opinion.
Some things about this hobby are set in stone, such as the ethics:
- Don't pick a lock that doesn't belong to you, or which you have permission from the OWNER to pick.
- Don't pick a lock that's in use and you rely on for your own security.
- Obey your local laws pertaining to picks and picking.
- Use your head: Don't do things that'll get you in trouble, even if it's technically legal, and don't teach anyone to pick if you don't think they'll be able to follow these guidelines.
Aside from ethics, you'll find a lot of differing opinions about lockpicking, even among "experts". Use the search button, do research and form your own opinions before blindly accepting the words of any one person as absolute fact.
Oh, and as a completely separate suggestion I'd recommend partially disassembling a lock for practice instead of using a cutaway, as you mentioned in your introductory post. Picking a cutaway is very common for someone starting out but unfortunately the feedback is different than with a regular lock. And feeling that feedback is critical, as well as not relying on watching what the pins are doing.
If you disassemble a lock except for maybe one or two pin stacks then learn to pick that, you'll get started much more easily. Then when you master that, add one pin stack and learn to pick it that way. Keep going until you can pick it fully pinned. Then move on to other fully pinned locks. Mr Wizard makes a good practice lock that is very easy to repin, comes with extra pins and springs and good instructions. No, I don't get any money if you buy one of his locks. I've just found it's a good value for what it is.
