Q About A Practice Lock

[LocksportSouth]

I'd been looking at an eBay item for a practice lock (not sure if I'm allowed to link to eBay but it's called "Improved Super Max 7 Pin Easy Rekey Practice Lock - Spool and Serrated Top Pins", for sale right now - google that and you'll likely find it. Looks really great, uses set screws to hold the pins in etc. Sadly they don't seem to ship to the UK (eBay says "contact the seller" but when I try it says that they're unavailable for contact, and the only shipping location is US) so sadly I was unable to purchase that.

So I did some googling and found the site mentioned in the OP, LearnLockPicking.
I've just ordered one of each size (figured I might as well get it all for the cheap price, as shipping seems to be one flat rate) so if and when they arrive I'll give a thorough review so people know whether the site was genuine. They've emailed me an order confirmation and given me an order number etc so it seems genuine. Plus I paid by Paypal so easy to report if it turns out to be a scam


Edit: I just realised that one of the other posts in this thread mentioned a practice lock by MrWizard? I recall that the eBay auction I was referring to has a little animated gif of a wizard at the bottom. Now the seller's name was "smoking-deals", so this might be a long shot but if it's the same MrWizard that's selling that eBay item, and you're on this forum and read this post... Please consider unlocking allowing replied on eBay? I would have messaged to check if you ship to the UK but it wouldn't allow me so I had to look elsewhere . The exact eBay error is "We're sorry we couldn't find an answer for you. Unfortunately, this seller is not able to respond to your question. We suggest reviewing the item again to see if your answer is in the seller's listing.", which I've not seen before so I don't know if it's just an error or if one can actually turn off messages.

[kwoswalt99-]

Mr Wizard is smoking deals on ebay.

[LocksportSouth]

Hah! Crazy, I'm surprised I even noticed the lil wizard dude tbh. Though I was watching the auction for ages before I realised that it didn't have international shipping options and I couldn't contact them. Irony of ironies!

Looking forward to testing out that Beginner's Lockpicking Exercise once I get an easy re-pinnable cylinders. Less stabbing in the dark, more learning!

[jbrint]

By the response he gave you, I believe you are on your early 20's??


I found a way to "bypass" that problem. I buy a lock from them. And start asking questions about it. Does it have security pins, etc etc etc. I show them I know at least a little bit of what I'm talking about. NEVER touch destructive entry topics. Just picking resistance. Eventually they'll ask me why I am asking those questions, and I say that I'm a lock collector. I love learning about locks and how they work, and I can pick some too.

Remember that criminals don't spend money on locks like we do. And most of the times locksmiths figure that out by themselves.
One has asked me once if I was foreign because I used too many English expressions refering to locks (most of the stuff I learned how to say in English and have no idea what to call them in Portuguese ) and that it's uncommon to see someone at my age who is willing to spend money on locks just to "rip them appart".

After that, he even taught me some destructive entries and bypasses!
So, unless I have a really anjelical face (which I don't ), he trusted me because of my approach to lockpicking with him

Good advice. I had a similar situation with my local locksmith. They wouldn't give me the time of day to begin with. Don't get me wrong, they weren't impolite and they made me keys and all, but when I mentioned that I enjoyed picking locks, I got "the look"...

I just kept going back in and buying things; locks, keys, and chit chatting about different locks etc. I would mention the books on locksmithing I was reading and ask questions about stuff (even if I already knew the answer ). I told them I was in the process of getting my locksmithing license (which I was, and did) so that if a cop stopped me, I wouldn't get hassled or have my tools confiscated (I live in California, so anything is possible). That let them know that I was serious. As an added bonus I bought 10 American locks from them for my works "lock out tag out" program. With all the locks and mortice cylinders I had bought for myself and work, it put me in the few hundred dollars range after about 4 months. Most importantly they knew my name and had seen my face many, many times (poor guys )

One day I went in to look for something new to buy, and the locksmith who runs the place started selling me old cylinders without keys for 5 or 10 bucks. Then one day he sold me an Arrow 7 pin SFIC lock for 10 bucks. When I brought it back after picking it, our relationship changed in a cool way.

Long story short, building a relationship with anyone takes time (and money!). Just be persistent but not annoying, eventually the person will see what you are all about.

Heh, I was pretty much laughed out of a shop nearby when I asked if they wanted to sell their "old" locks. Didn't even want them for free.
I ended up buying some off CL from a mobile locksmith whom I have made friends with since and he gives me first dibs. I kick him some cash he has started picking again, everyone wins.

[LocksportSouth]

Honestly I could live in a lockshop, I've tried to get chatty with my local shop but they are grumpy sods. That said there are quite a few locksmiths around. Not sure how easy it is to 'get friendly' with a locksmith when most people treat you wanting to learn to pick locks and learn about how locks work as "burglar training" . Shame there don't seem to be any kind of meet-ups or local hangout groups for like minded lock and lock picking enthusiasts, either. At least in the UK, not sure about the US and elsewhere.

[kwoswalt99-]

Honestly I could live in a lockshop, I've tried to get chatty with my local shop but they are grumpy sods. That said there are quite a few locksmiths around. Not sure how easy it is to 'get friendly' with a locksmith when most people treat you wanting to learn to pick locks and learn about how locks work as "burglar training" . Shame there don't seem to be any kind of meet-ups or local hangout groups for like minded lock and lock picking enthusiasts, either. At least in the UK, not sure about the US and elsewhere.

Have a look in the locksport local forum at the bottom of the page.

[LocksportSouth]

Honestly I could live in a lockshop, I've tried to get chatty with my local shop but they are grumpy sods. That said there are quite a few locksmiths around. Not sure how easy it is to 'get friendly' with a locksmith when most people treat you wanting to learn to pick locks and learn about how locks work as "burglar training" . Shame there don't seem to be any kind of meet-ups or local hangout groups for like minded lock and lock picking enthusiasts, either. At least in the UK, not sure about the US and elsewhere.

Have a look in the locksport local forum at the bottom of the page.

Ooooohhhhh!
Just added myself to the map . Sucks that there are so few British LP101ers though

[kwoswalt99-]

Yeah, there used to be more British frequent users. There were even quite a few British mods here at one time.