Utterly baffled by new combo lock

[darkstar06]

First off, hello to everyone; I've been a long time lurker, first time poster; you know the drill.
Anyways, my issue is with the 4688D TSA Lock by masterlock.

A couple links you can see these are http://www.masterlocks.com/product/4688 ... 907,59.htm and http://www.kersafe.com/ebay-pictures/sdvfsdc.JPG

Anyways, I don't anticipate going through 1000 numbers to get to the solution (its a bit finnicky anyways), but there in addition to the combinations you can enter, there is a key hole at the botton, which I am having quite the time figuring out.

ANY help regarding this matter would be appreciated, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Many Thanks.

[Solomon]

What is there to figure out about a keyhole exactly?

[darkstar06]

Well the thing is, its one of those TSA locks, and the only way to get it open is to know the code, or to somehow pick the lock. The lock didnt come with a key; just instructions on how to open it and what not. So I suppose I am wondering how to get this opened without the help of the TSA. Again, its a TSA007 type.

Thanks for the help.

[darkstar06]

Apologies for the double post, but after looking at the TSA keyhole a bitmore, it seems as if there are keys on either side. What are the odds that a locksmith be willing/able to make a key such as this.

[Solomon]

Well the thing is, its one of those TSA locks, and the only way to get it open is to know the code, or to somehow pick the lock. The lock didnt come with a key; just instructions on how to open it and what not. So I suppose I am wondering how to get this opened without the help of the TSA. Again, its a TSA007 type.

Thanks for the help.

It didn't come with a key because the key is for the TSA. The combination dial is for the owner of the lock, the keyhole is for the TSA who have a key which will open it (and any other TSA luggage lock). These locks are designed so that airport security can gain access to your luggage wthout pulling you in to open it for them, incase they suspect something is in your luggage which shouldn't be. They can remove the lock, rummage around and lock it back up again safe and sound.

The idea is that nobody except the TSA or the owner of the lock can compromise the suitcase and plant something in there. I'm personally baffled by this because you don't need to touch the lock to get into a suitcase. Even if this weren't the case, the locks suck. They're very easy to pick, and anyone with foundation knowledge of impressioning could make a working master key of their own aswell. Not exactly security in my eyes.

If you've been lurking on here for even a few days you should know how to pick a basic lock, which it very much is. You shouldn't need to ask, and a lot of people here will get jumpy because of what the lock is designed to secure. You will have to figure this one out on your own, but don't get upset, a 10 year old could do it.

Apologies for the double post, but after looking at the TSA keyhole a bitmore, it seems as if there are keys on either side. What are the odds that a locksmith be willing/able to make a key such as this.

You probably know the answer to this by now.

[darkstar06]

Alright thanks, I appreciate your advice.

Just hoping my locksmith guy can help me out a bit. ( I was in there earlier today and he was unable to create a master) But thats life. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

[darkstar06]

Lo and behold... 5 minutes later I've gotten through the defensive's of the dreaded TSA. hehehe. I suppose the difficulty factor was mainly the way I was forced to hold the lock, because as you can see, its rather awkward; what with the moving parts.

Thanks alot! Never thought I'd see this through the end so quickly!

(Nothing like cryptic hints to push you forward) Hehe

[TurnerGOFP]

[edit- no advanced chatter in the public forums. Thanks-unlisted]

[Shyfted]

Are you able to buy these TSA master keys? For something that sounds easy to do (make an impression of this specific lock) im surprised I havent seen any of these for sale. Or are there legal issues?

[MacGnG1]

im pretty sure you cant buy a TSA key. on the little luggage lock i have, the combo part is the user part of the lock and the TSA key is just a waffer to me. you can get the lock open thru the TSA part buy you can NOT reset the combination that way.

[Solomon]

Are you able to buy these TSA master keys? For something that sounds easy to do (make an impression of this specific lock) im surprised I havent seen any of these for sale. Or are there legal issues?

Oh, you can buy them alright. I've seen them at the chemist, you can actually get 100 of em for about £2. I really wish that was sarcasm.

The keys are restricted, so no, you can't buy an actual master key for them. You can, however, open them with just about anything that fits in the keyway providing you're smarter than a loaf of bread. They're shamefully bad, I'd feel more secure linking the zips together with a piece of string.

As a matter of fact, that's actually not a bad idea. If you have a TSA lock for your luggage, tie the zips with a bit of string aswell and snip the ends tight to the knot so it can't be removed and tied back on again. At least that way you'll know if it's been tampered with. You can even use your favourite colour!

[Shyfted]

Oh, you can buy them alright. I've seen them at the chemist, you can actually get 100 of em for about £2. I really wish that was sarcasm.

The keys are restricted, so no, you can't buy an actual master key for them.

I think we may have our wires crossed here. Do you mean you can buy the locks by the 100?
I was asking about the master keys. You also wrote previously in this post that a master key should be easy to create. This is why I was asking why someone hasnt made one of these keys then sold them

[Solomon]

Oh, you can buy them alright. I've seen them at the chemist, you can actually get 100 of em for about £2. I really wish that was sarcasm.

The keys are restricted, so no, you can't buy an actual master key for them.

I think we may have our wires crossed here. Do you mean you can buy the locks by the 100?
I was asking about the master keys. You also wrote previously in this post that a master key should be easy to create. This is why I was asking why someone hasnt made one of these keys then sold them

Heh, guess you missed the joke. I meant the master keys... you can buy them in packs of 100 at the chemist, no lie. They're called bobby pins.

Kidding aside, the reason nobody sells them is because they're restricted and for official TSA use only. The keys aren't available to anyone else, locksmiths included, and they're patent protected meaning nobody can make and sell the blanks either. I'm not saying you can't modify certain other keys to make a working blank, but you can't get the actual keys anywhere.

As for making one, you'd need to know your stuff but in that case it'd be fairly easy since the tolerances are so poor. Making a master for the pin tumbler variants wouldn't be as straightforward due to there being more than one shear line, but an experienced person with as few as 2 locks could do it easily enough. The question is though:

WHY BOTHER?

These locks are a joke, if not completely inconsequential. They use the lowest of low security mechanisms, which can be opened in 2 seconds flat with just about anything that fits into the keyway. Nobody would bother to make a master key for them because nobody with more brain cells than their own age would buy one, simple as that. Luggage thieves don't need (or want) keys to get in, because they can open the cases when they get home. And anybody wanting to open a case covertly for whatever reason doesn't need a key to do it. This is often true regardless of the lock, nut anyway.

Even if a person had access to the keys, they'd choose not to use them because getting caught with any would probably land them in serious trouble. Granted you'll be in trouble for opening someone elses case any way you look at it, but any chance of being let off would be immediately destroyed by having one of those keys. It'd be like using a pen gun to forge some documents... any pen will do, so why would anyone risk using something so restricted in the event of getting caught when they didn't even need it in the first place? Same with these locks, any piece of metal will do. Or plastic, for that matter. Or wood.

That was a serious brain fart I just did there, but hopefully it answered your question.

[vov35]

Okay, I hope nobody cares that it's a combination lock, because this is NOT advanced, they can be DE'd without tools because they're so small.

Most TSA locks you just pull on the shackle and rotate the dial wheels until they bind.
I did have trouble doing this with one Master combination lock, but that was in an altered state of mind.
I've gotten through 6/7 of these I've tried, three of which were masterlock brand.

The keyway is meant for the TSA only, but I'm pretty sure it's just a couple of wafers. It releases the shackle from the opposite side than the combination would, as far as I can tell.

[Poff]

I think everyone is over thinking the security value of a TSA lock. I think the point of the TSA locks is to stop the opportunist. A baggage handler is probably not going to take the time to mess with a lock when there are plenty of other suitcase that are not locked. It's like a club on a car, it won't stop them if they want it, but it stops the opportunist tweaker from grabbing a quick ride.