Picks Compared- Peterson, HPC, SO, Majestic, Southern

[Bud Wiser]

The following is my compression and review of 5 Pick sets from leading manufacturers.

Peterson
HPC
Majestic
Southord
Southern Specialties



Please keep in mind that this is merely my personal opinion, and subject to debate as there is room for personal preference here, and that you can not go wrong with any of these brands! All pass the test of picking, and at least meet expected quality assurance. My review is based entirely on my own personal use of each set, and my personal preferences.

I've used each of these pick sets a lot, accept the Southern Specialty picks I just got a week ago. I bought a small and medium hook from SS just to test out.

Here is a close up of the pick blades...



Before I tried Peterson, HPC was my favorite brand. The quality is there, and IMHO they have a superior pick design over Southord in regards to the pick blades size. It simple fits in more key ways easier. Next would come Majestic, although the quality of the handles are not as good as HPC, good enough, and the blades are very similar to HPC!

Then I got a set of Peterson specialty picks. These are different then earlier Peterson picks, and come with smaller handles with a texture rubber grip handle. Also IMHO the are even better then HPC in blade design! I was 100% pleased with Peterson. The quality is certainly there! Comfort is also there, these picks feel GREAT in your hands, and produce the best pick *feel* for me of all these sets! By pick feel I mean the ability to feel what's happening inside the lock.

OK, those are my favorites, but this does not mean that Southord and Southern Specialties are bad! Not at all.

First my only objections to these picks is the pick blade is larger and therefore restricts movement in some key ways which reduces pick feel for me.

I like Southern Specialities handles! And you can't beat Southords blades for flexibility! You can bend a Southord pick 90 degrees and bend it back and still be able to use. Still given a choice between these two brands I would choose Southern Specialties over Southord. The reasons being, better feel and design.

Which is Best Buy?

What set should a complete beginner buy?

I recommend the starter kit from Southern Specialties for $10!
This would be a great set for a beginner to buy to test the waters with!

Serious amateurs and pros should definitely consider Peterson! Yes, they cost more. So why not just buy one pick first, just to try it out? If you like it then buy a complete set and you will also have a extra pick too. That's how I tested Southern Specialties out, I bought a couple of picks to try out.

I read some where some one had a Peterson set the got rusted. I don't doubt it could happen, but mine have not rusted, and I'm pretty sure you can get replacements if they do! Peterson uses only the highest grade steel. Their cheap set is equal to other brand's BEST! They also have specialized picks you won't find with other brands.

I don't want any one to think I'm trashing any brand, I'm not. These are my favorites in order.

1. Peterson
2. HPC
3. Majestic
4. Southern Specialties
5. Southord

Please feel free to comment about your favorite, and why you like them.
Thanks for reading, happy picking!

[Cherokee]

Nice comparision pictures of the most common pick manufacturers.

I have been thinking of buying another set of picks recently and was undeceided between Peterson or HPC, having read your review you have confirmed what I was thinking, I will get a set of Peterson's.

Undeceided wheather to have dipped handles or plastic handles.

Any views anyone?


Regards to all,
Brian

[Bud Wiser]

Nice comparision pictures of the most common pick manufacturers.

I have been thinking of buying another set of picks recently and was undeceided between Peterson or HPC, having read your review you have confirmed what I was thinking, I will get a set of Peterson's.

Undeceided wheather to have dipped handles or plastic handles.

Any views anyone?


Regards to all,
Brian

thx! As for handles, that's a tough one. Every one has their own preference! Hardcore fans for each style! I suggest may be you buy a couple of single picks of each style and see which you prefer.

[Octillion]

Do you have a micrometer to measure each manufacturer’s blade thickness? So off the top of my head the numbers might be off, but out of Peterson, Majestic, and Southord, the standard Peterson picks are the thickest, at something like 25 mils (1 mil = 1/1000”). Majestic is something around 22, and Southord is the thinnest, at maybe 20 mils. I’m curious about the other manufacturers sizes.

Peterson picks are naturally the strongest, putting steel quality aside, however I do notice they are slightly more restrictive than a Majestic or Southord pick, that couple of mils does make a difference. And I’ve noticed Southords do bend most easily.

Personally, from those three I would recommend Majestic to a beginner, as they are very inexpensive, not too restrictive, and if you are careful don’t bend too easily.

[Bud Wiser]

I only have a very old cheap plastic dial caliper, I can not garentee it's accuracy, which is why I didn't include them before. However these measurements may give you an idea.

HPC - .22
Peterson - .20
Southern - .20
Southord - .18
Majestic - .18

I ran another test last night with each pick against a Master #3 and a Helping Hand padlock.

Here is how they scored in order by how easy and fast it was to pick these locks.

1. Peterson (average 10 seconds or better)
2. HPC and Southern Specialties tied. (avg 12 seconds or better)
3. Southord (avg 15 seconds or better)
4 Majestic (took the longest, 30 seconds)

I may have over rated the Majestic, and under rated Southord and Southern Specialties in my orig review.

I was originally going by pick feel, pin feed back, and did not conduct a actual timed pick test.

[Octillion]

I wouldn’t use the results of you picking a Master lock to judge the quality of a pick. Those are going to vary heavily on the individual using the pick and their preferences, and in addition doesn’t account for the fact some picks may be better on certain locks. And maybe you got lucky/unlucky while using a certain pick during your test. Personally, I can’t imagine the time it takes me to pick a Master lock is going to vary much on the pick brand, as long as they are all the same type of pick, as there isn’t much involved in picking a Master lock. The picks that work better harder locks will depend on the lock. But in the end anyway, what pick is better is going to rely on the individual using them and their preferences.

Also, those measurements don’t look too good, but thanks for checking.

[Bud Wiser]

I wouldn’t use the results of you picking a Master lock to judge the quality of a pick. Those are going to vary heavily on the individual using the pick and their preferences, and in addition doesn’t account for the fact some picks may be better on certain locks. And maybe you got lucky/unlucky while using a certain pick during your test. Personally, I can’t imagine the time it takes me to pick a Master lock is going to vary much on the pick brand, as long as they are all the same type of pick, as there isn’t much involved in picking a Master lock. The picks that work better harder locks will depend on the lock. But in the end anyway, what pick is better is going to rely on the individual using them and their preferences.

Also, those measurements don’t look too good, but thanks for checking.

I totally agree my test was hardly scientific. Nor do I suggest this is the best way to judge these picks. In order for the test to be scientific it matters not which lock is used but to be able to duplicate each test under the exact circumstances, and repeat that a good number of times, the more the better, to figure out a more accurate average.

Another consideration (and flaw) in my test is it only represents one person (me)! In order to really be scientific you would need a number of different testers also testing in the exact same enviroment and circumstances. It was never my goal to suggest any such thing accept to provide my own limited results.

My simple test does however shows my results under limited testing. It would be difficult or impossible to be able to duplicate each test under the exact same circumstances because there is no way to factor in fatigue, or luck. But by repeating the tests I attempted to show at the very least my averages.

I do need a better caliper