Is my lock broke?

[Guitar_J]

This just seems too easy (although I know that for a pro it is.. but I'm a FNG so.. yea) I have a masterlock No.3 that I can open in one rake (if I'm right with the torque) with a bobby pin... is this.. umm normal.. are No. 3s really this easy to open?! if so.. wow... what a misconception

same as with el-cheapo combo locks.. I've been able to open those with a popcan shim in nothing flat.. I suppose its better that I didn't know this stuff in highschool when I was going through that rebellious "anarchy rules" stage

[maldotcom2]

I suppose its better that I didn't know this stuff in highschool when I was going through that rebellious "anarchy rules" stage

Well i am in high school and i am very much at this stage

good thing...or bad thing....

[CatCube]

This just seems too easy (although I know that for a pro it is.. but I'm a FNG so.. yea) I have a masterlock No.3 that I can open in one rake (if I'm right with the torque) with a bobby pin... is this.. umm normal.. are No. 3s really this easy to open?! if so.. wow... what a misconception

I just got my pickset yesterday, and I was shocked by how quickly I was able to open a #3. I can't do it in seconds, (my touch with the wrench and the picks is still way too heavy) but I can get it open within a minute reliably.

I don't know about the rebellious thing. I never really went through such a stage.

[Mad Mick]

Master No3 is an easy lock to start on. But, instead of raking, practice single pin picking instead.

[Romstar]

I suppose its better that I didn't know this stuff in highschool when I was going through that rebellious "anarchy rules" stage

Well i am in high school and i am very much at this stage

good thing...or bad thing....

Mal, this is only a good thing if you use what you know for good purposes.

Lets just hope testosterone, rebellion, and friends don't make you do something you'll regret. Although, I don't think we have to worry about you.

Sort of a side note, not directed at anyone here; but I guarantee you the first time some high school kid gets busted, and says he learned how to pick locks here that this community is going to get a black eye in the media.
Those bozos are always trying to blame someone for something. They never research anything, and to most of these morons, the idea that non locksmiths know how to pick locks is the next best thing to anarchy. Sort of the way some professional smiths and politicians feel.

Take care,
Romstar

[CitySpider]

Back to the original topic:

Either you have a badly keyed #3 (very possible) or you've learned, on a subconcious (or concious) level, to duplicate the key (also very possible).

They're easy, but they're not usually _that_ easy. I have one that's actually kind of challenging. A little bit, anyway.

[Mad Mick]

Like 'Spider, I have a Master No3 which puts up a good fight (for a Master lock of this type). But, I also have a badly keyed No3 which is able to be opened by raking once i.e. put in the 1/2 diamond, apply *slight* tension, pull out the rake and voila!! The bitting for this lock is something like 3443, so you can see that it's pretty easy.

Check the key bitting and see if there are cuts which are of relatively similar depths next to each other. What you want, to help you to improve your skills, is a lock whose key shows deep and shallow cuts, which will make you pay more attention to the pick movement neccessary to pick pins singularly.

[maldotcom2]

Mal, this is only a good thing if you use what you know for good purposes.

So its not a good idea to take my picks to school?

[Romstar]

Mal, this is only a good thing if you use what you know for good purposes.

So its not a good idea to take my picks to school?

Yeah, I would say that's a good assumption.
Romstar

[Luke]

Unless ur a locksmith... Like me

[maldotcom2]

don't kid yourself luke

[Luke]

Well i am