Pick Books Reviewed

[ForFun]

EASY PICKINS by C. E. Remington III
24 pages, copyright 1992
Cost: Got mine free with my first pickset from Southord.
Excellent first read, booklet is kept basic and simple but does good coverage job. Excellent drawings. Excellent Nubee starting read.

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO LOCK PICKING by Eddie the Wire
78 pages, copyright 1981
Cost: Don't recall what I paid for this but would rather have the money.
I can not recommend this.

INVOLUNTARY REPOSSESSION by John L. Russell 3
(or In the Steal of the Night)
64 pages, copyright 1976, 1977,1979
Cost including postage: 8.52 USD
Don't know why I bought this. I just don't have an interest in automotive locks and that's what this one is all about. I've not read it but it looks okay. This is probably a okay first read if you're into automotive locks.

TECHNIQUES OF SAFE AND VAULT MANIPULATION
It hasn't come in the mail yet. I think maybe about 50 pages.
Cost: 11.95 USD
I saw someone on ebay win the bid on this book for $51.00
I'm sure this book has been around for a long time. I'm expecting this book to be very out of date but hopefully a okay first read.

HOW TO OPEN HANDCUFFS WITHOUT KEYS
Cost: 11.95 USD
Has not arrived in the mail yet.
Just looked like something I should have.

Advanced Lock Picking Secrets (ISBN: 0873645154)
Hampton, Steven
Cost: 11.39 USD
Haven't received these books by Hampton yet but I'm under the impression that they are good.

Secrets of Lock Picking by Hampton, Steven
Cost: 13.89 USD
<<<<<<<<<<O>>>>>>>>>
I would like to hear about your pick books.
Dennis

[Jaakko]

I have a book called "Locks and locksmithing" by Bill Phillips. Didn't cost me anything because I borrowed it from the local library The only lock related book I have ever found

Well, the book is really heavy (about 600 pages), covers almost everything imaginable from the inner works of locks, alarms, mounting and pinning the locks to making a lock by yourself This is a must read for the enthusiast, but I think that the info might need updating.

[Chucklz]

Wish you had asked before the Hampton books. Not really worth much compared with the knowledge on this site. Probably the same for the handcuff book as well.

[hiaxis]

I own "Modern High Security Locks, How To Open Them" by Hampton. It's a great resource for those of us who do not have access to the advanced forums who are interested in learning the inner workings of locks such as the Medeco, how to pick them (or should I say how the author picks them), pick designs, etc. Also includes a number of other "high security" locks that are an advanced topic here.

I also own the "Locks and Locksmithing" book already mentioned. I bought it mostly for the high security lock info but it's a massive book filled with info. Well worth what I spent for it IMHO.

Brian

[raimundo]

inner workings of a medeco are best seen in the medeco literature you can find in a good locksmith shop for free. excellent expanded drawings in some of this, of course I have been looking at this literature for years and they have made new lit every year it seems so I may have seen some really good stuff that is no longer available from them.

[Chucklz]

The "Modern High Security Locks" book is just a bunch of patent/technical drawings from the manufacturer, and some of Hamptons "creative" pick designs, many the same as in previous books. Nice for the drawings, but the same and better could have been gotten with LSS or The Complete Guide to Locks and Locksmithing.

[ForFun]

I have a book called
"Locks and locksmithing" by Bill Phillips. Didn't cost me anything because I borrowed it from the local library The only lock related book I have ever found

Well, the book is really heavy (about 600 pages), covers almost everything imaginable from the inner works of locks, alarms, mounting and pinning the locks to making a lock by yourself This is a must read for the enthusiast, but I think that the info might need updating.

I found a bunch of conflicting reviews of this book at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/custom ... 55&s=books
One person says the 6th edition is the best.
There are a number of used copies of the 4th edition available starting at 5 bucks so for that price I'll go ahead a get one.

[hiaxis]

The "Modern High Security Locks" book is just a bunch of patent/technical drawings from the manufacturer, and some of Hamptons "creative" pick designs, many the same as in previous books. Nice for the drawings, but the same and better could have been gotten with LSS or The Complete Guide to Locks and Locksmithing.

I have the second book you mention. For the price I got Hampton's book for, I'm not complaining. It's good enough for someone like me who can only understand pretty pictures. Who needs all them fancy words anyway....LOL

[Chucklz]

I just wouldn't beleive hamptons words.

[Eyes_Only]

The only two authors of lockpicking/locksmithing books I know I can rely on is Bill Phillips mentioned above and Mark Weber Tobias.

[thubanpete]

Personally, I found the Visual Guide to Lock Picking (Third Edition) by Standard Publications to be very helpful. It does a good job of showing what goes on inside the locks and is written clearly and directly. It has a good amount of well produced diagrams and pictures, so as to make what goes on clearer as well as to give a good idea as to the how and why of locks innards. It covers picking of the various types of standard locks, along with the various types of picks, lock "anatomy", key impressioning (something I have yet to try), and one or two issues that could be considered advanced topics here on LP101.


As a newer member of the lock picking community I found it easy to follow and it helped me get a clearer picture of what goes on when you pick. I personally like the book and found that it's been a valuable resource in helping me advance in picking.

On a scale of 10, I'd give it a 9 - 9.5.

-ThubanPete

[ForFun]

Personally, I found the Visual Guide to Lock Picking (Third Edition) by Standard Publications to be very helpful.
On a scale of 10, I'd give it a 9 - 9.5.
-ThubanPete

Just got my copy. I agree with your rating.
Visual Guide to Lock Picking (Third Edition) by Mark McCloud
93 pages, copyright 2002, ISBN 0-9709788
Great illistrations and well written.
Best beginner book so far.

[ForFun]

TECHNIQUES OF SAFE AND VAULT MANIPULATION
It hasn't come in the mail yet. I think maybe about 50 pages.

TECHNIQUES OF SAFE AND VAULT MANIPULATION by ????
50 pages, copyright 1975 by Desert Publications, ISBN 0-87974-105-0
"The practice lock used in this manual is a Sargent & Greenleaf R6735 x D3 x DR5. This is a 3 wheel, lever fence, key changing, combination lock."
Looks like a okay booklet to me but I'm still at a Nubee lock pick stage.

[ForFun]

HOW TO OPEN HANDCUFFS WITHOUT KEYS

HOW TO OPEN HANDCUFFS WITHOUT KEYS by ???
44 pages, copyright 1979 by Desert Publications ISBN 0-87947-120-4
I may try to rate this booklet later. I've ordered handcuffs. There may also be another book on the subject.

[samfishers]

what about the MIT lock guide!?