Pick Resistant Padlock?

by **dwkbb** » 4 Mar 2005 22:25

I recently bought a cheap padlock to practice on. The package it came in stated that the lock is "pick resistant" with brass cylinders. What does this mean? I picked it once, probably by accident by jiggling and raking. Any suggestions for picking it consistently?

by **digital_blue** » 4 Mar 2005 22:28

Hey dwkbb. Pick resistant can, unfortunately, mean anything at all. In cheaper locks, it is merely marketing. It may mean that there is a security pin or two in there. Then again, it may mean nothing at all.

As for advice on how to pick it consistantly, read the MIT Guide to Lockpicking (find it with google). Other than that... practice practice practice.

Happy picking!

db

by **erehwesle** » 5 Mar 2005 0:33

I agree wholeheartedly with digitalblue. My masterlock #5 came in a package saying it was pick resistant as it has *gasp* four pins! So all of you three pin pickers, do stay away from master locks, they have your number!

Pick resistant? Ha!

by **Dent** » 5 Mar 2005 2:07

Most packaged usually actually say "pick resistant" on them...

From my limited time in hardware stores, locks with pins usually say "Spool Pins" or "Pick Resistant pins" or "High Security pins", ect.

This is in the US...so if it makes no mention of pins, you are probably good to go.

by **archiebald** » 5 Mar 2005 4:12

It seems that most locks that are marked pick resistant are the locks that all new people to lock picking should buy to practice with.

by **dwkbb** » 5 Mar 2005 9:10

Thanks to everyone for your replies. The package doesn't mention pins, but specifies brass cylinders as the basis of the pick resistance. I was wondering if it was BS or if there is something about brass cylinders that would cause the pins to not set easily.

by **digital_blue** » 5 Mar 2005 10:22

The only thing I could see them going at there is maybe that it is supposedly machined with tighter tolerances, thus making it hard to pick. Having said that, I seriously doubt if it is the case in a cheap lock. I still maintain that it is just marketing.

P.S. I don't know what's going to happen when I press submit right away, but just in case... sorry in advance for the double (tripple? 9X?) post.

db

by **dwkbb** » 5 Mar 2005 10:47

Sorry for the multiple replies. I was getting an error message that accessing the site fail. Apparently, several of my attempts actually got through.

by **dwkbb** » 20 Oct 2007 20:28

Found this old thread I started a couple of years ago and I have an update. This lock has been in my practice lock collection until I decided to cut it open this week. I have never been able to open it by working individual pins, only raking. I couldn't feel any feedback. I fully expected to find security pins, but there were none. What I found was that there were not springs in every cylinder. I never realized, until I pulled it apart, that the key wouldn't turn unless the lock was upright. No wonder it was so cheap. Is this how some locks are made to be "pick resistant"?

by **Eyes_Only** » 20 Oct 2007 21:36

Simply put, just about anything they sell at drug stores and hardware stores labeled "pick resistant" can only mean two or three spool pins. The only exception would be the new Kwikset Smart Key lock.

That thing is very very pick resistant but begs for mercy when some form of the appropriate destructive entry method is used.

by **robotmaxtron** » 21 Oct 2007 12:14

i've found that on several cheapo padlocks i've picked up they're advertising that the fact that it's a pin tumbler lock at all adds pick resistance.

I suppose they're slightly more pick resistant than the wafer locks.

::shrug::

by **Eyes_Only** » 21 Oct 2007 17:32

These lock manufactures must believe us consumers must still live in the dark ages or something.

by **dwkbb** » 22 Oct 2007 19:09

I quess that my question is, "Is not installing springs into every pin cylinder something that is done intentionally to make the lock more difficult to pick or is it a manufacturing defect"? Secondarily, wouldn't having missing springs make the lock more difficult to pick using the pin by pin method?

by **dougfarre** » 22 Oct 2007 20:23

Not installing springs, makes picking a lock much simpler. This happens because there is no overwhelming force pushing down on the pins (except gravity, which is not necessarily overwhelming) to force them back into their original position. Try taking the springs out of a lock, you will notice a tremendous difference with the way the lock operates. It is quite surprising! It is also very predictable and makes picking simple.

by **dwkbb** » 23 Oct 2007 19:56

I can understand how having no springs in any of the cylinders might make picking easier. However, wouldn't having springs in most, but not all of the cylinders make picking more difficult? Especially if the lock is make with loose tolerances.

Pick Resistant Padlock?

Pick Resistant Padlock?

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