Best Jacknife

[amaze1]

What is the best Jacknife out there im looking into buying one. thanks

[eurolock fan]

I think the Southord is the best.

[MBI]

I've carried a SouthOrd jackknife pick set for a few years, just for emergencies when I don't have my regular pick set with me. It works ok but it's a bit wobbly when open, even if the thumb screw is tightened down all the way. I recently bought a Southern Specialties (lockpicktools.com) folding pick set and I'm impressed with how tightly it locks up so there's no wobble when using it. You can also order spare picks for it so you can set it up just how you want it. Every pick profile that they make in full size picks is available for the folding set, including the Euro (slimline) picks. While the SouthOrd has served me well I'm going to be switching to the Southern Specialties set. Just for emergencies. I still believe that whenever possible you should use regular picks and not a folding set because feedback just isn't as good with a folder.

[LockNewbie21]

None... Sorry to be blunt, there a gimick buddy, just like the super secret CIA pens! .

[hydruh]

I have to disagree with LN21 (for probably the first time) about the jackknife picks. I own a FPS7 from Southern Specialties and I love it. The screw mount is very very sturdy and I get better than average feedback from the pick. The materials are fantastic. The body is machined aluminum! You can insert your own picks easily. I can pick much faster and more accurately with it than I can with plain picks.

Of course, I don't OWN a set of LN21s picks, so I probably would sing a different tune if I did.

The link:

http://www.lockpicktools.com/lockpicks.htm

The FPS7 is about 1/3 of the way down the page.

S

[jgor]

I'll second hydruh's recommendation. I've had nothing but good experiences with my Southern Specialties FPS-7. I swapped out a few of the pick heads to suit my personal preference, right now mine has picks 1 2 8 9 11 12 13.

My one complaint is the somewhat awkward shape of the tension wrench. I believe they refer to it as "Bull-nosed", it bows out at the bend and that sometimes gets in the way.

A jacknife set obviously isn't the best choice for your primary picks, but for the convenience of a small and ultra-portable set I haven't seen a better-suited tool.

[johnp]

Hi folks, first question, but it's related.
I am looking for a jackknife or other small tool for use in possible evasion scenarios. I have a SouthOrd jackknife I've played with, but have already found a few locks I could not defeat with it. (Admittedly much of this may be simple user inexperience). Still, ideally I would like something that works on a large variety of locks, is sturdy enough to be tied into a piece of gear and forgotten about until needed, and, should the need arise, readily concealable (rules out large sets I think).
Add to that, what style of picks would be recommended for use in the Middle East? US style, Slimline, what?

Sorry for so many questions, wish I had more time to peruse before bolting.
Thanks!

John P.

[reenignE]

To open most any lock (excluding high security locks...), all you really need is a tension wrench and a hook/diamond pick (personal preference really)

And what do you mean by evasion scenario?

[johnp]

I am active duty, and while "over there" am considered "high risk of capture". Capture being something I would like to avoid at all costs, and if it ever were to occur, escape is priority ONE. I'm not SF, SEAL or Chuck Norris or any of those guys, just somebody that doesn't want to be in a crude Al Qaeda cell phone video. While I'm sure it would be a lot of fun on the home front, for obvious reasons a regular pick set is OUT of the question, might as well just SCREAM "saw my head off first, I'm planning to break out"....sorry, a bit off topic, but it's good motivator for learning.
SO far, I've played with the 6 lock (I think) trainer, and a feeler(?) maybe a hook(?) pick-and a rake. I purchased my SouthOrd jackknife at a gun show, some of the other guys also like it, but it is obviously what it is. Something perhaps smaller/more concealable and better yet, with more capabilities-would be outstanding. So far I've successfully tried out the regular pick, the rake, and the half moon pick on my house deadbolt (amazing how fast it works) and a few lowly filing cabinets, but apparently met my match when trying to pick a friend's Qwikset lock-it seemed that under tension every time I got a pin or two to go, the tension wrench would slip around the keyway, and the pins would spring back into place. Very frustrating. Here, it's just sort of fun but for the one that goes, perhaps stitched inside some clothing somewhere, I would hope to be a little luckier.

Sorry for the novel.

John P.

[johnp]

Guess what I'm saying, is sometimes it pays to break down a door, other times its best to leave quietly until friends are near. I have no idea what sort of picks would be best in the middle east-do they require the European slim picks or will regular ones work....that sort of thing.

John P.

[jgor]

There are a few sets more compact than the jacknife model on that same website, http://www.lockpicktools.com
The credit-card tools in JBCC-5, taken out of their container, could easily be stitched into clothing. Same thing goes for the KGB-7.

As for more capabilities, I'm not sure what you're getting at. I wouldn't say that a set with a larger variety of picks is better, the only pick I use now is the short hook. There may be some common bypass tools you'd want to keep handy as well, like a shim and a few wafer lock skeleton keys, but you really only need the one pick you're most comfortable with.

[johnp]

So...I would be ok probably with just a rake and a simple pick? I was worried I would have to get some of those slim picks or something. As far as more capabilities, I would probably lean towards your suggestion of bypass tools. Fast and (preferably quiet) outweigh saving the lock in this situation.
I really wish I were better at getting out of handcuffs too. Kindof funny how on the youtube videos they always pick the cuffs in front of them. Unfortunately, that's not where most folks are going to put your cuffs if they have some training. I've been shown the basics on using a shim, but I think if they double lock the cuffs I'm screwed.
I was reassured that people like me most likely would not live to see the handcuffs anyway though, so back to those lockpicks...and maybe a plastic cuff key. I'm no Houdini. Some of our guys while in training are able to bend and slide their arms all the way down their legs and get the cuffs in front. I'm not one of those lucky ones.
Do you have any experience with the sets listed? the Credit card set, or the other (KGB?) set. How big are those, and do they work ok?

John P.

[jgor]

I don't have any personal experience with either of those sets, but you can pretty much tell the size of them from the pictures. one of them fits in a case the dimensions of a credit card, and the other has a picture of it beside a wallet, so they're both definitely compact.

I completely forgot about handcuffs, but now that you mention it, add a bobby pin to this "survival guide". We covered handcuffs at one of our lockpicking club meetings, and all you need to pick police-grade handcuffs is a bobby pin bent into a slight hook. It even works on the double-locking mechanism. I'm not sure if we're allowed to discuss it in the public forums, but handcuffs are one of the simplest locking mechanisms to defeat.

[MBI]

John I sent you a Private Message on this subject with some stuff I'd rather not post publicly. If you're not familiar with PM's since you're new on these forums, look on the menu on the left side of the screen. Look up near the top, just a bit below the Lock Picking 101 logo and you'll see where it says "You have ## new messages". Click on that and it will take you to your inbox.

I think we both know that in all probability, if a person is captured during wartime the odds are very slim that you'll run into a situation where lockpicks would help you. That being said, it's still nice to be prepared 'cause you just never know. I've done a little training that's related to this topic so I'd like to offer help if you're open to it.

As I posted up above, the SouthOrd tool isn't bad, but it's far from an ideal tool. I didn't have a lot of luck with mine until I modified the tips of two of the picks and then polished them a bit to remove the burrs. As jackknife sets go, that's one of the slimmest. But if you're open to other options you can definitely get even more concealable. One possibility is a set of Bogota picks. You can make your own (tutorials are on this site) or get a set from Raimundo, the inventor, for about $25. It is a rake and a half diamond, with the handles bent in such a way that you can use one as a tension wrench while picking with the other.

To answer your questions about size comparisons between different picks mentioned above, the KGB set is a little bit smaller than the SouthOrd jackknife. The picks in the credit card set are almost identical to the KGB picks, except that the kgb picks are riveted together at the bottom.

[cool-arrow]

I am active duty, and while "over there" am considered "high risk of capture". Capture being something I would like to avoid at all costs, and if it ever were to occur, escape is priority ONE. I'm not SF, SEAL or Chuck Norris or any of those guys, just somebody that doesn't want to be in a crude Al Qaeda cell phone video. While I'm sure it would be a lot of fun on the home front, for obvious reasons a regular pick set is OUT of the question, might as well just SCREAM "saw my head off first, I'm planning to break out"....sorry, a bit off topic, but it's good motivator for learning.
SO far, I've played with the 6 lock (I think) trainer, and a feeler(?) maybe a hook(?) pick-and a rake. I purchased my SouthOrd jackknife at a gun show, some of the other guys also like it, but it is obviously what it is. Something perhaps smaller/more concealable and better yet, with more capabilities-would be outstanding. So far I've successfully tried out the regular pick, the rake, and the half moon pick on my house deadbolt (amazing how fast it works) and a few lowly filing cabinets, but apparently met my match when trying to pick a friend's Qwikset lock-it seemed that under tension every time I got a pin or two to go, the tension wrench would slip around the keyway, and the pins would spring back into place. Very frustrating. Here, it's just sort of fun but for the one that goes, perhaps stitched inside some clothing somewhere, I would hope to be a little luckier.

Sorry for the novel.

John P.

Just curious are you in a non-disclosed locations or kicking back in a pool at a built up permanent base eating DQ? I have noticed that they use a lot of euro style locks in the middle east and southeast Asia. I am not sure lock picks are going to help you in any scenario you described, but the bogota rakes and diamond would be my choice as mentioned earlier. I kind of feel bad for you since it seems that you haven't had any SERE training. Are you fresh out of basic or something? If you are having trouble with a Kwikset I don't know how successful you would be regardless of the picks. You are probably better off carrying some paper clips around and a Peterson shim.