General Master 3 question

[Euphman]

Are Master No. 3's unusually easy to pick in general? I'm new to the whole field, so I consider anything that I'M able to pick to be something really not worth it's salt. Also found an old Master No. 5 that is about as easy, just a little heavier.

[freakparade3]

They are in general easy to pick. That said, some can be difficult depending on the biting and hoe worn they are. I have one with so much play in the plug I cannot pick it to save my life.

[jpb06080]

I have never met a master no.3 that I couldn't pick. I find these to be the easiest locks to pick on the market.

[steve0527]

Welcome to LP101

They are a good lock to start on, so is the #5 master. I find they are really easy. I have found that most people start with this lock. Learn that lock well, than when you can do it blind folded with one hand tied up and the pick in your mouth lol move on to a harder lock. You can find a list In the lock forum with all the master locks. It will tell you how many pins and if it has security pins.

steve0527...

[Euphman]

Thanks to everyone for replying. I've got 3 Master No. 3's now, just to see what the difference is between them. Two of them pick super easily, it feels like my pick stays mostly in the front of the keyway. The other one takes a little longer but always comes around.

My only dislike is that when you finally hit all the pins, I have to put a bit more tension to pop it open than say one of my Brinks locks. And also, even after spray in the interior with WD-40, I find that a lot of the time the plug won't reset when the lock is closed, I have to manually turn it back.

[hydruh]

I have this cheap Master #3 knockoff by Ace Hardware that has that problem too. You have to jack down SO hard after you get all of the pins that it is practically impossible to pick. I am sure there is a trick to it, but I can't figure out how. It remains one of my most reliably NOT picked locks.

S

[wolfie]

yeh, i have noticed the no3 is an easy pick, but dear god the tumbler is so sloppy in it >< one could prolly just shim the blasted thing open...Hmm, i mahy have to try that O.o

[MacGnG1]

the problem with my master #3 is that its super springy when you open it, i just find that annoying.