Thieves' Tools - Cosplay

[TMIB]

If you've ever played a fantasy role playing game, whether tabletop or on the computer, or similar kinds of games, odds are you've heard the term "thieves' tools." This is the "kit" carried by rogue characters in these games, and it's not restricted to just picks- it may include shims, acid vials, and other unusual items.

Now here on LP101, we're not thieves; we don't condone picking locks in use, and certainly not picking locks without permission of the owner. Even so, the imagery of the kinds of tools carried by a fantasy rogue character is interesting. I picture such tools as not only being functional, but also artistic in a primitive way.

I'm about to move to a new house, so my blacksmithing & metalworking shop is all torn down at the moment. Once I get it set up again though I want to smith up a usable set of picks that look like something a fantasy rogue may carry. I don't have the skill to make such beautiful anodized picks like ratyoke makes, but I bet I could make a set at the anvil & forge that were beautiful in their own right. After all, I'd want to stick with the technology that would be appropriate for the (admittedly fictional) period depicted. I hae a bunch of coil springs from motorcycle shocks that would provide good spring steel in the right diameter to start with.

My first instinct was something rugged, though with the usual blacksmithed twists and scrolls on the handle end. But then I started thinking more about this- would a halfling rogue carry the same kinds of tools as a human one? How about an elven rogue? What if the tools were dwarf-made?

Now possibilities open up for all kinds of interesting picks and sets of picks. Forged leaf patterns and fine details such as wire wrapping for elven-wrought work perhaps? Wider, heavier handles but with inlaid runes for dwarf-wrought items?

I'm intruiged, and looking for more ideas and suggestions. I'm about a month out from even considering an actual start to this, since it'll be that long before I get my forge set up again, but that's plenty of time to brainstorm and design. If nothing else, I think it's an interesting conversation to have.

Any thoughts?

--TMIB

[wolfy_9005]

Not sure if you know how to do this(neither am i ), but would you/have you tried making a "damascus" pick? Not sure if you can use anything but the iron/steel combinations. Ive seen some "yellow" ones, but im not sure what he used. Properly made ones(and etched afterwards) look pretty sweet on blades, so i guess they'd look good as "medieval" picks. They should have the right amount of bend and strength for a pick.

Any thoughts on this?

[raimundo]

I don't know these games that well but they do seem to me to be possibly an older lever lock type of usage. You could make them for lever locks and also collect a few antique lever locks and padlocks to help you design them.

As for any more modern type of game setting, perhaps something more 'techy' like that jackknife that val kilmer had in the movie "the saint" several picks and perhaps a led light.

[ratyoke]

I used to play D&D when I was in high school. I would imagine human picks would have sort of a typical black wrought iron look to them. I think elven picks would be much smoother and polished. Maybe involve precious metals or wood in the handles. I don't have much idea what a dwarven pick would look like. Dwarves are skilled craftsmen, so I'm sure they would be nice.

[TMIB]

Not sure if you know how to do this(neither am i ), but would you/have you tried making a "damascus" pick? Not sure if you can use anything but the iron/steel combinations. Ive seen some "yellow" ones, but im not sure what he used. Properly made ones(and etched afterwards) look pretty sweet on blades, so i guess they'd look good as "medieval" picks. They should have the right amount of bend and strength for a pick.

Any thoughts on this?

That's a good idea. I've done some forge welding and made a couple of damascus billets before, a damascus pick set would make for some interesting textures/patterns in the pick "blade". Definitely worth a try!

[TMIB]

I used to play D&D when I was in high school. I would imagine human picks would have sort of a typical black wrought iron look to them. I think elven picks would be much smoother and polished. Maybe involve precious metals or wood in the handles. I don't have much idea what a dwarven pick would look like. Dwarves are skilled craftsmen, so I'm sure they would be nice.

That's kind of what I was thinking; the wrought iron style seems very appropriate for human manufacture to me.

The dwarven picks I picture as having interesting shapes as larger sections along a round shaft- like slightly rounded cubes every inch and a half or so- something to add weight and shape to a design.

[TMIB]

I don't know these games that well but they do seem to me to be possibly an older lever lock type of usage. You could make them for lever locks and also collect a few antique lever locks and padlocks to help you design them.

As for any more modern type of game setting, perhaps something more 'techy' like that jackknife that val kilmer had in the movie "the saint" several picks and perhaps a led light.

Whoa- modern game settings... that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. What would a set of such tools look like for a Shadowrun setting? How about for a steampunk setting? Lots more possibilities.

[Brianpojo56]

I imagine a Shadowrun lock pick set would consist of a USB wire that you first plug into the side of your head and then plug the other end into the computer that operates the door

[TMIB]

Heh, good point.

I guess there's also this option:

[khelben]

dr. who

[Slim-pickins]

Creating a fantacy design lock pick set...the type seen in RPG games is a very good idea...and most likely a profitable one. I know that most people who frequent this site take great pride in having the skill to pick locks and would really like to have some "customized" tools. I know I would.

[crazynllovewitu]

nice have u actually made a pick too from the dr.who screwdriver?

[pickinboogies]

Well, I'm not sure what a halfling or an elven rogue might carry as I have yet to see one. Maybe there are some pics for you to look at in a D&D manual of some sort. Someone mentioned Damascus steel, but It wasn't around at the time period you are looking at. Here's an idea though, with metal that was available around the time you were looking at...monkume gami metals. They are difficult to make, as I have made a lot of monkume gami before. They might be a bit soft though due to the silver content. But, all in all, make them however you think they would be made, as there are no real picks of the sort in existance. Good luck! Hope to see what you come up with!

[raimundo]

Check wikipedia for mokume-gane metalworking technique, the layer several colors of metal in a stack separated by some white borax flux and some chips of silver solder, then heat the stack until the layers are sweat soldered into a solid sandwich of different color metals, You have to heat the whole stack evenly, so don't make the thing bigger than what you require

next, you beat the stack with a ball peen hammer, to make the layers un even.

after this you use a bandsaw and a belt sander to reduce the metal block to the item you want to make.

look at the photos in the wikipedia article.