American Lock US Set

[Silent Munkey]

I seem to be having issues with this thing. I am a novice picker by ever meaning of the word. I started learning to pick locks about a week ago. I have a limited selection of locks available to me due to the fact that I am on a ship in the middle of the ocean. There are tons of locks onboard but only a few that I don't have to ask the owners if I can play with them. =)

These American Lock US Set and Master Lock DG US Sets are ALL OVER the place. I want to know how to pick them because I can't do it...if that makes since.



I will work on the Master DGs once I have figured out the Americans but info on both would be helpful. Both of these locks hold the key while the lock is open. I have opened the American once but I was watching a movie and wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been. (Irritating...)

Any help on these would be awesome.

Thanks,
Silent

[LocksmithArmy]

dude... do the dg first... its easy peasy...

those have serrated pins, quite a complicated pick for a beginner... but keep at it and im sure you can get it, but id advise working up to it

dg's have no security pins at all adn wont be a problem for beginners in the least.

[Silent Munkey]

That is a great idea. =) I am driving myself crazy with this thing. I will get a DG that no one is using and pick at it.

I find myself repicking the ones I know I can do so that I know I can still pick them. The American makes me feel like I have no clue about what I am doing. I am reading all the stuff I can on the internet about lockpicking until my books get here but there is no telling when that is with the way mail works while being underway. =)

Thanks for the post.

[Silent Munkey]

HA! DG done. You were very right on that. It was pretty easy and I have rotated between 3 to make sure I have that lock type done.

Now I am going between the American and a Master Lock No.140. I ma pretty sure the 140 has some sort of security pins in it. I am going to check the Master Lock thread for it.

I need to figure out how to bypass the security pins... =)

[LocksmithArmy]

http://www.locksmitharmy.com/locks.php

this page of my site may be of interest to you... the 5200 american lock on that page has the same pins as th eone you are picking on... and the 140 is mentioned aswell... enjoy

[Oaklandishh]

LocksmithArmy: I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think that the master 140 has a varying number of security pins and as far as I have heard they are spools. The one I have seems to have 3 sec pins in spots 2 3 and 4 and there are multiple you tube videos showing master 140s cut open with multiple spools. I noticed your site says otherwise. Once again I'm not completely sure, but just thought I would give you a heads up.

[LocksmithArmy]

yes I believe you may be right about the varying number of pins. I believe master has updated their productionline. i know it was one mushroom in older 140s (aswell as all the ones I own)...
also if they have changed from mushrooms to spools i have not herd anything of the sort. but thats not really concrete now is it...

but in either case I have no proof of any of the newer stuff

[Oaklandishh]

Here's a vid of Awol gutting a 140 with supposedly 3 spools and 1 serrated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18BJGijCdVs
here is one of another person with the same top pins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFHqhhZgUI&feature=related
Maybe all of the new ones Have 3 and 1 O_________O that would be quite the step up

[pjzstones]

i've gutted a no.140 that's had 3 spools and 1 serrated.

[LocksmithArmy]

that would also explain why many people have issues picking them in the beginning.

good to know. thanks for the info

[Silent Munkey]

After reading this over I don't feel bad for having so many issues with the 140. I think I am going to have to come back to that one once I get some more experience.

[checkmate]

If you look around a bit you can easily find a picture of a Master DG gutted - I did one myself last week. I think the reason they're a little difficult to pick is because the lock is poorly made and sometimes I can't seem to get the torsion down right... I've also noticed that with locks with no security pins I on occasion become very reluctant to push a pin up high even if it might be a high setting pin... Getting better, though!

I've picked a few American 5200s and an ASL40 lately. I noticed that with serrated pins when you hear a very definite click, it is most likely set. Spool pins are easier - just watch for the reverse movement of the plug. ...


one thing I like about the American Locks, though, is that since the key pins are serrated I can usually tell when I over pick something. I just feel for the grinding of serrations against the shear line.

I'm sure it's all been said before - but those are my two cents. Hope they're worth something