Combination lock spin/setting direction

[Neil]

Hi All.

I have just got an S&G 8088 combination padlock.

I noticed that it doesn't matter which direction I spin it (anti clockwise or clockwise) to set the wheel pack, it will open.

I thought that c/locks could only be set one way.

Is this common for all c/locks or a feature of the S&G 8088 lock OR are there some combinations that can be set by spinning either way.

Sorry, I haven't had a lot of experience with c/locks

BTW an excellent design for a c/lock.......I downloaded the patents.

Has anyone ever decoded/picked one?

Marc Tobias mentions in his book that they have been bypassed with "a very thin shim wire"....that would be a good trick indeed.

Cheers.

Neil.

[mh]

Hi,

First of all, manipulation techniques for combination locks will not be discussed here, in the open section of LP101.

How they work and how they can be used, is of course open for discussion.

Many combination locks have moving flies (see e.g. the picture here http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-impr ... n-lock.htm for the term "wheel fly". Those moving flies are designed so that you can start dialing in either direction.

Cheers
mh

[Legion303]

This is why I love this site. I've had a pile of 8088s for a couple of years now, and I had NO IDEA they could be dialed either direction, or how that would work. Thanks for the explanation.

-steve

[Neil]

Hi mh.

Thanks for the answer.

So, does mean that all combination locks can be spun either way or only some designs?

I wasn't really asking for instructions on manipulation.

I know the theory of manipulation, though I have never tried it.
On reading the patents it looks like they are impossible to manulipate as the fence does not touch the wheel pack and only drops into the gates when the shackle is pulled. Note, pulling on the shackle will not make the fence touch the wheel pack. If interrested why check the patents. Brilliant design!

The patents are 2,673,457 and 2,625,032....no big secret as they are stamped on the back of the lock.

That's why I asked if anyone had ever done it....I can't see how. I don't really want to know how to do it, just, has it been done. If so, I would be very sceptical of the claim.

A piece of trivia for anyone who has S&G 8088 locks. There is usually a number stamped on the knob on the dial...this is so that one can tell if the lock has been swapped.

Thanks again.

Hi Steve.
Hope you didn't dispose of all your 8088s. They are one of the best padlocks ever designed.

I love the design aspect of locks. I don't think there is any other machine that performs this one function that has so many different designs....to me...truly fascinating.

Cheers.

Neil.

[Squelchtone]

A piece of trivia for anyone who has S&G 8088 locks. There is usually a number stamped on the knob on the dial...this is so that one can tell if the lock has been swapped.

yeah, we know =) (But glad someone else interested in locks has discovered this for themselves, so thumbs up bro) Most of us here have 8088's and 8077's in our collections. Some other locks used by the US Govt, such as the 833 and 951 padlocks also stamp their parts with numbers so that you can detect surreptitious entry.

Everyone should own an 8088, even though it's an older lock, I'd still put it on my locker a the gym, or on a tool box. This one guy in California has them on ebay for like $10 each and he has hundreds of them.

You can probably confirm this from the patents, but I believe Harry C. Miller, who ran Sargent and Greenleaf actually designed it, and that guy is my hero.

Squelchtone

[Neil]

Hi squelchtone.

They are pretty rare in Austealia and I only just got my one so was pretty excited.

I will probably get a couple more.

Cheers.

Neil.