What did you pick today?

[rerun]

rerun - It took me a while to pick that one too. Good job.

Have you tried again? On mine, it was much easier once I 'learned it's tricks', lol.

Yep, tried it again right after and boom, lock defeated. And I agree, once the "tricks" are learned it's smooth sailing from thereafter

[Solomon]

Finally managed to pick a GeGe. These things have been my nemesis for a looooooong time. 6 pins, all double spools, countermilled chambers... absolute nightmares. Kitemarked yales use the same pins but they only have 4 + 2 regular, and there's no countermilling. This one was actually pretty easy, any of the ones I've run into before I just couldn't crack them at all. GeGe are absolute beasts, respect to anyone who can pick these things consistently.

[mhole]

Nice work Sol - I also beat my first fully pinned, 6 pin Gege a few days ago - a BS Kitemarked one. I confess I gave it a generous squirt of WD40 first, but I was still chuffed to get it. I agree they're utter swines!

[Wizer]

Congrats, Solomon!
Now, I think you wrote once "a video- or it didn´t happen"!

[Solomon]

Nice work Sol - I also beat my first fully pinned, 6 pin Gege a few days ago - a BS Kitemarked one. I confess I gave it a generous squirt of WD40 first, but I was still chuffed to get it. I agree they're utter swines!

Nice! The ones I've seen with the kitemark on them were pExtra, really cool keyway on em. Same pins and stuff, they have ball bearings for key control too I think.

Congrats, Solomon!
Now, I think you wrote once "a video- or it didn´t happen"!

Yeah yeah...

[GWiens2001]

OK, so technically I did not pick this one today, did that a while ago. Today I one-upped that...

Tried out that homebrew impressioning handle. (And a stack of blanks.)


Picking this took less time.

Now for the next stack of blanks, so I can make a blanking control key!

[GWiens2001]

And no, I have never seen any keys for this lock. Or the other two that came with it. The customer who left this with a lock shop to see if they could make keys (about 4-6 months ago) finally asked what it would cost to just drill them and replace the cores. After leaving a heaping steaming pile of something on the floor, they said that the lock shop could just keep them and bought other locks. So the lock shop offered them to me cheap. At $5, I could not resist the price or the challenge.

Gordon

[sandplum]

That's a good job on the key, Gordon. Looks very nice.

[GWiens2001]

Thank you, Sandplum.

Received this last night. Didn't get to try picking it until this morning. (I hate waiting so long! ) First thing I did was have my son open the package, since I could not figure out how. Then I had him try out the lock to be sure it worked. Not that I doubted it would, but he sure loved it. Then had him take out the keys and put them in his room TEMPORARILY. That way, I would be picking this truly blind.


Took about 10 minutes the first time, 3 minutes the second time. A VERY gentle hand with the tension wrench was important with the security pins. At first, being unfamiliar with the lock (and only a mediocre picker, but learning all the time to be better), I kept oversetting the first pin, which was actually supposed to be all the way at the bottom. Definately spools and double spools in this one.

Probably would be a good idea to add some mushroom pins or counter milling to really make it tough. Possibly a spool cut or something similar for the key pins to make impressioning tougher.

Going to go out today and see if I can find some blanks, and try to impression this lock.

My special thanks to Mr. Patrick Smith, of Commando Lock Company, for sending me this lock for testing and practice. I'm going to order several for use at work and to secure the bear boxes when camping. By the way, Mr. Smith, any idea when the boron shackle locks will be available? Those are the ones I'd like to order, unless it is advisable to wait for the 2013 model.

Gordon

P.S. I now have the keys back from my son, though he wanted to keep the lock himself, offering me a chinese warded lock in exchange.

Tried out the lock, and it sure works smoothly. Without the cam springs, it works very easily. Much more smooth functioning than the American 5200 locks. Also, though it is key retaining, if the shackle is turned to the fully open position, the key CAN be removed, though the lock will be locked in that fully open position (the position in the picture above) until the key is used again to release the shackle. I like this, because if I need to keep my keys with me, and not left in the lock (bear boxes when camping), it is possible to do so. Yet you will not look at the lock, even from a distance, and think that it is locked unless it is.
This is certainly a well built lock.

[COMMANDOLOCKUSA]

Gordon,

I'm certainly pleased to hear you like your Commando lock. Sorry your kid stole it from you... Thank you for your advice--we are listening!

Patrick Smith
Commando Lock

[funkalicious]

Today I picked my first car door. Unfortunately, since I only have 1 car, it will probably be my only car door for quite some time, buying practice cars is a little out of my budget. 2003 Acura CL type S..... OPEN!

[GWiens2001]

Received today, picked shortly thereafter.

Commando Military padlock - very nicely made, Patrick. Can't wait for the 2013 models!
Roto Euro cylinder - tight, twisty, and a couple of spools that I didn't expect. Fun!
Craftsman Padlock that was sent for my son's collection!!!
Wafer cam lock, also now in my son's collection, but I need to make a key for it.

Gordon

[femurat]

Hey Gordon, congrats for the Roto, it's a very well made lock with a tiny keyway.
Dunno about the Commando, I'm still waiting for mine to arrive... how do you compare the two?
Except the fact that one has a locking spring to overcame and the other doesn't, what differences did you notice while picking them?

Cheers

[GWiens2001]

Femurat,

Noticed the slight extra tension with the military Commando when I turned the key. Have you ever impressioned a key for a lock? If so, when you almost have it right, the key turns, but one pin stack is still barely too tall, it has a slight drag. That is how the military lock feels for the about the first 10-15 degrees of turning. About the same distance of turning as a control key on a SFIC retracting the retaining lug. After that, it feels exactly the same as the Commando Peacemaker.
Picking the peacemaker, you hardly have your finger resting on the tension wrench. With the military version, it is just a tiny bit more turning effort, but still keep it pretty light. Then she opens right up. Do not expect the same tension as you find with a return spring. There is no return spring on the plug.

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

Femurat,

Just realized you were asking for a comparison of the Roto and the Commando military lock. If you are used to the Roto, you can practically put your fist through the keyway on the Commando. The keyway on the Commando is a M10 blank, the standard Master Lock 5 pin blank. Thicker than the blanks used for the Master 4 pin locks. The Peacemaker (and I hear, the iChange) Commando locks require the same light tension as the Roto, perhaps a bit less. The tension wrench 'return' on a spool from a false set is greater on the Commando, so the lighter touch is needed.

Gordon