I found this old lock around here with a key: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ihi00gdor7pjwz3/2013-01-25%2017.55.54.jpg
The key didn't work so I cleaned and lubricated the lock (without disassembling). Then, the key continued not to work. Just before I threw it away I inserted a pick in there just to see if all the pins moved. And they did. So i tried to pick it out a curiosity (if the key didn't work, a picking wouldn't also but I was trying to figure out what was wrong with it before disassembling). And Holy Smoke, I picked it. It seems this was the wrong key, or it is damaged, although I can't see anything wrong with it.
At first I tried with a regular tension wrench but the warding of the lock made it difficult to pick it with the tension wrench in there. So I used (don't know the english name of this tool, please enlighten me
) this tool: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ahy1njrhk6mifsi/2013-01-25%2018.14.59.jpgI found that the best way to insert it is like it is on the pic since it does not open enough to reach the top and bottom of the key hole.
Here is the key: https://www.dropbox.com/s/362lat3ytc14scs/2013-01-25%2018.37.32.jpg
My question is, what is this lock called? It's uncommon but not unseen here in Portugal.
I also found out that a plug spinner works pretty good in it (I didn't think it would since being so wide and with this kind of warding, I had to insert the plug spinner at the end of the key hole and not close to the middle, thus having to spin a bigger path).
It's a cool lock to pick. Having two sheer lines it makes me alternate the key holes in order to find the binding pin.
It's an easy one, but very educative for whoever wants to pick cruciform locks or any other with multiple sheer lines!
Be safe! (Don't forget my questions please
)
