Can this type of lock be picked?

[uperkurk]

[Luissen]

I'm not familiar with that kind of lock... that's a huge keyway though (using screws to guestimate the size)

[Luissen]

Sorry for the double post, but that is a Basta EasyT lever lock. (quick google search on patent number) for someone who has no idea how a lever lock works, maybe, but the mechanism is simple as it is a relatively cheap and was a common lock in Euro apparently

[2octops]

Short answer, Yes it can be picked with the correct equipment.

You're normal rakes and half diamonds wont do it.

[uperkurk]

Which type of equipment? I think I'd have to take it apart to see the inner workings of it.

Would be great if a company made translucent locks so you can see the working parts as you're picking it.

[zeepia]

Search for warded lock picks.

You can always take it apart and replace the cover with clear plastic.

[sbellios]

2 in 1 lockpicks work for picking lever locks. You can make them on your own with tips from this forum

[ARF-GEF]

I think it's useful to add that not only can that lock be picked, but it is rather easy to pick/open it.
So don't really trust it as a lock it's more against the wind opening the door .

[EmCee]

...was a common lock in Euro apparently

Lever locks are common in the UK - not just as curios of old but still fitted today.

Lever locks can be grouped in two broad categories - curtain and non-curtain locks. They are commonly seen with 2, 3, 5 and more levers. The more levers, the more secure (in general terms).

They are not usually warded (some higher security locks can have wards). For the non-curtain deadlock in the photo (which could be a 3-lever or a 5-lever), a 2-in-1 will work, as said, or couple of wires.

A key feature of the Easi-T is the latch reversal system - which allows the latch to be switched to suit left or right handed doors without the need to open the lockcase or undo a screw on the latch. Of course, that's not relevant for the deadlock but the brand name is still used.

ARF-GEF is partly right, although I would say that lever locks can be considered to be more secure than cylinder locks in general terms, simply because the tools needed tend to be more expensive and perhaps less widely available than a basic set of cylinder picks and fewer people have practised with them compared with pin tumbers. All locks are easy to pick once you know how to pick them, but I doubt most people familiar with pin tumbers would have much luck picking this without a fair amount of practice and tool-making. Nevertheless, a deadlock like this should be used in an internal door for privacy/access control rather than, for example, a main entrance door.

[Solomon]

Search for warded lock picks.

You can always take it apart and replace the cover with clear plastic.

Not a warded lock.

The lock pictured is a non-curtain mortice lock, and will contain 2, 3 or 5 levers depending on the application.

2 and 3 lever are often easy to open with tryout keys or overlifting, 5 lever are susceptible too but the success rate is much lower. You can pick these with a 2-in-1 tool but there are different gauges of profile and they won't be suitable for all locks even if the gauge is correct... so going with 2-in-1 tools will work out very expensive if you plan to get heavily into them and can't make your own.

Wires are a better option in my opinion. You need different tension wires depending on picking bolt side vs lever side, and a few different upstand heights for the pick wires. I'm sure there's more to it than that as I've seen some locks with case wards on the inside of the face plate, but generally speaking a standard L-bend will suffice.

To pick them you apply tension to the bolt and feel for the binding lever, lift til it sets, and repeat. Easier said than done though! I haven't come across any non-curtain locks with false gates so you most likely won't have to worry about going into anti pick and having to read the levers to see what lift they need... but I'm sure there are some out there, so it's always a good idea to take them apart to see what you're dealing with. Some of these things require a LOT of tension, and there are some I've come across which, regardless of tension, the levers just don't seem to bind at all. My experience is limited so I'll leave someone else to field issues like that.

Jaydorner on youtube has some fantastic videos on making pick wires for these and also explains the picking procedure in a bit more detail. Check them out.

[zeepia]

Not a warded lock.

My bad
Still struggling occasionally with the terminology...

[ARF-GEF]

ARF-GEF is partly right, although I would say that lever locks can be considered to be more secure than cylinder locks in general terms, simply because the tools needed tend to be more expensive and perhaps less widely available than a basic set of cylinder picks and fewer people have practised with them compared with pin tumbers. All locks are easy to pick once you know how to pick them, but I doubt most people familiar with pin tumbers would have much luck picking this without a fair amount of practice and tool-making. Nevertheless, a deadlock like this should be used in an internal door for privacy/access control rather than, for example, a main entrance door.

@Emcee I think this particular one is a 2 lever mortice lock. I don't think this particular kind of lock is made in 3 or 5 lever versions. Of course I didn't say, or at least didn't meant to say, that all lever locks are less safe than pin tumblers, you might have misunderstood me:)
(

I think it's useful to add that not only can that lock be picked, but it is rather easy to pick/open it.

)

I totally agree with you that lever locks can be be more secure than pin tumblers.
In fact I think a well made curtained 11 lever lever lock with false gates is probably safer than 99% of cylinder locks, it's no accident that they use them on safes.

So I still think that this lock (a 2 lever lock) is very easy to pick, probably a easier than a simple 5 pin pin tumbler. So in general terms you are right, I agree with you, but maybe not in this particular case:)
And with that I think we've also answered the original question:)
About the tools: in my opinion you can make them at home, and you don't need particularly refined ones for this lock so I don't think price is a limiting factor.
You are however right with practice, I can imagine that more people practice on pint tumblers than on lever locks.

[ARF-GEF]

So I think I have to correct myself: you were right ready-made Hobbs picks (or mortice picks) are expensive. I'm not sure which is a the level where you can't use your normal home-made picks any more and are in need of professionally made ones. But if you can't make it for any reason, you are definitely right, those factory made pick require more investment than simple pin tumbler picks:)

[EmCee]

@ARF-GEF - I know what you were saying, although in this case that Eurospec deadlock is either 3-lever or 5-lever (it's available in both options). I don't think they do a 2-lever version.

For non-curtain locks (whether 2, 3, 5 or more levers) you can certainly open them with wires that you can make at home - although you do still need knowledge of the lock in order to make the wires of the correct size. It's not rocket science but back to my original comment, I think far fewer people develop knowledge of lever locks compared with pin tumbers, so making your own tools isn't going to be that common if you don't know where to start...if you see what I'm saying. And I'm guessing that might partly be due to the fact that a small wallet of pin tumber picks looks a lot more cool than a couple of bits of wire.

[ARF-GEF]

@Emcee, you could be right I'm not personally familiar with this exact kind of mortice lock. The main reason why I thought it is 2 lever is that the google search only provides results for Basta 2 Lever Mortice Door Lock. So I concluded, perhaps wrongly, that if google can't find a 3 lever or 5 lever one then the 2 lever it is.

I've been thinking about what you wrote, and I admit, you were right on the practice/knowledge part. I too think, that less people know their way around lever lock as with pin tumblers. So I think I see what you meant and I agree with it:)