locks in a door handle tips?

[Scowt]

I'm at work and during my lunch I'm going to try to pick open the door to my little office. Km gonna do this because earlier I tried open my supervisors door for him because he left his key at home. So since I've been known to carry locks with me to my desk for picking they asked me to help out.

Now I've opened my fair share of locks, I have about 10 at home from door locks to pad locks. Some even with a couple security pins. And I can open those under a minute. And when I get a new one it doesn't take me more than 2 mins or so to open it either.

But for some reason I can't open this door lol. Any tips for future reference? Its like pin tumbler but the key hole is sideways, no its not a dimple key type. And its like the housing is in the actual handle. No brand name on it though.

[Squelchtone]

Until you are proficient, and really really know how locks work and can walk up and identify what kind of lock it is , what brand, how many pins, and you've studied patent drawings of it, or have an example one at home that you've taken apart and picked, I would recommend not sticking picks into locks at work. An easy padlock or simple deadbolt in your current collection and some blind luck and a dash of beginner skill is one thing, but when you walk into an office building which uses well made commercial hardware, its a whole new ball game and while you got lucky picking your bosses door, now they're going to assume you can pick anything in that building in under a minute, and that's not always going to be the case.

I highly recommend not bragging to everyone at work that you know about locks, and certainly stop practicing on locks at work, even if they're "your locks to your office that you have the key to" (I hear that excuse all the time, having key to one's office, doesn't mean you have permission to be sticking picks into the lock as well), the next time someone's ipad or purse goes missing, guess who the number one suspect is going to be? you won't be seen as that helpful guy who got the lady in accounting into her file cabinet that one day, you'll be seen as that shady guy with an unhealthy obsession with locks. Trust me, I speak with years of experience in just this sort of thing.

If you want to post a pic of that sideway keyway in a knob or in a lever handle, I can at least tell you what you're up against. To post a pic, go to http://tinypic.com and upload it there, then Copy/Paste the address here.

Squelchtone

[Scowt]

I understand the risks involved and the automatic categorization that comes with this hobby. But like I said in another of my posts I'm an engineer at work and an inventor on the side. The workings of a lock is what fascinates me and what makes it fun is picking while imagining what I'm manipulating on the inside. When I open it, its like getting the right answer to a test question lol. But yea give me a minute I'll get that pick up.

[Scowt]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=m81bhk&s=5

Let me know man. Its eating at me lol.

[Evan]

But for some reason I can't open this <censored> door lol. Any tips for future reference? Its like pin tumbler but the key hole is sideways, no its not a dimple key type. And its like the housing is in the actual handle. No brand name on it though.

It is a commercial Grade 1 Key-in-Lever 6-pin Schlage from the looks of it, the keys should say SC4 on them unless they say "Schlage" in which case there would be a small C on the back near the corner...

That is not your lock, your supervisor can not grant you permission to pick it, that power is vested with someone in facilities management or an officer of the corporation...

If you damage it in front of witnesses your company could seek to bill you for repairs and to cover the cost of any losses due to downtime/idle employees because of your willful act of vandalism...

~~ Evan

[Squelchtone]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=m81bhk&s=5

Let me know man. Its eating at me lol.

Did you take that pic in a dream sequence or at a Glamour Shots photo store?

Any way possible to take a clear shot of the keyway from about 12 inches away? by the way you have an ADA compliant handle set , looks like the Schlage Rhodes series with what looks like a Schlage C keyway from far away, but yea, a close of up the keyway would be great. It is probably a 6 pin cylinder, SC4 blank

If you have the key to this lock you should be able to already tell what brand it is and how many pins. Do any of your office keys fit into that keyway, even if they do not turn the lock cylinder? on the face of that cylinder, is there by any chance a little triangle?

What kind of picks are you using anyway? Southord? paperclip? HPC? Bogotas? which pick profile and what kind of wrench?

Thanks
Squelchtone

PS. Evan type really fast! He got in before me, and I'm glad our replies both concur.

[globallockytoo]

The point of this forum is to discuss lockpicking as a hobby. It is a fundamental policy of this forum that locks in use should not be picked unless by a professional in accordance with their professional obligations.

If you want to get these doors unlocked, call a locksmith!

[Scowt]

OK guys let get over the whole I shouldn't have picked it thing. Just having a bit of fun just calm down. On so seems like its a schlage. I've never picked more than a 5 pin so now it makes sense why it felt different. Also I've never gotten a schlage. Appreciate the input guys! And thanks for the heads up though on the whole damaging the lock and them billing me. I didn't think about that. I definitely do not want to pay for the lock nor the labor that would be affected by downtime, especially at these guys salaries lol. Now to do some research and get one of my own to practice on!

[Squelchtone]

The point of this forum is to discuss lockpicking as a hobby. It is a fundamental policy of this forum that locks in use should not be picked unless by a professional in accordance with their professional obligations.

I wouldn't quote that word for word... I think it's a policy of the locksport hobby, not of lockpicking101.com forums. I think there are examples that you dont pick a lock, unless a friend says, yes please pick my lock, or yes you can practice on my lock, as long as it is really their lock and not their apartment, dorm room, office, etc. I was at a cook out once, saw a fancy lock on my buddy's backyard shed, asked if I could practice, he handed it to me and I picked it. It was a Master ProSeries 6121 with spool pins, probably one of the first locks that I picked that offered a reasonable challenge.

One last word on the picking locks at work conversation we were having.. I was working late one night, and couldnt resist picking everything in sight, so I started picking a Medeco lock on a storage room next to my server room. I had the Grand Master Key to open everything, but wanted to see if I could pick it. The plug turned a little and became stuck. I tried to turn harder.. I tried turning the other way.. something went wrong. I took the wrench out of the lock, and pulled the hook out of the lock. Attached to the hook pick was a spring from inside the lock, all stretched out. it had become stuck between the plug and bible. Oooops! I was in a panic.. maintenance would kill me if they saw this. I had to go to the lock shop in another building , and sneak out with a spare cylinder from the parts drawer, and for the first time in my life take apart a Medeco mortise cylinder and learn all the bits and pieces, middle of the night. I took the lock apart, saw how mangled up it became, and then took an hour to figure out which master wafers and which key pins and top pins went in which chambers. I got it working finally, and put it all back together.

The reason we tell you not to pick locks at work is not to scold you and stop you from having fun, but to save you from making the same mistakes we made so that you don't get in trouble at work, or spend half a night taking apart and putting back together work property hoping nobody notices. Our collective experiences are here to serve people just starting out. We hope you learn from them.

Squelchtone

[Scowt]

Yea man I really appreciate it. I'm still new to this hobby maybe like a month and a half into it so I am of course humbled by most on this forum which is why I came here in the first place BC I keep hearing so much about you guys here. Now my goal isn't to be the best picker in the world but my goal is to just understand at least how most locks work, picking is just a side effect haha. But in my personal opinion, to understand something means to be able to use it or manipulate it as you want or need. Therefore I demonstrate to myself that if I can open the lock without the key, I understand it, and that's what attracts me to this hobby. So I will definitely keep a look out for a schlage lock or anything more than five pins for that matter. Appreciate the responses guys. But one last thing. Is there any different technique to opening one that's on a handle or no?

[2octops]

But one last thing. Is there any different technique to opening one that's on a handle or no?

Yes, several.

[Scowt]

Like? Am I getting rid of tension wrench and just turning handle?

[Legion303]

Any tips for future reference?

For future reference, newbies to the sport shouldn't be picking locks that are in use. That's the best tip you're going to get all year.

-steve

[2octops]

Like? Am I getting rid of tension wrench and just turning handle?

Get on Ebay or Amazon, or go to your local locksmith or door distributor and purchase a lock. Spend time with that lock taking it apart and putting it together with and without keys.

They all basically work the same way.

[O_OBruce]

Like? Am I getting rid of tension wrench and just turning handle?

You are one smart cookie !! Most new users don't figure that out for a long time. Please don't publicize that info for the world to see.
You also might want to get a #42 1/2 diamond pick ...they will open ANY lock instantly please don't publicize that either.
Good luck with your new found information.

Brucie XOXOX 

O_OBruce