Where to buy padlock + pick set for puzzle gift (Sweden)

[Sevren]

Hello all,

I have been looking around for a padlock which can be easily picked. I am making a journal/diary/puzzle gift for my Fiancee and would like to put a padlock on the front of the book and provide her with a standard lockpick set to have fun getting into it. The idea comes from creating a character journal for the popular Elder scrolls games, she would have to open it herself to get the game dvd's out of the book. The games allow you to lockpick many things figured it might be fun to put a real padlock puzzle(of course I would keep the key's if she fails to get it/gets frustrated). However, we live in Sweden and as far as I know possession is legal now I do not know where I can buy it online and have it delivered in Sweden.

Thanks,
Sevren

[ARF-GEF]

Google, HPC peterson Southord they are the biggest manufacturers. You can also buy cheap and not so well made sets from dx.com and similar sites.
A cheap and simple master lock is usually not a big challange but the cheapest chinese are the easiest. Look for a bigger spacier keyway.
I don't think picking is sth you can just have a go and do in 2 minutes, it does require some reserch and practice to work sensibly
Good luck with you project!

[GWiens2001]

If you buy the book "Easy Picking" from some sites (including one of our sponsors here at LP101), it comes with a 5 piece SouthOrd pick set. It is a short book, an easy read, and has enough picks for a beginner to get the fundamentals down. All you need aside from that is a lock.

Personally recommend a Master #3 padlock, as it is easy to pick, has no security pins, and gives good feedback for those learning. Be careful of too cheap a padlock, because some are so cheap they become much harder to pick!

Good luck,

Gordon

[Wizer]

If you want her to be able to pick it easy, you should choose a lock that has pretty equal size pins.
Look at the keys of the lock you are going to buy, and choose one where there are no deep valleys and high spots.
A lock like that would be easiest.
I hope you don´t frustrate her, because even some "easy" locks take some degree of skill to pick.
Nice idea anyway if she has patience.

[Dogrocket]

If you want to increase the chances of success while keeping the spirit of the gift you might want to consider a cutaway lock:

(Quick example http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cutaway-inside- ... 1271518529 but their are lots of options, including make one yourself)

Being able to see the pins will make it easier to pick (while still presenting a challenge, and requiring a little critical thinking/practice to open) - and is pretty consistent with how lockpicking is represented in games (Here's a pic of lockpicking from Elderscrolls Oblivion that should look familiar):



One wrench and a hook pick, and you're good to go.

A cheaper and smaller option (which might be more appropriate for a journal) is the little luggage locks - If you go this route get a snake rake and a small wrench, most will open with a little wiggle of the rake in the lock. You can also buy a couple of different types really cheaply so you can tailor the difficulty of the lock.

[Sevren]

Thanks for all your replies. I bought a Tuxedo set from SparrowsLockpicks (http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/tux1.htm) for her, I've seen some reviews on the forums here and I contacted them about the idea. Tuxedo seems to be a nice all-round solution .

@Dogrocket, I found that ebay lock as well from a posting on reddits /rlockpicking I already bought one and it's in the process of being shipped. Now i think a better plan will be to give her as one of her Christmas gift's the tuxedo set and a practice lock for fun. While i'm still gathering all the other materials for the journal, that one will be done by March ... Better get her to practice on something and then when the time comes for the real gift she wil be ready (more or less)

Thanks for all your help everyone!

[C locked]

I love this idea. Encourage a shared interest.
...for a follow up. You could do a puzzle box. With many differing locks locking compartments with messages.
...Mayb as an anniversary gift.

[C locked]

So now that christmas is done. How'd the gift go?

do you and your significant other now share a common interest?