hard lock for n00b

[grimner]

I'm new to lockpicking and have successfully picked a number of locks but I've found a lock I just cannot pick. There's no number on the lock, just says 'Master'. Comparing measurements on the Master website it looks like a small brass Master 4120:
http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/class_search.pl?parent_id=A64&class_id=C6411&Go.x=10&Go.y=16

The description on the site says it is 'pick resistent'. From what I can tell, there are 3 pins plus a possible fourth in the back but it seems flat and high up (is this a 'security pin'?). I searched for information on this site about the lock but came up empty. Can anyone give me some advice on how to go about picking it? What makes it 'pick resistent'?

Thanks in advance

[mcm757207]

We are not going to be able to give you a good answer until we can see a photo of the lock, but from your descrption of a small brass lock, it could possibly be a #140, 4 pins, 1 to 3 of them spool. Not a good lock for a beginner.

[grimner]

Thanks for the reply. Here's a picture. Like I said, the measurements seem to be the same as the 4120 (url above). Is this what refered to here as a '120'? Along the same line, is the 4140 refered to as a '140'?

[CaptHook]

Pick Resistant is a reference to a pin tumbler with more than one pin....... Seriously though, its marketing. It is more than likely a 4 pin lock, with the possibility of a spool.
Chuck

[mcm757207]

Thanks for the reply. Here's a picture. Like I said, the measurements seem to be the same as the 4120 (url above). Is this what refered to here as a '120'? Along the same line, is the 4140 refered to as a '140'?

Yes, I can say with some confidence that's a #140.

[mcm757207]

Oops... after looking at it next to the penny it seems a bit small to be a 140... still possible though. sorry to be of such little help.

[grimner]

Oops... after looking at it next to the penny it seems a bit small to be a 140

Again, I'm note sure of the numbers here but my guess from the Master website is this lock is a 4120. The 4140 is a larger version of the same lock. Could this be what people here refer to as a 140?

[Chucklz]

This lock is very easy to open, but not so easy to pick. I wont tell you how the bypass works, but for picking, I suggest you use a small half diamond.

[TOWCH]

A 140 bypass? Any chance you could PM me it, or are you keeping this your secret?

[Chucklz]

Im not sure it works on the 140. Looks like I will have to finally break down and buy one of these bad boys.

[grimner]

I have successfully raked it open but no luck picking.

Thanks for the replies.

[Mad Mick]

I'm pretty sure that your lock is what used to be the old #120...three pins with a possibility of having a spool or two.

[Hak]

I can tell thats not a 140, i belive mad mick is right, thats gotta be a 120. From the picture grimner provided, it looks like either a Master #120TAT or maybe a Master #120TCC model.

[grimner]

Correct, it is not a 140. I compared the lock to locks in a store and the size and design matches the 120, with the 140 being larger. Unlike the 120 and 140, my lock only says "China" on the bottom, no numbers at all. I don't know how old it is (it's not new) so it could be an earlier version but it looks identical to the 120 (minus the numbers on the bottom). I guess my problem is dealing with the spool pins so I've been reading up on how pick them. I can pick master #1 and #3 and a couple others in seconds but this one has me stumped, not having encountered spool pins before.

[Kodack]

If I'm not mistaken that is a masterlock #130. I have one in my posession. The only hard thing about these is the small size of the key opening. Use the smallest torsion bar you can to leave a lot of room to get around in the keyhole.

You should have good luck with a double diamond type rake, or a shallow hook pick.

Light tension, but the pins require a little effort due to tight tolerance and high spring rate.

The #140 is as big as a matchbook, that lock photo was the size of a penny.