Relatively Old Corbin Padlock

[njcanderson]

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to this whole lock picking thing (read: about a month) and I asked my dad if he had any locks laying around I could practice on. I've read through some threads on what are good beginner locks to start with, but I figured anything free was worth at least tinkering with. One of the locks he gave to me is this Corbin lock:







There aren't any model numbers or anything that I can see. I was just wondering if anyone had any insight into this lock. I was able to pick it, but I've never dealt with security pins and it felt like maybe there were a few in there. I had to fool around with reverse tension and things to get pins to set.

P.S. This is my first post to the site, and I wanted to say thank you to pretty much everyone for helping me, albeit unknowingly, getting started with this hobby.

[GWiens2001]

Nice Corbin. Is that a pin tumbler or a wafer lock? The squareness of the keyway makes me ask. That would be a nice addition to your collection.

Gordon

[spandexwarrior]

I played with one like that before and it was a wafer lock - 5 wafers I think.

-Brian

[njcanderson]

I'll be honest, I hadn't even thought of that possibility. It looks like it may be a wafer lock, although I don't know how to tell since I haven't picked one before. Would it pick like any other pin and tumbler lock? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. The "pins" look square, would this indicate a wafer?

Its a nice lock and my dad said it hadn't been open in years before I got it, thanks for the insight.

- Nick

[GWiens2001]

Spandexwarrior is then correct. It is a wafer lock, as I suspected. Yes, the square looking tumbles are wafers instead of pins.

Definitely keep that lock!

Gordon

[cledry]

I tossed a bunch of these in the trash a couple of years back, I had them taking up room in the shop. They are so easy to pick i never thought anyone would want one.

[Evan]

Hi all:

These padlocks are still being made today by CCL, the body of the lock is pressure cast, and today they are available with 5 wafers or 6 wafers, can be master keyed and are re-keyable... CCL calls this type of lock the Huski padlock...

~~ Evan

[njcanderson]

Thanks for all of the insight everyone.

At least from my perspective, this is a good "next step" in locks for me after my master no. 3 that I've seemed to master.

I'll keep it around and keep building my collection.

- Nick

[jeffmoss26]

I have a couple of them in a box o' locks that a locksmith gave me. He even sent blanks so I could try my hand impressioning them.

[fpoirrier]

I have a Corbin padlock exactly like that one. It was issued to me in Air Force basic training in 1968 at Lackland Air Force Base. They literally threw it at you. Hit one guy in the eye. It was used on my foot locker and then on my duffle bag when I shipped out. When I got back home I used it on the garage door. Latter on it was on my tool box. Somehow I lost the key. I managed to pick it open . Can a key be easily made for it? I am a collector of nostalgia items.

[GWiens2001]

I have a Corbin padlock exactly like that one. It was issued to me in Air Force basic training in 1968 at Lackland Air Force Base. They literally threw it at you. Hit one guy in the eye. It was used on my foot locker and then on my duffle bag when I shipped out. When I got back home I used it on the garage door. Latter on it was on my tool box. Somehow I lost the key. I managed to pick it open . Can a key be easily made for it? I am a collector of nostalgia items.

Yes, keys are pretty easily made for that padlock. When the lock is picked open, you can read the wafers to see roughly what the bitting should be. Look at the thread here on impressioning different types of locks.

Gordon