What does the key bitting tell me?

[JohnnyWalker]

Hi folks,

A few days ago a buddy of mine gave me an extra lock he used to use on a tool shed at a previous property he used to live at. He bought this lock several years ago, so he doesn't have the original packaging that I could get any information about the lock. All I have is the lock and the three keys it came with. As best as I can tell this is an Olympus Mountain lock (if you know this is not the brand please let me know) and it has six pins (maybe seven?). I think at least one pin is a security pin of some type, but possibly more than one (I think it's three) of them are security pins. So, now I'm turning to you guys for a little help here to see if I am on the right track.

Here's a pick of the lock and key:


First of all, am I right that this has six pins, or is it seven? I'm not sure if the notch on the far right (not the one where the rounded handle meets the rest of the key, the one that forms a 90 degree angle) is for a pin or not.

Secondly, I was wondering if the key bitting is useful in determining which pick would be best to SPP the lock? Up until now I've been SPPing locks mostly with a short hook and a few with my half diamond, but I've been figuring out which pick to use by trial and error.

My last question is a a bit more general and not specific to key bitting. I was wondering how often you find only one pick works to SPP a lock? So far I have found that for locks I can SPP I can only do it with one type of pick. I haven't been able to SPP a lock with a diamond or a hook. It's one or the other. Is this common, or is this because my skills are still fairly limited?

Thanks.

[silvfox1200]

In my opinion it could have six pins.

If you have never been able to pick a lock with six pins and possible security pins, then you are climbing a tall tree.

You will either get lucky or need a lot of practice to pick this lock.

The bitting looks to be very good for this lock. You will probably need to use top with your tension wrench in order to get as much room as possible to reach some of the pins with a hook.

Have you ever picked a six pin lock before? Depending on the pins you will most likely need to use light tension. I use a hook 99% of the time. On this lock you might have to use a medium hook.

Just have patience and practice, practice, practice.

[somenewguy]

The key looks to have 6 bitting cuts, though you never really know until you check the lock - can you stick a pick to the back of the lock, pull up against the key pins, and retract it slowly, counting the 'clicks' as the pins snap back into place?

That last bit on the key near the bow is for stopping the key from going too far into the lock and is not a bitting cut.

Assuming that key opens that lock, looking at the key will tell you approximately how high to lift the pins when you pick; Pins 1 and 2 at the back and pin 5 will need to be lifted fairly high, pin 3 not so much and pin 6 very little.

[JohnnyWalker]

In my opinion it could have six pins.

I could be wrong, but I think this lock has at least six pins. I think it might have seven, but that seems like a lot of pins for a padlock. I'm hoping someone here knows this lock and can confirm six or seven pins.

Have you ever picked a six pin lock before? Depending on the pins you will most likely need to use light tension. I use a hook 99% of the time. On this lock you might have to use a medium hook.

The most I've ever been able to SPP is five pins, but only a few of the pins were security pins, not all five of them. With this particular lock the keyway has a lot of room to work with, so I've been using BOK tension. Even when I try using my tall hook I still have plenty of room to manipulate the pins using BOK tension.

[silvfox1200]

Start out with light tension. Find the pin that is binding the most. Try to set that pin and then find the next. Try to feel the feedback from the pins when setting. If they are security pins then you should be able to get some feedback. Remember which pins you set in case you have to start over and try to reset the pins in a different order. And also look for a false set. If you get the false set then you should be on the right track, but not always.

[Hachronn]

I'm counting six cuts on the key. One thing you're going to have to watch out for is that first deep cut (closest to the opening of the key way) followed by a very shallow cut. As you try to pick the pins furthest away from the opening, you'll need to be very careful to avoid over lifting that first pin. It will be in the way.