How can i find out how many pins there are?

[Danish Lock Picker]

Hi. Sorry my english...
when you can't see the lock inside, how can you tell
how many pis there are???

Thanks.

[mh]

Use a pick, push all the pins, pull the pick slowly out of the lock, count how many pins snap back.

Cheers
mh

[Squelchtone]

here is a set of drawings showing what mh already told you:






You may also want to take a look at this guide to lock picking http://lockpickguide.com/support-files/lsiguide.pdf

[GWiens2001]

Sometimes the lock is dirty and the clicks are not clear. Then you can do the same thing, but every few millimeters push the pick back inwards to feel if it is stopped by a pin that has moved.

You can also do the opposite of the above method. Push the pick in until it hits a pin. Mark the pick to show that pin. Then move the pin up or down (depending on how your lock is oriented) until it clears the pin, move it in slightly, then push the pin to the top or bottom of the keyway, and then slide the pick in until it hits the next pin. Mark the pick, and repeat.

Gordon

[YouLuckyFox]

You can also do the opposite of the above method. Push the pick in until it hits a pin.

This is great advice. Rai recommends a similar method for using snappers, as it is a common mistake to put a snap pick too far back and have it clack against the housing and do little for knocking the pins. For snap picks, he recommends letting the last pin drop, push forward against it and skirt right underneath it. For picking though, I commonly favor the method Gordon has outlined above; as I often have trouble hearing when I pick and will sometimes practice picking with earplugs to help myself focus on picking by feel.