Picking a Master #19

[UnlockingBoredom]

Hey guys, has anyone here picked a Master #19? Everything I read or see of youtube says that they are the best lock Master made and are not easily picked if you can pick at all. Well I am helping a locksmith I met by impressioning 5 Master #19's. I have one done so far and it took me at least 2 hours (yeah I know Im slow...) so I was thinking It would be much faster to pick it and read the pins with my pointy pick and then make a key for it... well it didnt turn out as planned I tried to pick the thing but I have to put so much tension pressure on it that it binds up everything but the front pin and when I let off slightly, nothing binds... tough lock!

I noticed on the second one that at least 3 of the pins I can feel with my pick have master wafers (easily seen on the front pin) Why would they master key a Master lock?
Thanks for any help in picking this humungous lock!!!


I was at the swapmeet today talking to the lock guy there and when people came up to him with locks and no keys, he would pass them to me and tell them that I was his impressioning guy..lol I would pick the thing right in front of them and then read the pins and tell him to make a key on his machine.. it was fun and it brought in a few people to watch and give him some more business. Then I picked an old 1930's wafer lock on one of those carnival games machines and I am looking for a key to impression it for the guy (the keys that the locksmith said would work at too short to reach all the way in) Also picked a Schlage lever lock that they lost the key and needed to get it picked so they could take the core out... That one was fun!

Ok, I am just rambling on about my day now..

[UnlockingBoredom]

Oh I saw one guy on youtube "pick" a Master #19 but I was paying attention to his "jiggler" and it sure looked like the key bidding on the key in the background... and all he did was insert the "jiggler" into the lock slowly while applying tension on and off.

To me it looked totally fake but who knows..

[billdeserthills]

I masterkey many padlocks that also fit my client's house key. That way the landscaper, pool guy and whoever else can get into the gate at
the backyard, without needing the house key and the Master key will work the house, wine room, bedroom door and of course the padlock

[UnlockingBoredom]

Well that makes sense with the mastering, maybe someone had Master make this one custom since the pins are not able to be changed afterwards because its not a removable core lock.

Sure wish I had some depth keys for this big ol master lock... at least that way I could just cut down to the next depth instead of filing a little at a time.... This is killing my hands and I cant do it for long.

[billdeserthills]

I'm surprised an old lock like that doesn't have a code # on it

I understand that which doesn't kill you can only make your filing hand stronger

I understand in the long ago impressioners used a curtis clipper to quickly cut the correct depths for master padlock

[UnlockingBoredom]

Well I got 4 of the 5 Master 19's impressioned but am having an issue with the last one... For some reason it keeps giving me false marks because I can tell that the 2nd pin is short followed by a master wafer then the driver pin (probably more in there but I cant see them) but it kept making marks on the key blank all the way into the bottom.. it got me for 3 keys today and that was all I had left. Funny how the other 4 I got in 1 key each and the last took all the rest.

Oh well, this lock had the shackle cut and then welded (and not a good job) so I will just tell him its not worth it.
Hey I was doing this for free but im sure he is getting paid for it..

Sure wish I could have picked one of these but with the combination difficult keyway, at least 1 pin that is at the max depth and the tension it takes to turn the plug... I dont see how anyone could. Maybe I will ask for this last lock as payment so I can continue trying to pick it


Happy picking!