When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.
I'm just beginning the hobby, but over the years as flight crew on military aircraft, SERE instructors have mentioned the use of Bogota's as a means of escape from restraints or locked facilities. I'm just now making an attempt to get into this hobby now that I'm out of the service. I just saw via a few forum entries that there is a person named Raimundo who was the brains behind this pick. He is (or was) handmaking them and a company named SEREpicks was selling them. I checked with them and they said the aren't currently, just mass produced titanium ones similar to his design. Long story short, I was hoping if he is still on the forum, I could get at least one from him so I'll have it to use once I get through my learning phase with less important (read: less costly or more readily available) picks. If Raimundo isn't on or currently producing them, is there a "classified" section I could check on here or a way to post a WTB:?
Hope someone is reading this posting . I'm anxious the get started in the hobby. Going to order up a set (just a basic set mind you) on the advice of BosnianBill on YouTube, he seems to know a little something about this.
Well, thanks in advance for any information you could shed on this for me. I'm not sure if messages go directly to my email or if there is inbox here, but you can contact me at [ADMIN EDIT: please dont post your email address in public online, spammers love this] if you would like.
Last edited by Squelchtone on 26 Jan 2017 9:57, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:removed personal information from post. email addresses in forum posts are not allowed here, sorry.
FWIW, the Bogotas as shown on the Serepick website look closer to the way Raimundo originally made them and intended them to be used. I seem to recall him getting annoyed at the likes of companies like Sparrows, Peterson, etc making picks which had the same (or similar) tip shape as his but traditional pencil-type handles, and calling them Bogotas. And if you think about it, a curved handle vs straight will dramatically change the way you use them.
Last time I spoke to Rai about a year ago he said he hoped he'd be able to make picks again sometime in the future, but he didn't sound too optimistic about it happening. I'm keeping hope, but not holding my breath since he hasn't even been answering any of my messages lately. The Serepick licensed copies of Bogota picks are exceptional and the only ones Rai ever told me he likes and is willing to stake his name on.
There are some Bogota models there that cost a bit more, but it's worth it. On those pricier ones they are polished and rounded much more like the original Bogota picks, more so than the other licensed Bogotas they make and sell. The other ones are good too, I'm just saying it's worth it to me to pay the extra for the nicer ones. I think it's the tiny flat wallet set, but I'd have to browse the site again to see for sure which model number it is. I just remember they cost a little more.
Serepick also used to sell a limited run of challenge coins which allows you to get a lifetime discount from the site. If they still have any remaining, it's something to consider.
MBI wrote:Last time I spoke to Rai about a year ago he said he hoped he'd be able to make picks again sometime in the future, but he didn't sound too optimistic about it happening. I'm keeping hope, but not holding my breath since he hasn't even been answering any of my messages lately.
What was he up to? Does he have a website where he gives updates on what he is doing?
I remember that not too long ago, Deviant Ollam did that video where he visited his workshop.
Since then I have not seen any widely published information on his activity. (Maybe I am just missing it).
deviant ollam visited the shop back in 2011ish iirc. i haven't seen raimundo in a couple of years unfortunately. awesome guy, probably taught me more about locks than any other resource.
unjust wrote:deviant ollam visited the shop back in 2011ish iirc. i haven't seen raimundo in a couple of years unfortunately. awesome guy, probably taught me more about locks than any other resource.
There's a video of that visit floating around.. =)
Several years ago, Rai helped provide me with several picks. On the picks with loop handles, he even made the loop fit the diameter of my finger. An amazing guy, it was a great opportunity to correspond with him!
I am new here but have read much about Ray's picks as well as his snapper. I was really hoping to get a set from him (or someone wanting to sell theirs but that seems as likely as winning the lottery). Anyway, I hope Ray is in good health and just too busy to devote the time to making picks. Would anyone have a recommendation of the Bogotas most closely resembling Ray's?
I don't know if they are "authorized" or not, but Mad Bob in the UK also makes bogotas with Raimundo's original handle design.
If you are looking for a similar pick but don't care about "authenticity" then I think that the best thing going is the new set developed by TOOOL. TOOOL calls them the "wicked waves". Peterson also makes them and calls them the "Wonder waves". They are based on the original design that Raimundo invented but have been fine-tuned with modern mathematical analysis.
. I'm anxious the get started in the hobby. Going to order up a set (just a basic set mind you) on the advice of BosnianBill on YouTube, he seems to know a little something about this. 
.
