Recommended practice locks for learning dimple picking

[gumptrick]

So I've seen a lot of info about recommended locks for learning picking in general, but these lists always seem geared towards normal pin-tumbler locks. Anyone have any suggestions or know any resources for good locks for practicing dimple picking? I've done a lot of searching but found very few suggestions. What is the equivalent of the Master no. 3, Master 140/150, etc, for dimples?

[Squelchtone]

dimples arent really common in the US. I'm not sure where you're from though, so could you fill out your member Profile with your city or state or country so we can make better recommendations on the makes and models available in your area.

Thanks
Squelchtone

[gumptrick]

Sorry about that! I am in the US. Texas to be specific.

However I have no problem with mail-ordering whatever someone might recommend and I have family in Europe so worst case scenario I can have things shipped to them & then they can forward them to me.

[tpark]

I think the Mul-T-Lock 7x7 locks are good as starters - they have security pins, but they provide good feedback and aren't too hard. The Mul T Lock Interactive locks are more challenging, but they also give good feedback. Leave the CISA Astral ones for when you have mastered the other locks - they have a difficult keyway and tight tolerances.

When I started on the dimple lock journey, I had some difficulty finding cheap Mul T locks so I bought them new. - I suggest looking around first and not going the expensive route. As far as picks go, finishing off the Goso picks is the way to go - I bought the SpooXe ones (which are very nicely finished Goso picks) and they're wonderful, but the set that I finished and the ones I forged/finished from music wire work just as well.

I don't have a really good idea of equivalent difficulty for the dimple vs regular pin locks since my experience with dimple locks is limited to a small number of different brands.

Sometimes you can find used dimple locks on eBay - that's where I got some of mine.

[Squelchtone]

good write up tpark and thank you for your location gumptrick.

I noticed that in the UK, Master Lock sells their padlocks in dimple versions, but these are hard to come by in the USA. Yale also has some nice basic dimple locks, and if you want a little fancier, look on ebay for a Kaba Gemini or Lori Gemini, or a DOM or DOM IX.

I suppose Amazon may be a good place to look for the UK ones, as long as you dont mind paying some crazy shipping if it doesn't qualify for Prime.

Here's one of the Master Lock dimples on Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Lock-11 ... 0016M1USM/

and here's an ABUS dimple padlock on amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Abus-Lock-75138- ... 01MRXNZ3Y/

[greengrowlocks]

Here are some dimple locks that I got started on and would be suitable for a beginner and fairly inexpensive.

Master 528, Abus Marine 75IB/50, Yardeni, Abus EC70 75/60 and slightly more advanced maybe a MulTLock Junior.

All of those should be available on Amazon or ebay for under $30 with exception of the Junior which is around $35. After you reach that point your probably ready for more advanced locks like the MulTlock Interactive, Mauer NW4 and other dimple hybrid type locks.

[GWiens2001]

You can also get a Sargent Keso lock from Security Snobs for $15, plus $6 for a working key.

https://securitysnobs.com/Sargent-Keso-Dimple-Lock-Used.html

Gordon

[gumptrick]

You can also get a Sargent Keso lock from Security Snobs for $15, plus $6 for a working key.
https://securitysnobs.com/Sargent-Keso-Dimple-Lock-Used.html
Gordon

I saw those! I actually think the Keso is a very cool lock design. Though my understanding is that those are a real b@stard to a pick and probably not a good beginner choice?

Also, I have done business with security snobs twice before and thus far I am less than thrilled with their customer service.

Thanks for the other suggestions guys!

Anyone have any experience with the Burg Wachter Boccia? I'm curious where those fall on the difficulty scale. I have a few Burg Wachter standard pin-tumbler padlocks and they range from pretty simple to downright evil.

[greengrowlocks]

You can also get a Sargent Keso lock from Security Snobs for $15, plus $6 for a working key.
https://securitysnobs.com/Sargent-Keso-Dimple-Lock-Used.html
Gordon

I saw those! I actually think the Keso is a very cool lock design. Though my understanding is that those are a real b@stard to a pick and probably not a good beginner choice?

It's probably not the best choice if you've never picked or new to picking dimple locks. I recently saw reddits ranking system of difficulty and they consider the Keso to be the second highest level of difficulty (just under Assa Twins and Evva 3KS). I cannot attest most of the accuracy of the list at or beyond that point but I know Tumbl3r is a mod there who is vert competent picker and edits it frequently.

I went to Security Snobs in person and wasn't too impressed with their service either. However they seem to to be the only/cheapest supplier of certain things so I still order from them occasionally and $21 for that specific lock w/ key is fair deal compared to eBay prices.

[GWiens2001]

You can also get a Sargent Keso lock from Security Snobs for $15, plus $6 for a working key.
https://securitysnobs.com/Sargent-Keso-Dimple-Lock-Used.html
Gordon

I saw those! I actually think the Keso is a very cool lock design. Though my understanding is that those are a real b@stard to a pick and probably not a good beginner choice?

It's probably not the best choice if you've never picked or new to picking dimple locks. I recently saw reddits ranking system of difficulty and they consider the Keso to be the second highest level of difficulty (just under Assa Twins and Evva 3KS). I cannot attest most of the accuracy of the list at or beyond that point but I know Tumbl3r is a mod there who is vert competent picker and edits it frequently.

I went to Security Snobs in person and wasn't too impressed with their service either. However they seem to to be the only/cheapest supplier of certain things so I still order from them occasionally and $21 for that specific lock w/ key is fair deal compared to eBay prices.

That is the Swiss company Keso. Very different from a Sargent Keso.

Gordon

[Shackle Jackal]

I am in New Mexico (close to the OP) and the only dimple locks that i have come across are for bike locks, your local Walmart might have a couple dimple locks if you look in the bicycle section, however they are overpriced and I cannot vouch for their ease/difficulty/security

[femurat]

Here's a post I made with some suggestions about dimple locks for practice.

Enjoy

[gumptrick]

I recently saw reddits ranking system of difficulty and they consider the Keso to be the second highest level of difficulty (just under Assa Twins and Evva 3KS). I cannot attest most of the accuracy of the list at or beyond that point but I know Tumbl3r is a mod there who is vert competent picker and edits it frequently.

I haven't seen the reddit list, but that was the same general impression I was under. I remember seeing Bosnianbill talk about a Sargent Keso padlock in one of his videos in which he stated he was never able to pick it.

I went to Security Snobs in person and wasn't too impressed with their service either. However they seem to to be the only/cheapest supplier of certain things so I still order from them occasionally and $21 for that specific lock w/ key is fair deal compared to eBay prices.

I must admit that you're right in that regard--they do have a few things that are difficult to find elsewhere. And I also think that the price for that lock is certainly fair--it's certainly a LOT less than buying one new. It's really not much given what I have seen collectors drop on other hard-to-find locks.

That is the Swiss company Keso. Very different from a Sargent Keso.

Gordon, can you weigh in on this a little further?

A couple of weeks ago I had my local Sargent dealer order me two brand new padlocks. One is the 'base' Sargent model and the other is the Sargent Keso. The dealer had sold a lot of mortise locks and door hardware but had never sold any Sargent padlocks before, so it was a new process for both of us and we went through all the paperwork together to make sure we were ordering the correct part numbers that I wanted. The Assa-Abloy name and logo where everywhere in the "Sargent" catalog. And If I understand correctly Keso is part of that group as well? So might it be possible that the Sargent Keso uses the same technology as the original Swiss did? They told me it will be a few weeks for the locks to arrive. When they do I will be sure to document & post photos here.

I have seen something similar in the Assa-Abloy group where some of the Ikon padlocks have the exact same (and very distinctive) body as the Assa Ruko. So it seems that tech gets "shared" somehow among individual companies under the AA umbrella?

[Squelchtone]

gumptrick: based on the writings of Graham Pulford, our very own forum member Greyman, in his book High Security Mechanical Locks: An Encyclopedic Reference on page 116

he mentions a relationship in the 1960's between KESO and Sargent and some technologies being licensed for use. Eventually in 2001 Assa Abloy Group would end up owning both Sargent and KESO.

page from the book:
https://books.google.com/books?id=7m41LA8WsvUC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=sargent+keso+1965&source=bl&ots=FEB6eT8c4d&sig=jiiDLESRMcRU8YwMQJCi934O0Vk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV0Z_KlN7UAhUBUj4KHbBxD1kQ6AEISTAI#v=onepage&q=sargent%20keso%201965&f=false

hope this helps, and you should totally buy Graham's book! https://www.amazon.com/High-Security-Me ... 001AQB31S/

Squelchtone

[gumptrick]

Here's a post I made with some suggestions about dimple locks for practice.

Enjoy

Thank you! I found a couple posts on this board referring me to some suggestions you made, but I never could manage to find your original post that they were talking about!