Agency pick gun made for the CIA

[vector40]

Are these still actively issued and used, Rom, or are they legacy gear now?

[Romstar]

To the best of my knowledge, a modified version is still used in the field. Mostly it consists of improved batteries, a better motor and more tension heads.

There is also a unique version that can pick Medeco and Emhart, however I can't provide information on it's construction.

However, like many other governmental agencies they frequently tender to outside contractors and thusly often have commercial equipment in the field.

Romstar

[silent]

Where the h*** could you buy a motor that small?

[Chucklz]

Probably from the same folks that the pager companies buy their motors from. I suggest a careful honing of your google-fu.

[silent]

my google fu is strong, my brain fu was jammed due to cold medicine

[Romstar]

Ya know, you would be amazed at the type of electric motors that they use for slot cars, and RC cars and other types of models.

Very good, high speed, or high torque motors.

Then there are these really great batteries. Small, deep cycle, high amperage lithium ion rechargables. Amazing things.

Gear sets in teflon, nylon, and a host of other composites help to reduce sound and vibration in the unit.

Just amazing the things you can find at surplus stores, and hobby suppliers, and electronics suppliers.

Oh, and cases, can't forget the housing. Check out some of the great project boxes you can buy. Just the right size to hold a motor, batteries, some gears and wires......

Mix the ingedients together with a liberal helping of creativity and determination and you might just get something very interesting.

Romstar

[silent]

I found 5 volt beeper motors, 20 bucks to

[gnoff]

in theory you could just weld a tension wrench (straighted of course), cut it down to about 1/2 as far as the pick would go, and then turn the gun as you pick the lock. this would only work on locks that had the pins upright, and you would have to bend the tension wrench to be vertically even to the pick, but it could be done.

[mcm757207]

Or hook the blade of a tension wrench up to a very light spring so it automaticly applies tension without you having to turn the whole unit.

[NDE Manipulation]

By the way, just for the totality of the discussion, the CIA actually did have in inventory the classic, Plain Jane, Majestic Lock-Aid Pick Gun and probably still does.

I think I know the electric one you are speaking about though, can anyone shed some light on the tension tool? The one in one of Melton's books took a folding turning tool.

[Romstar]

The tension tools for the "agency" pick gun actually clipped to the front of the unit.

There were several different tension tools.

Romstar

[NDE Manipulation]

And this is the electric pick gun in Melton's book?

[raimundo]

I think spooks from 15 US agencies and the british aussie, canadian israeli russian and just about every spook technical service agency watches this site to see if something new comes up and also to recruit talent. I know military intelligence of the us army is here. 905MI battalion out of fort detrick maryland or some such.

[NDE Manipulation]

Define, "recruit talent" please.

[Romstar]

Define, "recruit talent" please.

Use your imagination, and then tone it down about 20 steps.

Real intelligence work isn't very much like James Bond. You spend more time reading paperwork, sitting in front of a computer, hurting your eyes looking at blury photographs, and doing interviews then you do out in the field.

Lets not even talk about the classroom time either.

Lack of recognition, bad pay, and stress are the common factors that lead many people to seek employment in the private sector. You really have to want to serve and be able to take somthing away from knowing that you did a good job. Even if you have done something spectacular, often nobody will ever know about it.

There is still room for active field agents, but you had better hope you have a talent for laguages or some other special skills. The 21st century intelligence operative is quite different from his cold war counterpart.

One of the best skills to cultivate is pattern recognition. Believe it or not, you can learn a great deal about a subject, or an objective simply by observing the patterns that exist in movements, habits, work schedules, and personal likes and dislikes.

At any rate, that's a discussion for another time. As for recruitment, most agencies have talent spotters in major universities, and a variety of other places.

Cheers,
Romstar