US Army American padlocks

[Darek84CJ]

Hey guys. I recently bought an army truck to restor, and on it I found an American Brand Padlock, with US ARMY written on it. I cleaned it out real good to get rid of all the chunk and dirt, and I've spent the last hour trying to pick it with no luck. I think there are some mushroom pins, as if I picked the first 2 pins, and I go to pick the last one (4th or 5th dunno) i cannnot move it up. BUt if i start with the last pin I can move it up freely. Any tips anyone can give me? Is American padlocks way outa my league? I've never picked mushroom locks, right now my skill level is about 5 minutes to pick a schlage lock
Thanks
-Darek

[Darek84CJ]

BTW, I can pick Master locks (standard 4 pin) real easy.

I am using moderate to heavy pressure on this padlock.

[rakemaster]

I dont know if there's anything specail about ARMY padlocks but I got an an AMERCIAN padlock that I could never pick. Then I took it apart by unscrewing a little X screw under the shackel and the cylinder came out. (I had the key)

I took it apart and found out that the pins werent exactly mushrooms, they had little notches in them. I just found out this is called a serrated pin and they are SERIOUSLY hard to pick.

Maybe thats what you have too.

[Pheniox]

darek, i got the same thing from my lock I got in basic. I still can't pick it.

Anyways, from what I can tell, military issued locks are COMPLETLY anti-picking pinned, with mine having a mixture of pins and spools.

My thought with the last pin is a false sheerline has been hit, so your trying to push the last lock down onto a sheerline that isn't there.

ok, that didn't explain it at all.

The plug has turned JUST enough that the bottom pin is hitting the casing, not the top pin anymore.

don't know if that helps any.

[Necis]

Gah....I wish I woulda seen this post sooner..

I thought I had the hook up because Im in a room surounded with locks..

Guess what ther all that brand..No wounder I havent had any success.

Gonna roam the shops on base tomarrow I guess.

[CitySpider]

American padlocks have spool top pins and serrated bottom pins. I've taken apart quite a few; they've been my picking challenge du jour for like six months now. (Which means it's not exactly "du jour," but my French is... well, you've heard all of it).

[CitySpider]

Oh, and Necis,

The brass padlocks used by the army are different. These are chunky silver deals.