Robert, I can see you're doing well for being so new. Are you a 'smith or did you just know to lurk around and read a bit before saying anything?
If you want picks then definately check out some of Peterson's 'Just Picks', which can be had for $16-18 (VERY cheap considering the outstanding quality, and really good assortment of picks--3 hooks in a kit with 7 picks is awesome considering a lot of 13-32 piece kits will come with only 1 or 2 hooks
) from...
Lockpicks.com
or
Unlockables.com
I've got a Majestic hook--Majestic seems like pretty good quality, and several people on here use and like them. I've heard almost all good things about HPC, and a lot of guys on here say HPC is their favorite manufactured picks, so you can always try out a set from them--the novice and deluxe set can both be gotten for $20-50 from...
Lock-Depot
or
Locksmtih Tool and Supply
All of the above shouldn't have any problem selling to you, locksmith or not, and I've never heard anything bad on here about any of them (lockpicks.com is definately good to go as myself and a LOT of other people on here order from them
; they just need to add a little onto their inventory, mainly they're a bit short of HPC stuff).
I do have to say that I definately prefer quality spring steel to stainless, which some people will agree with but most will say it doesn't matter, so whatever floats your boat.
Oh, and if you really want my opinion on what the most productive thing to do would be (assuming you really don't want to make your own, as you said), then I would get a quality BASIC pickset from HPC, Peterson, LAB, or Majestic, a cut-away lock and some security pins from Varjeal, a practice board, and a dozen or so locks off of EBay, and you should actually have $50-100 left over, too.
"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though."
Elton John
