r/lockpicking

So I’m not a moderator or anything, but I wanted to post a caution to members of this community.

Not long ago someone posted a photo of a Knox lock and its key that they had supposedly found laying around. Several members warned them that keeping that lock and key was a bad idea and that it should be returned to the nearest fire station. That person deleted the post and — supposedly — kept the lock.

I am a career firefighter with extensive knowledge and experience with Knox products, including their padlocks and boxes. A warning to anyone who finds one: Knox locks and especially keys are closely monitored and tracked by the Fire Marshal’s office in each city. Fire Marshals are firefighters with law‑enforcement authority; they have the powers of a police officer.

While owning a Knox lock obtained through legal, authorized means is not illegal, unauthorized possession or use of a Knox lock, box, or key is illegal and can lead to serious legal consequences depending on local law. A missing key is an extremely big deal — it’s usually noticed and logged quickly, and an extensive search will follow.

Our system requires all keys to be stored in a safe that only authorized personnel can access; each person has a unique code. Every time a key is removed, the time, who removed it, how long it was out, and when it was returned are all logged. Always. 24/7. 365 days a year.

If you find a Knox‑branded lock or — especially — a key, please do the right thing: take it to your nearest fire station or police precinct immediately. If a key falls into the wrong hands it can cause significant harm. The person who lost the key may face disciplinary action up to termination, the city will be on high alert, and every Knox box and lock in the city may need to be rekeyed — costing taxpayers a great deal of money.

I hope this conveys the seriousness of the issue. It’s not a laughing matter. I love this community and how most members are honest and kind — I hope this helps keep it that way. Thank you for letting me be part of it.

I really don't consider myself a very good lockpicker. Objectively I am - I managed a Paclock 90A-PRO, I have a blue belt flair, one time I picked four A1100s in one session (including two that were brand new and I blind picked, without looking at the keys) to try and get myself out of this mindset. I don't think that I'm good, though. I struggle with or just can't pick a lot of the locks I've collected, including some that I really shouldn't be (I have a Master 570 that I find a pain in the arse, and a five-pin HeHe dimple padlock that I just can't get open at all), and when I try going back to those I can't help but feel I'm not that good and the difficult locks were just flukes. Does anybody else get this feeling?

So I'm training for the green belt and I'm looking at plug followers and I'm wondering what makes them $20 and up I've seen people not use them but I'm not looking to ruin a lock by losing a tiny part so I'm asking what everyone thinks about plug followers ya or na? And is there more to meets the eye cuz it looks like something I can make easily

I tried sparrows, but they're so thin they kill my fingers.

Not doing anything serious, just master locks and basic things, but looking for a good universally comfortable in the hand set, that isn't going to break the bank.

One lock I'm trying is the masterlock #40 round one, which has been a pita.

There's so many sets out there, so was hoping I can get a decent recco from you guys.

Thanks in advance.

I'm wondering where you guys buy and sell locks. I'm not having luck getting replies on the lpu app. Is there a better site or app for this. Located in the US if that helps. Thanks!

Hello,

as the title says, I want to get started on lockpicking, as I’ve always found it to be really interesting. Despite that, I’ve never really looked into it until I’ve stumbled upon this subreddit and now I want to try it more than ever.

Truly any advice on how to get started, any beginner kits or locks would be of great help!

Idk if it’s really important but I’m from Europe (in case lock accessibility differs from America)

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Hey, I’m thinking about trying lockpicking to see if I actually enjoy it (and if I have the patience for it), so I don’t want to spend too much money right away.

I’ve done a bit of research and found the MIT guide, but I’m still kinda lost when it comes to what tools i should buy and where to get them. i found Mok-workshop from other reddit posts.

So I wanted to ask:

What should I get as a complete beginner?

Is €30–40 enough to start, or should I spend a bit more from the beginning?

Also, I’ve seen people talk about different “tiers” of locks, but I don’t really understand which is which or with which one I should start.

Any tips or recommendations would be really appreciated. Thanks! And i am from Slovakia