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I recently pulled out a Master Lock no.3 that I got when I started picking. To my amazement I couldn't get it opened. The key worked fine but for the life of me I couldn’t pick it past 3 set pins. That last pin wouldn't budge. I tried varying tension and forcing the pick with way more than should be needed. It just wouldn't open. Two days of trying and I started to doubt myself.

I went back and tried the locks I'd been working with and can pick them just fine. A practice lock ( 5 pins), Best practice lock (5 pins), and some other 5 pin deadbolts and mortise locks. Then I went out and bought a new no.3. No problem opened quick as it should. So now I felt better. I looked closely at the old one and noticed some marks in the keyway:



While I don't think that's what is keeping me from picking it it does make me think there's more wrong inside from my early days when I was mashing on pins. I was looking for some opinions on this lock and wondering if something similar has happened to anyone else.

Have you tried a bit of lube. Work it in with the key.

Has helped me a couple of times.

Just a thought.

Not yet. I was gonna hit it with some brake clean and the lube and see if it clears out what I think is some brass shavings hanging up in there.

Have you tried picking it in the other direction maybe? Counter-clockwise?

Not yet. I am gonna try that when I get home tomorrow.

I had the exact same thing happen with my master no. 3, i got good with picking the higher security locks like americans and abus, tried going back to my old master and i couldnt do it, tried using the key and it bound up and got jammed, was able to force the key out and the lock seems to work now, still cant pick it though

Frustrating when something that should be easy, isn't.

But for me this time persistence paid off. I got that bugger open tonight again multiple times. It must have some burrs in it now as I have to really watch the tension and wiggle the pins when I go to set them with a half diamond.


The good thing about all this (other than getting it open) is that I feel I've learned a lot more sense of touch and what's going on in my locks.

Even after I couldn't do my number three I found my problem to be since I was going back to it after doing higher security locks like abus and American locks, my touch was too light on the crude tolerances of the master, ive noticed they seem to require fairly heavy tension,

Opposite for me on this one. Now I have to use lighter tension and vary it slightly per pin. Used to be heavy tension and press a binder , now I have to finesse that Master open.