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This was the first lock I ever picked:



When it was first made in 1985 it cost $115 or so. They can still be found on Ebay for around $60, such as the one in the photo here.

That's a Hell of a cherry popper if I say so myself. Since then I've dialed it back and had some trials and tribulations with simpler locks, but that was my first ever pick. It took me about two to three hours to pick it the first time. Then I picked it a second time after about another 3 hours. I haven't really messed with it since because it's clearly over my head and I probably only got it on good fortune, but I have it none the less.

I've taken the other lock (there are two locks for this set) and dropped it down to three pins. I can get that one in ten seconds. I'll be adding a fourth pin tomorrow I think and seeing if I can work my way up to the full five.

Anyway, that's my virgin lock. My "cherry pick."

Neat thread idea. Thanks for making it.

My first was two days ago when I went to Lowe's and bought a couple locks after receiving my Klom pick set in the mail straight from China. It felt good to pop it open but it was surprisingly easy. I've since bought a sampling of locks from Walmart and one more from Lowe's that I've been practicing with. I've also ordered a sampling of American Locks off of ebay to practice with. Here's a shot of my first pick and a shot of what I'll refer to as my "Walmart collection" since thats where most of them are from .


My First Pick


The "Walmart Collection"

those brinks locks a really good for beginner spools they give you a good feel for them.

Those are the only ones I haven't managed to open yet Ah well, more practice for me. Though, the Master Professional M-1 for whatever reason gives me a hard time as well. I've only gotten it three times and can't consistently or quickly open it.

pick that M-1 in the opposite direction and it will or should pick easier. Once you get the hang of Master, you will be embarrassed you ever had a problem with them!

My first pick. Took me hours lol. But I'll get there

Congrats, Crash!

Believe it or not, they all get easier from here on out in terms of learning curve. Execution is probably harder, but the learning curve is easier.

Once you have the basics down it becomes easier to engage each subsequent lock. That's not to say all the learning is done - not by any stretch - but just having the basics down will help a ton.

I recommend getting know that lock so well you think it's part of your soul. It will help to have as much knowledge about that one lock as possible moving forward so that you have a basis for all others to build on.

If you used a hook (which it appears you did), do it ten more times.
Then use a diamond.
Then use a snake (but still SPP it - so you can learn how this pick feels and how different a different pick can feel).
Then if you've used clockwise tension, switch to counter-clock wise and repeat.
Then if you hold the lock right-side up, turn it up-side down and do it all again.

Penetrate that lock like your prom date. Every way and means imaginable. That's my honest advice. Wear that fucker out - pick the piss out of it. The insights you gain as you get more intimate knowledge of it will help immensely moving forward.

Take your major victory and build off of it so that all your future victories come easier. The locks only get harder from here on out (mostly). You'll be glad you did it when all is said and done. This is your chance to build a very elaborate knowledge base of locks right at the start so that you're not struggling with it later. I think the best favor I ever did for myself in terms of picking was picking the same lock so many times and so many ways that I can now pick almost any non-security pinned master lock I encounter in under 20 seconds. All because of how often I popped that one lock, and all the different ways I learned to do it.

It's up to you of course, but that's what I'd tell you if you were my little brother.

I want to see exploding fingers... I don't see exploding fingers...

Does this count?

Strictly speaking not my very first pick (I don't actually remember that ) but my first pick after a very long absence from locksport (I am happy to count myself as a noob now) is the Lockwood 201 cylinder:



The Lockwood 200 series are ubiquitous in Australia, they are as common in Australian houses as Kwikset and Schlage are in North American houses. They are 5-pinned without any anti-pick pins or other security features. I don't know how they compare in quality or pickability to Kwikset and Schlage (I have ordered some Kwikset and Schlage cylinders off of ebay so hope to be able to compare soon). I can compare them to Masterlock #1, #2 and #3 and they are harder to pick than those but not much more. The 200 series are probably a good second lock to pick for Australian lockpsort beginners. They retail for about A$10-15 per piece. There are many copies of these with the same keyway (LW4 in the SIlca key blank directory) and these are even cheaper and easier to pick.

I picked this with a SouthOrd standard short hook and a stiff z-shaped wrench.

This was my first pick, a Master 140. I contains security pins, 3 spools and a weak serrated pin.

I had no clue what type of pins it contained when I picked it up. I tried for a few minutes with moderate tension, and having no luck whatsoever, I eased up and it popped right open. The first time I picked it, it took me about five minutes. I can do it in ten seconds consistently at this point. I know how this lock behaves now, so picking it is an easy job.

Here is a picture of the lock, and the tools I used:

This is the first padlock I picked, Master No.3. Picked with my very ghetto home brew pick, before I even looked at a real pick, lol. I used a set of tweezers as a tension wrench.

Ok,not my first pick,really,but my first dimple lock ever.



Cisa 6-pin 0E301:




sorry for going off-topic,but are these pins barrel top pins? Never seen any since today

The first Lock I picked. Well, let me give you some back story first. I have always been interested in lock picking. Once, when I was about 6 years old, I just out of the blue looked at a lock and wanted to pick it. I stuck a paper clip in my garage door deadbolt and wiggled it around for a while. I got bored, and went to go play in the tree-house or something. The next experience I had was when I was 13. My friend was locked out of his house and called to see if I could pick locks. Now, I knew I couldn't pick it, but I was always very good at getting into things. So I went over anyway. Pretending Like I knew what I was doing, I peered into the keyhole. "Nope, But I'll find another way in." So after 15 minutes of screwing around with his window (almost got it), the impatient lad got angry. He said and I quote
"Kick this Fucking Door In!" So the door came crashing down and I went home. The next time I had a lock picking encounter was when I was 15. My friend had lock picks, the first real lock picks I ever held. I was astonished. He told me "Turn this that way, and push and pull with this" It was some deadbolt. Never got it open. Good thing too. Anyway, next I was 17. This was It. My whole life I had been fascinated by spies, FBI, CIA, Green Berets, Navy SEALS, Matt Damon in the Bourne Identity, and Special Agent Fox Mulder in the X-Files. Basically, I was fascinated with covert operations, and the ability to go where others fear to tread. Including behind locked doors. I looked at lock picking as a mandatory skill of the secret agent. Another one of his tools in the art of stealth, infiltration, and deception. So I decided, this is it, I will become one of the few trained in the art. It will make me a God among mortals. So I went on YouTube and watched a couple videos (So Anti-Climactic!). I got a good grasp of the mechanics. I then found and old, crappy, made in china, generic 40mm padlock with no company markings. You know the one. Then I went and made a tension wrench out of a uni-ball pen clip and got a safety pin for a lock pick. I applied slight tension, and used a jiggling motion with my "pick". (I still use that method instead of raking). It didn't open. I did that for over an hour. I lost all hope. Then, POP! "Huzzah!" (I didn't really say that). Turns out the lock had something wrong with one of the springs or something. It was Just so cheap and shitty, that it was actually hard to pick. However I didn't know that at the time. Well, anyway, I went and bought a Master Lock to see if all locks were so pick resistant (LOL). I tried it, and boom the master opened instantly. That started my picking. Well, my raking, or should I say jiggling. I didn't REALLY learn to pick before I came to "keypicking.com". Wow.This is turning into an endorsement/advertisement/success story. I'm The_Doctor and I approve this message.

Sorry for running so long. Its 4:56 am I have nothing better to do. Anyway, I think you all know of the "made in china 40mm piece of shit no-name lock" I am talking about, but I will try to get a picture posted later. Until Then, Later! Good Pickings!