What have you picked today

[WestCoastPicks]

ASSA RUKO 3 padlock
Edit: tinypic decided to replace the first picture with something else entirely, WTF?

Got this one without a key or any other information about the core at all. Apparently the neighbor of a friend had locked up a storage shed with it and lost the key. Luckily he mauled the thing it was attached to instead of ruining the lock/shackle (in fact, it came with a bit of metal from the door still attached to the shackle).

Unsure what's in it - behaves a lot like serrated pins and little to no counter-rotation. Edit: Turns out it is indeed serrated pins, two to three serrations each. Is this really an ASSA core?

It's been sitting in my collection unpicked for far, far too long. Haven't even made an effort in a long time but figured yesterday I should give it a go now that I have more experience with serrated pins.
Tricky part was working with the nasty warding and not oversetting pins during the last segment of the picking (latter made worse by the former since constantly touching the warding really dulls the feel of the pins). Had to find just the right level of tension.

Not sure if it is an ASSA core, but I can tell you mine has an ASSA twin core in it. I'm sure that's how the 3 came, so I'm doubtful that's the stock core. But then again, what do I know? lol

The ASSA padlocks come with a variety of cores available. That is most likely a factory core, but not a Twin.

Gordon

Good to know Gordon! Told you I didn't know anything lol!

[GWiens2001]

You know plenty. I just have more experience with locks.

Gordon

[Patrick Star]

The ASSA padlocks come with a variety of cores available. That is most likely a factory core, but not a Twin.
Gordon

It's just that
1. I don't associate serrated pins and this kind of profile with ASSA. Possible of course, there are lots of ASSAs . More like Alfa/GeGe?
2. The description for stock ASSA Ruko 3 padlocks speak about "special security pins with wings" (and I thought only lady pads were marketed as having wings!). Sounds a lot like ASSA mushroom-cloud pins. Or maybe the d12 pins.
3. It was a really sloppy job... no caps on the pin stacks (despite them having threading to screw caps on) so when I pulled out the core the springs came flying. Smells "guy who couldn't find caps" to me, not factory pinning. Now the core is re-springed and capped nicely though!

Edit: So, I looked it up again. These are the options that I can find for factory ASSA Ruko 3 cores:
http://www.assa.co.uk/en/site/assacouk/products/cylinders--key-systems/assa-p600/ 6 pins, speaks of the special security pins "with wings"
http://www.assa.co.uk/en/site/assacouk/products/cylinders--key-systems/assa-4800/padlocks---class-3/ 6 pins, "incorporating anti-picking features"
plus some that are obviously Twins.
This had space for 7 pin stacks but only came with 6. Could be the latter of the two, perhaps, possibly...? (Isn't 4800 Twin as well? Or is there an ASSA 4800 as well as ASSA Twin 4800?)

[otcmx]

Sorry, my name is Eric and I'm new here. I saw there are so many threads in this forum that I don't exactly know my questions belong to which particular thread.
It's so fascinating that there are so many people interested in this skill set and I was surprised to find so many community forums discussing this subject of lock picking. And I think that it would be very useful to learn this skill.
The picture of the door lock is like this image.

What exactly are you asking? And what door?

If you want to learn how to pick. You should first learn a few rules to keep yourself and everybody else safe.

1 do not pick a lock you do not own or have the owners permission to pick. This includes confirming the owners identity.

2. Do not pick locks that are in use. I.E door locks installed in a functioning door. There is a chance you will screw the lock up, and not even be able to use the key on it.

I suggest getting a few low cost padlocks just for picking. And a cheap starter set from southord. Watch a bunch of bosnian bill videos on YouTube and spend hours picking those padlocks you bought just for picking.

Yes I totally understand your concern. It's the storage door in my house and I have lost the key to the door. So I'm thinking of picking it myself at the same time learning the skill. Sorry, just out of curiosity, is it that difficult to learn the skill that people needs to practice is over and over?

Give it a try and find out. I'm telling you right now, it is literally impossible to learn how to pick locks by picking just one lock. There are thousands of different locks, different keyways, different pins, pin configurations, pin spacing and sizing, spring pressures, core tension and many other things you need to learn before you could even think of calling yourself skilled. It is equivalent of badly strumming one easy chord on a guitar, and then thinking you're skilled at it.

Like anything else, you don't get to call yourself a skilled anything unless you're actually skilled at it. How are you going to become skilled at something without putting in time and practice? Are you skilled if you've got good at opening your one door lock (one of the easiest locks to pick) but can't open a simple master lock that has a few spool pins? Or an American with serrated pins? Or a wild ass keyway that you can't fit your pick in to? No, you're not.

I know of nothing in the world a person can become skilled without spending time learning and practicing. So yes, like any other skill in the world, you have to practice over and over.

Again, I stress: Do not pick on your doors or other locks that are currently in use. Even that one you don't have a key for. If you have time, work up the skill before you try picking it. If you don't have the time, call a locksmith. You picking it green might work, but you might also screw the lock up so that even a skilled person couldn't pick it.
If you honestly want to learn, regardless of that door you can't open, you're going to have to practice. No way around that. If you just want to get that door open (I'm thinking that's the case since you seem to have your mind set on it even after being told it's not a good Idea generally and against the community guidelines) call a locksmith.

Thanks for the advice. Yes I think I will get a locksmith to open it. But since I'm here, would love to learn the skill set. What recommended tools that I should buy? And what should I practice it on?

[HT4]

Kaba Peaks Control. Anyone know where to get blanks? Have just operating key.

GREAT JOB! I should have thought of this before, but I have a few extra peaks pre-cuts in that keyway that don't fit any lock I have. Do you want me to send a few your way so you can have someone re-pin it (so you have control and operating keys)?

[Papa Gleb]

I also have a kaba peaks SFIC without keys so let me know if you find blanks because my keyway looks very similar to yours if not the same.

HT, that peaks kik you sent, that key does not fit the SFIC, its too big. Apparently SFIC peaks take a smaller key. smaller not in lenght but height so rather shorter than smaller.

[HT4]

I also have a kaba peaks SFIC without keys so let me know if you find blanks because my keyway looks very similar to yours if not the same.

HT, that peaks kik you sent, that key does not fit the SFIC, its too big. Apparently SFIC peaks take a smaller key. smaller not in lenght but height so rather shorter than smaller.

Interesting... The peaks that I sent JH used the exact same key as the one I recently sent you. Same keyway, same operating bitting.

[Micke West]

Abus 90/50 Stainless Steel

[WestCoastPicks]

Thanks for the advice. Yes I think I will get a locksmith to open it. But since I'm here, would love to learn the skill set. What recommended tools that I should buy? And what should I practice it on?

I would suggest sparrows or southord. Any starter set. Mainly you will need hooks. A short and a medium hook are the two most common picks used. As for locks, start on easy locks like master, and the cheapest deadbolt you can find. After you get better, work up to brand name locks like american or abus.

I suggest watching some youtube videos on how to pick locks. Bosnian bill has a great series.

[tpark]

IMG_2046.JPG

I'd used the ball pck to open this one, but Riyame told me that the snowman was for this, and it worked well!

[just1pick+open]

Tried to spp for a long time and then 2 days ago I stuck in one of those shitty peterson bogota knock offs, and it popped right open. No play in the rotation at all.

[Neilau]

Tried to spp for a long time and then 2 days ago I stuck in one of those shitty peterson bogota knock offs, and it popped right open. No play in the rotation at all.

Hats off to Ri.

Sometimes it just feels like cheating.

[DroppedTensionWrench]

Kaba Peaks Control. Anyone know where to get blanks? Have just operating key.

GREAT JOB! I should have thought of this before, but I have a few extra peaks pre-cuts in that keyway that don't fit any lock I have. Do you want me to send a few your way so you can have someone re-pin it (so you have control and operating keys)?

Sorry this slipped by me. Jeff Moss currently has the core and is checking on blanks. Stubborn lock!

[femurat]

I don't always have time to play with locks, but when I do, I'm very happy!

Cheers

[Patrick Star]

Schlage Everest


"Pin-wise" much easier than good european locks (or the few good american ones), but still not THAT easy... tricky profile!
Though looks more intimidating with that sharp bend than it actually is. Could get bad with trickier bitting I suppose.

PS. Don't dare copy my patented Schlage Everest Side Pin Setting Tool!