.:: Keypicking :: Anything And Everything For Locksmiths, Hobbyist Lock Pickers, Locksport, Lock Picking, lockpicks, cutaways and Security. Simply The Best Lockpicking Forum Around!

Hey guys,

So I'm about to order a Peterson Prybar and I figured I'd get a couple picks just to have (I make my own, never owned an actual set, but I think it'd be nice to have)
Anyway, I'm a bit confused on the types of picks they have.

I see people talking about Peterson short hooks, long hooks, etc.. but all I see is the Peterson Hook 1. Are all these people getting the Euro style picks? Should I be getting those despite picking american locks? Even the slender picks only have one hook (and the postal hook).

Ideally I'd like to get the Gem, a short and long hook (maybe medium as well?) and a diamond.

Also.. how much better is the government steel? I will probably just get the carbon steel ones for now, but I'm curious..

Thanks!

Decide whether you like your hooks with flat end or rounded end. That's a question of taste.
I got a very wise advice from farmerfreak and I think he suggested hook 1 and hook 8.
Eurstyle is strongly recommended for euros so it depends on what your needs are.
The slenders are for extremely restrictive keyways, they are very flexible so I woulnd't recommend them for general use.
If I were you I would get hook1 hook8 (according to farmer freaks's excellent advice) and A dental hook(=deforrest ) and a small half diamond.
But this is just my personal opinion:)


I'm not sure about the difference. If I were you I'd get the hooks in GSP since those will be the most used.

But I'm cutrious what other people see as a good set:)

"Government steel" is far stronger than their "Carbon Steel".

Get a hook, gem, slender hook, slender gem, diamond, slender diamond, DCAP diamond, DCAP hook, and both prybar tensioners. That is all you need from Peterson. The "Euro" style picks are non-tapered shanks. Try them out. I've never used one. The term "Euro" is really a horrible term. Its referring to exotic/restricted keyways which have nothing to do with Europe imo.

Over here in the UK we have locks in PVC doors and these are actually called euros...These picks are designed to get into those keyways easier which on the whole are usually tighter than other locks

Thanks guys.

I don't see any Hook 8 in their individual pick section.. I see 1-7 - am I blind?

Anyway, I think I will probably just start with the hook (HOOK 1), gem and diamond with the prybar lite (maybe also the regular prybar?).. mostly due to money.. if you had to narrow it down to those couple picks would there be any one you'd replace for another?

I'm still debating on even ordering any picks, mostly because I feel like I'm cheating myself because I love to make picks.. but I do want to see a professional one. And I don't want to just get the prybar lite for twice the price ($8 shipping)

I'm very indecisive haha

What is "Hook1" and "Hook8" are these part numbers from some catalogue? Sounds like HPC maybe?

If you're strapped for cash just get a prybar and a short hook.

That's how it's listed in their individual picks - http://www.peterson-international.com/picks.html

I'm totally biased, but the postal pick is one of the best things I ever bought. Most old timers here will tell you that I'm obsessed with using that pick. And even if you find it a little too tall, you could grind it down just a bit for good results. To me, it's something about the almost 90º curvature at the working end that really helps when attempting to isolate and lift single pin stacks. My $0.02. Good luck

Hey xeo, sorry to bug ya, but do you know if the "HOOK 1" listed on their individual pick page is a small hook? Really not sure why they're listed like that!

I love my Peterson gems. I much more prefer the dipped handles which they no longer make, primarily because they fit in my pick case much better.
Can't go wrong with any of their stuff really.

Would that be the "dipped carbon steel?" If so they sell those individually.. for some picks at least. Looks like they have a gem in dipped carbon steel.
Are there any photos of the dipped picks? I am a fan of the smaller/thinner handles

Correct, they did still have stock in the dipped gem last time I ordered.

The one for restricted keyways is the slender series with blue handles and the DCAP imo. The euro means only reduced shank height, which is probably called so because the common key-ways here are often lot more restrictive than the common keyways in the US. I mean some Kwicksets have almost straight keyways. In Europe the roomiest from the common ones is Yale 1.
They are not to supplement the US picks but to substitute them for European lockies. I for one don't use the normal peterson picks, they are uncomfortably big for the European keyways I meet.
If you are in the US it is better to buy the standard and supplement it with DCAP and slenders jsut as Xeo said.

So I think the usability of euros strongly depend of your place of origin:)



Haha no worries you will have to polish the petersons quite a bit Some come polished OK but others are surprisingly rough, almost wavey... :S

Sorry about the numbering. Xeo was right. I'm a member of a forum where they are referred to as their number from a specific site, I thought those numbers were the same everywhere:)
Anyway here's the site you can look for the names and numbers I mentioned:
http://www.multipick-service.com/htdocs ... lpicks.php
this is our common reference point since the pics are nice and the names are clear.

EDIT: the link doesn't work for some reason: here it si again:http://www.multipick-service.com/htdocs/en/werkzeug/peterson/einzelpicks.php

Ah ok thanks! So it looks like Hook Pick 8 is the Gem? Still a bit confused on which one is the short hook. There's only ONE hook listed in their individual picks, besides the ones in Euro style...

Hook1 looks like a short hook.
"Peterson Gem" is the gem.

Also,

Diamond Pick - DCAP
HOOK 1 DCAP

... are both excellent.