Manipulation dark arts
https://mbausa.com/safe-lock-manipulation/
Now here's the thing: A lot of the stuff on the list is very well known in the hobbyist community. But about halfway down the course outline I sat up very straight indeed.
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Course Description:
The ability to open a safe without drilling or damage of any kind is the crowning achievement for the professional Safe Technician. Learn how to open U.L. listed Group 2 combination locks through the use of touch, sight, sound, and mind in this ground breaking class. Forget about graphs and complicated dialing sequences. This class enables you to understand the lock in a way few people do. The result is the ability to understand exactly what is happening inside the lock at any time.
In addition to Group 2 locks, we also cover techniques for some Group 1 locks, as well as the basics of straight tailpiece manipulation.
Note: The student should have a very good understanding of safe lock basics before taking this class. You should already be completely comfortable with dialing and changing combinations before enrolling.
The following is covered in detail:
Review of wheel action.
Determining the number of wheels in a lock.
Determining dialing sequence.
How to quickly open any 3 wheel lock where only 2 of the numbers are known - without knowing how to manipulate!
How to open a combination lock without ever counting a single turn of the dial
How to determine the combination of a lock through "back dialing"
How to detect small differences in contact point variation - without graphs or magnifiers.
How to determine which wheel is "reading".
Tips that will increase your opening success rate
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No counting wheels? "Back dialing"? Some trick to know which wheel is indicating?
What do these chaps know that we don't? In all honesty, I know one or two shortcuts and one or two alternate methods of doing things. But when you boil it all down, I still take contact reading right round the wheelpack, hi/lo test, rinse and repeat. Does anyone know what tricks are being taught here? I'd love to know what you think guys.
Michael.