IamA Locksmith, AMA!

What locks are unpickable or nearly unpickable?

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Thanks for the answers!

How does one learn to pick locks? For emergencies and such.

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When I looked into lockpicking someone from /r/lockpicking suggested that I should watch this youtube playlist and read this guide.

Ok, then what would be the best lock types to deter a low-medium skilled thief? So for an example scenario, no amazing expertise, no fancy tools, and they don't want to attract attention.

I've heard good things about disc tumbler locks, what do you think of those?

They're quite nice. But in reality, most breakers and enterers are going to break something rather than learn to pick locks. A back door window is sooo much easier and less noticeable than spending 20 minutes or an hour fiddling with a new lock.

A decent Schlage with a few security pins thrown in should be enough to deter a novice lockpicker. Just make sure that the rest of your house is also hard to get into. Or at least harder than your neighbor's house.

Assuming there are some, what kinds of locks can you not pick, and why?

Are you ever tempted to use your powers for evil, and do you?

There are several I can't pick, but I'm getting better all the time. Usually, it has to do with time constraints. But security pins and sidebars also give me trouble, along with not having the right tools for every situation.

I've been tempted, but I like my job way too much. And I like guns. I'd lose both if I aggro the law enforcement too much.

Have you ever met any other smith that was involved in a heist or was asked to join a heist and turned it down?

If so, story?

Thanks!

Edit: spelling

Nope. But I once sat around a campfire with a blacksmith and a gunsmith. It was a good evening.

That sounds like the opening to a good joke and an even better evening.

A gunsmith, a blacksmith and a locksmith walk into a bar. They don't say a darn thing, because they're all just happy to not have a know-it-all customer opening their mouth-hole at them for just a few minutes of the day. The end.

*Edit: Just kidding, customers. I love you! ^{Please keep paying me!}

Hello! I made a post a few months ago in /r/whatisthisthing, about some funny looking metal pieces my mom randomly bought on a flee market in Brussels.

One of the top comments was "Could possibly be some kind of old lock tumblers. Interesting stuff..."

Do you perhaps know what they could be? Or can you confirm they're lock tumblers maybe?

Looks like a very old locksmith's rekeyng kit for wafer locks. Cool find!

Awesome, thank you!

Sorry to ask, but do you have an estimate how old we're talking here? And do you (roughly) know how they were used? Like, why are there so many of them, wouldn't a few be enough to work with? Or is it just a big collection?

Sorry to be a pain in the ass, and if you have no idea, no worries! My mom's just curious...

No problem!

I have no idea how old it is. But a locksmith needs many of each size of pin or wafer, so that he can rekey (change which key works) locks. I keep dozens of each size I use on hand, and hundreds in stock at the shop.

When you rekey a lock, you take out the old wafers or pins (which correspond in size to the depth of the cuts on the key) and replace them with new ones that match the target key. Hope this helps!

what is yours and your boss's attitude towards lockpicking hobbyists.

I have personally run into too many locksmiths who dont like us.

My boss doesn't think there should be so much information out there about how locks work, and thinks there "oughtta be a law."

I think information wants to be free, and got my start as a lockpicking hobbyist. Security through obscurity is a dying market.

1-10, difficulty for you to *pick a lock?

edit: word

Depends on the lock. A lock of hair? 1. A vault lock in a bank? 10.

if you could only have sex with one lock for the rest of your life what lock would it be?

The Lock ^sic Ness Monster. I would give her an allowance of tree-fiddy.

I scanned through but didn't see this question (if it's already been asked, sorry about the repeat) but...How long on average does it take to go through the apprenticeship if that system is used or is your industry now more of a 'go to school/training' to become certified?

I didn't go through a true apprenticeship or anything like that. I knew lockpicking from my own hobby time and basic residential work from my time working in a home improvement store. My (current) boss needed someone who was really good at customer service, and could learn the rest. I was that guy.

Very lucky, honestly.

Nice, thank you for answering my question so quickly. Follow up - on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being very happy, how would you rate your job satisfaction and work/life balance?

4.5, most days. I still work for and with people, and I hate people. In general, that is.

I feel like your name should be /u/doors_cannot_stop_me_smee

I am still fully possessed of both hands. If I end up with a hook, I will change my username.

Have you ever been called to a job that you thought was suspicious but proceeded anyway?

A couple. If I get one of those, there is a long release form to fill out and we always have the option to call the police if the customer is lying about having proof in the house. I've never had to do that, though.

Why must I buy lockpick sets online as opposed to in a hardware store?

Many locales have laws governing the sale of lock picks (or "burglary tools" in general). Not to mention that (in the US) we are a litigious bunch and will sue over anything. Lowe's doesn't want John Doe suing them for providing picks to thieves. It's silly, but true.

When I was a kid, I was catsitting for a friend and locked the keys in the house—on the piano, in view from the front door window (d'oh!). My dad called a locksmith and he got us in so we could retrieve the keys. Good Guy Dad paid for the service, and we never mentioned it to the family I was catsitting for.

Question: Why the heck did that locksmith open somebody else's house for us? (uh, yep we're white)

Followups: As an industry, are there particular ethical standards locksmiths are bound to abide by? How liable are you if someone abuses your services?

It's often just a judgement call, but there are a few ways to mitigate the possibility of getting in trouble. We have "emergency forms" for our customers to fill out when they need something unlocked that isn't theirs. We check ID and they have to sign that they take full responsibility. In my state that is generally enough, but it always pays to be cautious.

As far as industry-wide standards go, I'm actually not sure. My boss has kind of left it at, "Don't be dumb." If a locksmith does something shady, they can lose their license or certification.

In my state, as long as we are reasonably certain that someone should be allowed access, we are generally covered.

Hope that answers your question.

What kind of locks should I put on my house?

In the US, Schlage are plenty good for residences. Kwikset are ok. Both are pickable, but theives rarely pick locks, preferring to instead smash windows. Get good windows.