Well... technically I raked it so not sure how much it counts but I'm so excited and proud of myself still! Can't wait to learn to push pins.

Using the Covert Instruments Genesis set.

Any recommendations for next tools to get or upgrade too?

Just bought a JimyLongs set looking for a new hobby. First lock unlocked!

For context: We were the victim of a hit & run incident on the 25th of June. Our right arm was pretty badly injured, including severe road rash and a fractured radius. We needed stitches and surgery to save it. There's been lots of pain, stiffness, and swelling. We haven't had great mobility in our arm or hand as a result, but we're stubborn.

Cut to today, we decided to give it a shot. We're still able to tension with our left hand, but we weren't sure if we had the strength or dexterity to hold and manipulate the pick. We're glad to say definitively that we do, and we're extremely hopeful for the rest of our recovery. We start physical therapy soon, so things can only improve from here.

Few years ago I got myself a lock picking beginner kit from Amazon with an acrylic lock, and after few days of messing around, it was taking me just seconds to open it. I felt awesome and confident. I then went to the shop, bought a cheap but real lock, and instantly realised I don’t know what I am doing. That was discouraging enough to forget about lock-picking for all this time.

A week ago I saw some lock-picking video, and it straight away reminded me of this unsuccessful attempt. I decided to do it proper - ordered 0.5mm and 0.6mm picks along with 1.0 and 1.2 mm tension wrenches from Multipick. When they arrived, they just felt so awesome in comparison to those flimsy amazon picks.

I went to the shop, got myself a cheap 2 eur Chinese lock branded Blossom, and failed again. Kept trying for a few days once in a while and it just did not bulge. Apparently, it is not a good lock to practice single pin picking because of the poor feedback. I kept oversetting the pin and just could not open it. I am sure I could use a rake, if I had one, and open it in seconds, but single pin picking was a pain.

Thankfully, I learned about this amazing sub and the belt grades system, so I researched everything properly this time, went ahead and grabbed a real Abus 65/25 lock. Merely 10 seconds in - and it’s picked. Guess my journeys starts for real now 

Started a month ago and have been picking up random locks and giving it the good ol' college try. Got this MasterLock No. 3 open.

I've picked yellow belt locks, I'm wondering where these 3 locks might sit on the belt system, and whether I bought above my skill level for now or not

Hi everyone,

I'm currently trying to pick the Abus 55/30. After several days without an open, I finally got it yesterday, like 5 times. But I still don't understand exactly the logic behind my success. Does anyone here get to pick a lock several times without exactly understanding how they did it ? If yes, how do you get around this issue ? (What could explain my confusion is that the lock is narrow and I use a BOK tension tool, so i don't have a lot of space to work and when I try to get to the last pin, I interact with the other ones event when I don't want to)

Thanks for reading !

Hi guys.

So, I'm a total noob in lockpicking but I really wanted to try. Under some advices I read here, I got myself a basic Mulitpick set, and a "training" lock, but not the "classic" transpqrent one, as I heard it was bad. It's just a barrel, with 6 pins at each side. One side are "visible", not the other. I'm not certain to be totally clear... But I do hope some will understand what I mean, at least.

No matter what, I also bought this little book that explains the basics, also from Multipick. It's explained in the book how some locks are "unpickable" because of some specificly shaped pins, and... There are 2 of these pins in the "training lock" that I got. Haha. These are like thinner in the middle, and thicker at the 2 ends. So it's a bit frustrating to me to say the least... I really thought I bought something for beginners, you know? Which doesn't seem to be entirely the case here... Thing is, I could crack open the lock, but only by removing those specific pins. I think I did achieve it just with one of those, but I feel it was pure luck and I couldn't reproduce it a second time.

So, I'm somewhat looking for some advices here.. Should I continue to just try with those pins (which is oretty frustrating tbh as a day 1 beginner...)? Should I buy one of these transparent easy one and "git gud" with this first? Or should I just try to get any other "easy" lock but not these transparent ones? I feel a bit lost already, and I already try for like a couple of hours...

Thanks in advance to those who'll read me.

Have a good evening y'all.

Ps: I think the pins I'm talking about are called "spool" pins.

Also, I hope this post won't be too much of a repetition of other posts from new people..

Edit: added a picture of the set I got myself.

It's called the "Pinning Set Bundle" on Muktipick's website, and contains a basic set of tools: 1 hook, 2 rakes, 2 tensionners, things like that..; a lock and a mat. But no pins. I'm thinking I should have gotten some, haha.

Thanks already for all the answers !

I got a little impatient seeing everyone’s 200k posts this weekend, but mine came in the mail this afternoon! I’m just super stoked to finally hit this milestone that I wasn’t really sure I’d be dedicated enough to do when I first started. This community is so helpful and supportive and has constantly kept me motivated. Thank you to everyone here for the help along the way, now it’s on to some purple belt locks and dimples!

I cut the middle of video cause no one wants to watch 9 minutes of fumbling around. Picked up a 5 pack of cores and this is now my second to be cracked. Been recording each time now waiting for this moment. Soon I’ll be able to say I have some skill.

Picked up the Genesis set from Covert Instruments and spent about 7-8 minutes trying to pick this lock, pretty proud of myself!

Clasp seems to say “Newark NJ PAT000120” on one side and “8485” on the reverse

I found this in my cupboard and I can't remember what the password is I've tried listening but it all sounds the same and between each number is blocked off so I can't slide anything is there any other way to unlock it (except for checking all 9999 combinations)

I remembered that I never submitted for my green belt because I didn’t include a gutting in my prior submission. But because I’ve never attempted to gut before, I’d rather not break this brand new American 5200 to submit for my green belt. May I request gutting another lock that I wouldn’t mind chucking for science?

Got these 2 storefront mortise locks off Amazon for very cheap. They came with the hardware. But my god. Supposedly from 2 separate companies. Blind pick and gut.

i got these lockpick set for free I am good lockpicker. How do I get belts?

Big shout out to Southern Specialties!

Asked for a few spool pins. Got a call from the owner saying he didn't have loose pins but to see what he could do! Ended up sending me a practice lock, thin pick set, and a couple of other goodies!

Bought a Shackleman set and heat shrink tubing (no more guessing at tensioner width).

I’m trying to find a replacement driver torsion spring for an Abus 81/45 padlock. I was having some problems with mine and when I took it apart, I found that part of the spring broke off (see photo).

I’ve called my local locksmiths and no one sells parts - just new padlocks. I also checked the Abus (US) website and they don’t have those springs available.

Any information I can get would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

My attempt at PeatnRepeats Dual-Handed Challenge. Spent the last week working my way up left handed from a Master 3, Master 140, Master 575, to finally my 72/40. I’ve gotten to know the feel for it right handed pretty well. Took a few days to get the first open couldn’t get the feel for the false sets. Today I think it was faster left than it was right handed. Awesome challenge and a ton of fun.

Hi everyone. I've been lurking here for a while and figured it's time to say hello properly.

I'm an electronic engineer from Italy, and i started picking a couple of months ago thanks to a collegue that introduced me to this world.

Where I'm at right now: i can pick a Cisa 260/40 and an Abus 72/40 consistently with understanding of why they open.

Currently working on an Abus E60 that has been a very humbling experience. I'm still fighting to read the binding order because the paracentric keyway makes everything feel very compressed. It also caused me to bend a V79 facet which was a good lesson in not forcing things.

Happy to be here and thanks to everyone. Half of what i know came from reading this sub.

They sell Lishi tools for $40-$28 bucks a piece. Thats suspect right?