Since I get asked a lot about how I got into lockpicking, I figured I'd make a big ol' post about it.
Well, I have the nerdiest backstory for this skill.
So without further ado...
First, the setup:
I helped make 5th Ed. D&D.
I regularly played in a campaign with friends.
I often played some sort of lovable rogue.
I also roll natural 1s *way* too often.
This became a running joke in-game.
Next, the inciting event:
One day, after rolling a natural 1 and failing to pick a lock on a chest, setting off a trap, and then getting taken to death's door by said trap, I decided I was going to figure out how hard it would be to do IRL (with modern locks and homemade tools, which I figured would be *way* more difficult than medieval locks).
So, after game, I drove home, grabbed my kid, and said we're going to the hardware store for SCIENCE!
Now, somewhere in the back of my head was the notion that street sweeper bristles were suitable for making lockpicks (probably from reading the Anarchist's Cookbook, Poor Man's James Bond, or something like that as a little kid). So we looked in the gutters along our walk to the hardware store and managed to find two bristles by the time we got there. I bought like $50 worth of assorted locks, and we walked home.
Once home, I watched a YouTube video just to see what the tools they were using looked like, and then found a small file and some pliers, and made a simple lockpick and turning tool. Then I set to figuring out what the heck I was doing through trial and error.
By the end of the night, I'd opened all of the locks I bought (at least once), and I had my answerโa professional rogue with decent tools should succeed at picking most common medieval locks about as often as they succeed at tying their shoes.
Unbeknownst to me, I'd rolled my own natural 1 on my save vs. falling down the rabbit hole. So now, a decade later, I've taught at conferences, placed in tournaments, been sponsored by a security company, created (and eventually deleted) my own locksport YouTube channel, and have hundreds of locks in my bedroom. Over the years, I branched out to all sorts of locksport-adjacent skills, but picking is still my favorite, and I regularly teach new folx how to pick locks and improvise tools.
So that's it. That's how being a total nerd led me to discover what turned out to be one of my biggest passions in lifeโdefeating other folx' security for fun.
Pictured: (left) my first turning tool, (right) my first lockpick.
#DnD #DIY #Locksport #OriginStory
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๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ)
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •The next most common question I get is "how do I get started?"
So...
redteamtools.com/learn-about-lโฆ
At about $125, it's a solid kit with everything you need to go from absolute beginner to moderately skilled picker (you'll want to acquire more locks eventually, but those'll cover you for a while).
The book, written by my friend, and all around great guy, @deviantollam is really good. There are a few typos in the foreword, but all the info, diagrams, explanations, and topics covered are excellent. Highly recommend.
Also, if you happen to be in or around the Seattle area and want hands-on with me, I'd be happy to teach you. Just reach out to me on Signal and we'll find a time ๐
#LearnLockpicking
Learn About Lockpicking Kit
Red Team ToolsShannon Prickett reshared this.
Weird Socks
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Are CORMAX locks more challenging to pick than ordinary retail padlocks or do institutions buy them purely because the cores can be swapped?
Deviant Ollam
in reply to Weird Socks • • •@ohmu Principally, the uniqueness of Cormax has to do with their proprietary keyways and trying to make it more challenging for people to make unauthorized copies of keys.
Yes, there are a challenge to pick. But that's mostly due to the fact that they are an IC core system with multiple shear lines. (Plus the addition of some extra teeny element way in the back of the cylinder)
If you consider a conventional BEST SFIC to be maybe a 6 out of 10, I would call this a seven or 8.
Max M.
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •@deviantollam
Daniel A Johansson
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •@deviantollam i have looked at that kit a couple of times but one thing has stopped me so far and I thought now that I could ask here if anybody can help me with it.
I live in Sweden, does anyone know if there are big differences between locks in the US and locks in Europe/Sweden?
I want to be relatively sure that what I learn can be used in my area as well and not only if I go to the US.
Martin Marconcini
in reply to Daniel A Johansson • • •@Daj @deviantollam
I bought it last month.
Costs (For Europeans):
Kit/Book: โฌ156,02 (incl. Shipping to the Netherlands via UPS -the default option-)
Tax: โฌ40,59
Total: โฌ196,61
Twotired
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Can I assume you know about Steve Hamiltonโs novel The Lock Artist?
acb
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Jonathan Lamothe
in reply to acb • •@acb @Deviant Ollam I do not have anywhere near @๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ)'s experience, but I started off with this kit. It's not in the EU, but it does ship from Canada, so you at least wouldn't need to deal with US customs.
Note: we're having rotating postal strikes here, so maybe don't go with the Canada Post shipping option.
๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) likes this.
Eemon
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •What's your favorite 5e class? Personally I like druids.
Editing to say I realize you answered my question in your post. I should learn to read.
David Croyle
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Sarah Sammis
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •diana ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ๐ฆ๐ฑ
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Chris Mills
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •I recall finding the most impressive goldmine of sweeper bristles ever back in Somerville, MA - an entire sweeper head had come off and was lying in the gutter. Hundreds of potential tools lying amongst the autumn leaves.
It was too big and pokey to try and haul home, but it looks like it would be very useful for making lots of fun things.
David P
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ "not yet begun to fight"
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Alex von Kitchen
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •(/bladesmith that likes playing fighters)
Jonathan Lamothe
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • •like this
pockets, Hugs4friends โพ๐บ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ธ๐ท and ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) like this.
Longspeak
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •"I helped make 5th Ed. D&D."
I love you. You've helped make life fun for the last seven years.
Jonathan Lamothe likes this.
Sarah Sammis
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Justin Macleod
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •D Willobeck
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Momo
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •This story is beautiful, thank you for sharing with us. And yes, as someone who played pen&paper rpgs for like 30 years now I can absolutely relate to that thought process. Now I have two things left to so.
1) I need to share this with some buddys of mine who play rpgs with me. They will love it, too!
2) I think I need a few locks, a spanner and some picks...
Jennifer๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •That is such an awesomely cool backstory for your skill!
Somehow I already had the feeling that DnD was most probably involved at some point. ๐
Sashin
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •๐๐ท๐ญ๐๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฎ ๐ค
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Fun fact: Those locks on steamer trunks can be easily opened using the fish-scaler on a Swiss Army knife.
The end of the fish-scaler is shaped just like the key for those. You aren't even picking the lock, it's just like using the key.
@alice
crazyeddie
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •dereisenhofer
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •With regards to rolling 1s (or not making the roll in general), I too was irritated by the consequences the result had for the narrative (see The Gamers).
My solution was this: A bad roll either means that the lock is too jammed, rusted etc. (establishing the fact forever), or that the character just needs a longer time than usual. So no more "you failed", instead "it wasn't possible anyway, the dice just said so".
binchicken
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •spara
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Scarlet Phoenix Collective
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Drac Skellington
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Jonathan Lamothe
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • •๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) likes this.
johne
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •johne
in reply to johne • • •Eternal, Majesty
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Justin Macleod
Unknown parent • • •arclight
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Thank you for a very fun and interesting story of falling down a nerd rabbit hole.
I got locked out of my apartment, it cost me many hours, several hundred dollars, and I barely avoided having the "locksmith" drill the lock. The money was the least offensive part - the guy represented himself as a professional locksmith, charged that kind of money, and couldn't bypass a straightforward residential lock without a drill? I vowed never to be in a position like that again or at least learn enough to change my mind that this guy wasn't as incompetent as I believed. I still suck at picking locks and I put it down to just not practicing (and not cheating well enough). ๐
Longspeak
Unknown parent • • •Hell, I just thought you were cute, and funny, and maybe a little dangerous. But you're also awesome!
Okay... I already knew that too
arclight
Unknown parent • • •angiebaby
Unknown parent • • •Sashin
Unknown parent • • •lina isidora
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Jonathan Lamothe
Unknown parent • •@๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) @arclight @Charlie the Anti-Fascist Dog
Wait, you were apprehended by ChatGPT?
like this
Ember in the Pattern Buffer and ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) like this.
dominic
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Joscelyn Transpiring
Unknown parent • • •Dec [{()}]
Unknown parent • • •In most cities, the powers that be will thank you for picking love locks (and removing them) because then they don't have to send a crew out with angle grinders.
johne
Unknown parent • • •Jonathan Lamothe
Unknown parent • •@๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) @johne Wait, the 140 has a security pin? My trust in Master locks just took another blow.
Edit: I guess that explains why I sometimes have to take multiple runs at opening it.
like this
๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) and Si Dawson like this.
Dec [{()}]
Unknown parent • • •LPL, YYYY-04-01
Dec [{()}]
Unknown parent • • •Scarlet Phoenix Collective
Unknown parent • • •Dec [{()}]
Unknown parent • • •I will never be able to look at a bubblegum machine with a straight face again.
Bryan
in reply to ๐ ฐ๐ ป๐ ธ๐ ฒ๐ ด (๐๐ฆ) • • •Scarlet Phoenix Collective
Unknown parent • • •LOL Those are good suggestions. Thank you. ๐ Now to rewire the brain...
PS: damn these light ass linears LOL
Si Dawson
Unknown parent • • •Si Dawson
Unknown parent • • •So much confusion and complexity! In such a small space!
And then... learn a bit, learn a bit more...
and suddenly it all falls into mathematically delightful beauty. With a little extra skill required - just for fun.
What's not to love?
acb
Unknown parent • • •Joscelyn Transpiring
Unknown parent • • •Martin Marconcini
Unknown parent • • •Martin Marconcini
Unknown parent • • •@Daj @deviantollam I'm having a great time. I almost finished the book, and I'm "inconsistently" picking the 3 and 4-pin practice ones. The hardest part is exercising restraint when using any kind of force with the tools. The tensioner tool being the "key"(no pun intended), but also with the lockpick of choice. The 3d printed holder is ok, but I screwed it to a piece of wood for better "gripability".
I'm trying to hear and feel the pins, a good thing to do during "meetings". ๐