WHY AND HOW TO START LOCKPICKING
Why Get Into Lockpicking?
Most people initially think of practical reasons: using it in an emergency or being able to open a specific lock, whether their own or someone else’s. However, these are not the right reasons to pursue lockpicking. Lockpicking communities have zero tolerance for any illegal activities. When it comes to emergency lock openings, these should always be left to professionals. Lockpickers who are not locksmiths by trade respect the locksmithing profession and never offer locksmithing services.
What Are the Right Reasons to Practice Lockpicking?
If you are reading this, you are probably interested in locks, security, or related topics. You are likely curious about how locks work, what their limitations are, or you may need this knowledge for your profession.
Understanding the details of complex locking mechanisms through technical drawings and articles alone is neither simple nor particularly engaging—it is much clearer when you can directly “get hands-on” with a complex lock. Lockpicking provides a fun, interactive way to explore how mechanical locks function. Physically testing locks can also help identify flaws that manufacturers can then address. The lockpicking community has uncovered numerous serious security flaws in the past, and we will discuss these in more detail in future articles.
Additionally, lockpicking is an excellent way to unwind away from computer, tablet, and phone screens. It enhances manual dexterity, exercises the brain, and—unlike most puzzles and toys—provides knowledge useful in the real world. Of course, we cannot overlook the sporting and social aspects of lockpicking, which provide many of us with additional motivation to improve and a chance to make new friends at events.
What Is Lockpicking?
Lockpicking is the non-destructive manipulation of locks and locking systems without the original key. It includes not only lock manipulation using picks but also impressioning and opening locks with decoders or other specialized tools. While used in the locksmithing profession, it can also be a hobby or a sport. In foreign countries, sports lockpicking is called Locksport. It is practiced by people from various professions, including locksmiths, students, doctors, bankers, and scientists. For many, it is a way to relax from work stress or unwind after physical exertion. Lockpicking has much in common with solving puzzles, improves manual dexterity, and helps train the brain. People who practice lockpicking as a sport and hobby are known as lockpickers.
“A lock can also be a puzzle for skill and brain training!”
What Do You Need to Start Lockpicking? To begin lockpicking, you only need a few things: a lock (or preferably several locks), tools for opening them, and at least a basic understanding of how those locks function.
Equipment
Unlike many other sports, lockpicking equipment is not particularly expensive. A basic set of picks, sufficient for beginners, can be purchased for around 500 to 1,000 CZK and will last a long time. Feel free to contact us for recommendations. We will cover suitable tools for beginners and advanced lockpickers in more detail in the next issue of Zámkař magazine.
Locks
For beginners, inexpensive padlocks with traditional key shapes and open profiles are recommended. These should be large enough to allow easy manipulation with picks. Used or keyless locks can often be purchased cheaply. Transparent locks or cutaway locks, which allow you to see the internal mechanism, can also be useful for beginners. Manipulation may cause damage to the lock, which may not always be immediately apparent. If a theft later occurs, an insurance company could refuse to pay a claim if the lock was found to be compromised.
Learning Materials
Unfortunately, the quality of lockpicking materials available in Czech is very low. That is why we launched the Summer School of Lockpicking project on our Facebook page. We are currently working on a revised version that will soon be available as video presentations on YouTube and as an e-book. The easiest way to get started is to attend a public event organized by the Association of Czech Lockpickers (ACL) or contact us to visit one of our training sessions. Another option is to attend courses offered by the Locksmith.cz training center.
“Never practice lockpicking on locks that are actively used to secure buildings, property, or anything else!”
WHICH LOCKS CAN BE OPENED NON-DESTRUCTIVELY WITH LOCKPICKING?
f we focus on common, commercially available padlocks and cylinder locks, the answer is quite simple: almost all of them. There are only a few models that have not been officially defeated, but based on our research and reports from international lockpicking communities, we know that it is possible. We deliberately do not list specific models, as we may be collaborating with manufacturers to fix certain vulnerabilities. However, whether a lock has been non-destructively bypassed does not necessarily determine how secure it is. There are locks that are extremely difficult to pick but are very weak against destructive methods. This also relates to a frequently asked question:
Should I Be Concerned That Thieves Can Pick My Lock? Should I Replace It?
There is no single answer to this question. It depends on the specific lock model, but also on several other factors, such as: What value is the lock protecting? Is it in an area with frequent thefts? What other security measures are in place?
Thieves usually take the easiest route. Most break-ins do not involve picking the lock but rather breaking a window or prying open a door. If they attack the lock, they typically use destructive methods like pulling, snapping, or drilling. Among non-destructive methods, bumping and electric picking are the most concerning, as they require minimal skill. Picking with manual lockpicks is very rare among criminals.
From this, it is clear that investing in protection against destructive attacks is most worthwhile. High-quality security doors and fittings, combined with secure windows, will deter most burglars.
For cylinder locks and padlocks, resistance to destruction should be the top priority and should be ensured by a security certification. In many cases, patent protection against unauthorized key duplication is also useful.
For home and business protection, we generally recommend using locks with at least a third, but ideally a fourth security class. Such certified products offer protection against all common destructive attacks and are resistant to basic forms of bumping and electric picking.
The level of resistance to lockpicking with manual picks varies significantly among fourth-class locks, ranging from extremely high to relatively low. However, for general use, this is usually a secondary factor.
What About Institutions or Businesses with High-Value Assets? For companies and institutions that store money, valuables, expensive equipment, high-value goods, or sensitive data, lock security should be taken more seriously. Sophisticated attackers with deep technical knowledge and access to professional tools may specifically target such facilities. In these cases, security should include: Protection against destructive methods (drilling, snapping, etc.), additional security measures such as alarms, cameras, security personnel and resistance to non-destructive techniques (lockpicking, specialized tools, etc.).
For highly valuable targets, some attackers may use tools that are not commercially available or even exploit unknown vulnerabilities. The only way to maintain the highest level of security is through consultation with experts and regular audits.
If you need help assessing and testing the resistance of your locking systems against non-destructive methods, you can contact the Association of Czech Lockpickers (ACL).
This article was originally published in Zámkař magazine, issue 03-04/2018 (AZKS), written by our ACL members.