The Locksmith's Log

Picking society's locks

TSA-Approved Luggage Lock Rated 'Most Depressing Product' by Consumer Security Magazine

The review notes that the lock 'provides the psychological comfort of security while offering the physical security of a polite suggestion.'

Medieval Recreationist Forges Authentic Warded Lock, Cannot Remember Combination to His Own Shed

The blacksmith spent 200 hours crafting a 14th-century locking mechanism of museum quality while a $7 Master Lock combination padlock guards the workshop where he made it.

Locksmith Guilds Demand Recognition of Lock Picking as Olympic Sport

The petition argues that competitive picking requires 'the hand-eye coordination of archery, the mental focus of chess, and the suspicious skill set of a career criminal.'

Latest

From Tumbler Warden

Landlord Installs 'Unpickable' Lock, Tenants Discover Screws Are on the Outside

The $600 high-security deadbolt features anti-drill hardened steel, a restricted keyway, and a mounting plate that can be removed with a Phillips-head screwdriver from the hallway.

Competitive Lock Picker Sets World Record, Immediately Disqualified for Using Wrong Tension Direction

The competitor opened a Medeco Biaxial in 23 seconds flat but applied clockwise tension on a counterclockwise core, nullifying the achievement on a technicality even the judges called 'heartbreaking.'

Retired Locksmith's Memoir Reveals He Could Never Figure Out His Own Garage Door Opener

The 400-page autobiography devotes an entire chapter to the Chamberlain LiftMaster that 'defied every principle of mechanical security I've ever known.'

Town's Last Hardware Store Key-Cutting Machine Develops Cult Following

The 1987 Ilco 045 has outlived three store owners and now has a dedicated Facebook group with 1,200 members who post daily tributes to its 'flawless bitting.'

Locksmith Convention Keynote Interrupted When Speaker Cannot Open Presentation Clicker

The internationally recognized security expert spent four minutes trying to slide open the battery compartment before an audience of 600 colleagues.

High-Security Lock Manufacturer Admits New Model Can Be Opened With Aggressive Jiggling

The $450 deadbolt passed every certification test but was defeated by a quality assurance intern who 'just kind of shook the door really hard.'

YouTube Lock Picking Channel Accidentally Teaches Burglary to 2 Million Subscribers

The creator insists his videos are 'educational' despite a comment section filled with questions about specific residential deadbolt models and whether he offers 'fieldwork tutorials.'

Antique Lock Collection Appraised at $200,000, Owner Cannot Open Any of Them

The collector has spent 22 years acquiring rare warded locks, lever tumblers, and Bramah patents, and possesses the original key for exactly none of them.

Escape Room Closes After Locksmith Solves Every Puzzle in Under Two Minutes

The business owner says the locksmith 'didn't even look at the clues' and simply picked every lock in the facility, including the staff bathroom.

Smart Lock Company's Entire Product Line Defeated by Refrigerator Magnet

The $349 Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt, marketed as 'military-grade security,' can be opened with a souvenir magnet from the Grand Canyon.

Lock Picking Hobbyist Ruins Every Dinner Party by Explaining Pin Tumbler Mechanisms

Guests report that the man has brought his practice lock to three consecutive social gatherings and once disassembled a bathroom doorknob mid-party to 'show everyone something amazing.'

Master Locksmith Locked Out of Own House for Third Time This Month

The 30-year veteran, who can pick a Medeco in under ninety seconds, admits he 'keeps leaving his keys in the other pants.'