Lock pick set; click for more info
You don’t hear a lot about Lockpicking in the military. That is because most of it happens behind ‘locked doors’ (ok sorry). Lock picking a great skill for special forces members to have, to infiltrate enemy buildings quietly.
Today, even the toughest locks can be picked (most of them). Some of the most secret rooms around the world are guarded by locks that can be picked by experts in under 20 seconds.
If you are interested in learning these skills it, you can do it without a security clearance. About a year ago I was considering joining a special forces group or the FBI as a field agent after my current military tour was up, and I figured lock picking would help with either one of those. I began reading and asking questions, then eventually buying picks and locks to try it for myself.
The beginner book that has been around since forever is still one of the best books on lock picking, we have provided it so you can read it online or download it here: MIT Guide To Lockpicking.
A lock you can practice on
I also went to www.lockpicking101.com and created an account in their forums. There is a great deal of info and the community will help you out if you ever need a hand.
You may be wondering what kind of lock picks you should get to start out.
US, UK, Japan, and other parts of the world have different types of locks, and most require different types of picks. There are a few universal traits that your picks should have regardless of where you are:
- Thicker handles which makes them much more comfortable to use
- A good number of different ones for the different types of locks
- High quality to last longer (stainless steel)
- Tension wrenches for multiple locks
A good starter set is this 12 Piece Lockpick set it will give you a good idea if you like lock picking and if you want to make it a hobby of yours. It’s handles are a little thin, but it has the right amount of picks to get about any lock you will find around town (ok not the best idea). You need to be careful of the laws, the way I read is, you can legally carry picks around in the US as long as you don’t intend to use them on locks without the owners permission. It’s best to get some of your own locks to practice with.
Written by Bill Wayne, member of the Best Military Surplus team
