Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Today we pick open another lock from the bundle that was sent to me, a Sargent Mortise Cylinder. The key for the lock has a nice bitting to it and caught my eye as a fun pick to show you all. The real fun and surprise came after I took it apart.
Most locks that you will pick up from a store or local shop are going to contain standard key pins and drivers. These are great locks for beginners to learn the basics of lock picking with, but will be quickly outgrown. I wasn’t expecting much from this lock, I figured it would be nothing but standard pins, but I was pleasantly subverted when it came to the gut. While the driver pins were all standard, the key pins were tapered!
Tapered pins can pose trouble to pickers, more so tapered drivers than key pins, and knowing how they function in the lock is “key” to defeating them. The key pins being tapered means that they are more likely to become over set and prevent the core plug from turning. As long as you pay attention to the feed back of the lock though, they shouldn’t pose any issues for you.
This lock also serves as an example to a problem that I forget about often and have to remind myself about. Depending on how you have the lock in your vise, the type of vise you use and the format of the lock, the tailpiece may be prevented from fully rotating due to hitting the jaws of your vise. Be mindful of this when picking as it may lead you to think the lock has not been picked open when it has.
How to pick locks
Learn lockpicking
Open a lock quick and easy
IMPORTANT: do not pick a lock that you do not own or have the expressed permission of the owner to pick! Do not pick a lock that you use and rely on to function as it is intended. Check the legality of lock picking and locksport in your area and or region before starting your journey.
#lockpicking #howtopicklocks#learnlockpicking #howto #openlock #howtoopenalock
Today we pick open another lock from the bundle that was sent to me, a Sargent Mortise Cylinder. The key for the lock has a nice bitting to it and caught my eye as a fun pick to show you all. The real fun and surprise came after I took it apart.
Most locks that you will pick up from a store or local shop are going to contain standard key pins and drivers. These are great locks for beginners to learn the basics of lock picking with, but will be quickly outgrown. I wasn’t expecting much from this lock, I figured it would be nothing but standard pins, but I was pleasantly subverted when it came to the gut. While the driver pins were all standard, the key pins were tapered!
Tapered pins can pose trouble to pickers, more so tapered drivers than key pins, and knowing how they function in the lock is “key” to defeating them. The key pins being tapered means that they are more likely to become over set and prevent the core plug from turning. As long as you pay attention to the feed back of the lock though, they shouldn’t pose any issues for you.
This lock also serves as an example to a problem that I forget about often and have to remind myself about. Depending on how you have the lock in your vise, the type of vise you use and the format of the lock, the tailpiece may be prevented from fully rotating due to hitting the jaws of your vise. Be mindful of this when picking as it may lead you to think the lock has not been picked open when it has.
How to pick locks
Learn lockpicking
Open a lock quick and easy
IMPORTANT: do not pick a lock that you do not own or have the expressed permission of the owner to pick! Do not pick a lock that you use and rely on to function as it is intended. Check the legality of lock picking and locksport in your area and or region before starting your journey.
#lockpicking #howtopicklocks#learnlockpicking #howto #openlock #howtoopenalock
