Visual Guide to Lock Picking

by Mark McCloud

This is the definitive guide for learning the art of lock picking. Inside you will discover the secrets of the trade. By reading this book, practicing, and applying the methods introduced, you can successfully master picking most modern locks. This book makes it easy and gives you the edge to quickly learn and start picking locks today. Not only does this book cover what tools and techniques are needed to pick most common locks, but it also goes through what to do step-by-step; and actually teaches how to do it. It explains what all of the tools are and for what they are used. What really sets this book apart is the vast assortment of illustrations that make everything easy to understand. This really is a visual guide containing pages filled with diagrams and drawings that will instantly show you how locks work, and exactly what to do to bypass them. You can start learning today! Inside, you will find sections about warded locks, pin tumblers, wafer tumblers, and more. These are the locks found on most residential and commercial doors, cars, padlocks, desks, filing cabinets, safes, equipment, vending machines, bike locks, etc... Each section includes an in-depth and easy to understand explanation as to how that type of lock works. This book even outlines several exercises you can perform in order to improve your lock picking skills. You'll be picking every lock in your house in no time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2001

Reviews

[Daniel Khoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really useful book because it helps you the way of patience when you're handling with a lock. Also, it makes me curious of picking locks. To be honest, I'm a little interest in picking locks because it contains puzzle solving such as timing and strategies for when to tighten and loosen strength. But use this knowledge wisely and don't try to do anything stupid. If you want, do it on your own unused locks.

[Lilith Sussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, straightforward read. It covers information on a variety of locks' mechanisms and has high quality diagrams that accompany the text. Exploded illustrations exist for each type of lock. This book helps to understand the machinery involved, as well as methods of exploiting the machinery, which are conveyed in lightly technical language. A good introduction that covers many bases, and quite easy to get through.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly new information so not much to comment on - except for the chapter on combinations.
I liked the chapter on combination locks, previously I watched videos that did it by the click and it seemed like magic - it worked, but didn't make sense to me. This book spelled out the probabilities for a 3-wheel.

[Ralph Jenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice way to understand a lot of different look types and how they work. I typically hand my copy to people who have an interest in locksport.

[Miriam B. Sayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been improving my lock picking skills while in Covid lockdown. This book is a great place to start. Easy to understand, pictures, illustrations, excellent

[Deborah Botts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative

[Chris Seltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm very much torn about this book.

On the one hand, its content certainly pales compared to the beautifully animated and instructional content that has exploded on the internet in recent years.

On the other hand, this book is brilliantly put together and aided by its illustrations. This isn't shovelware in book form but rather clearly a labor of someone's love.

It is concise yet information dense. If you want a quick printed reference for lock picking for some reason I think this is the best book on the topic I've come across.

[Brandon Baggett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good reference for beginners. Though, like most technical manuals, it was dry and hard to get through. Best read over a long period of time and in relation to a lock you are picking at the time.

[Sabrina Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide for research. Lots of pictures, and explanations on various locks. However, I still haven't managed to actually pick a lock, but that is probably more of my own failing than the book. Must have patience (and persistence).

[Michael Economy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing not great, but it's straight, to the point, and easy to follow. The illustrations are very helpful.