Awesome Lockpicking

A curated list of awesome guides, tools, and other resources relating to the security and compromise of locks, safes, and keys.

Lock picking is the art of opening a lock without the key and without damaging or destroying the lock or its door. If you want to contribute, you are highly encouraged to do so. Please read the contribution guidelines.

Contents

• Books
• Contests, conferences, and events
• Hobby projects
• How-to guides
• Locksport associations and organizations
• Online communities
• Vendors

Books

• Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide - Detailed instructions and exercises designed for professional physical security specialists, consultants, and red teams.

Contests, conferences, and events

• Chaos Communications Congress (CCC) - CCC hosts the German Lockpicking Championships.
• DEF CON - Annual infosec industry conference which is popular with many lockpickers featuring a locksport contest.
• Hackers On Planet Earth (HOPE) - Annual conference often featuring a locksport competition and presentations on physical security.
• OzLockCon - Open community event focusing on physical security in Australia, which hosts a lockpicking and handcuff evasion competition.
• LockCon - Annual, invitation-only international conference about locks for members of respected locksport organizations.

Hobby projects

• 3D Printed Lock Picks - Print lock picks made of plastic materials that, while weak, will survive at least several uses. (Find more digital models.)

How-to guides

• Art of Lockpicking - Educational website with animations detailing the process of picking locks.
• Beginner's Guide to Security Pins - Short article guiding beginners comfortable with picking padlocks towards an understanding of more complex locks.
• CIA Lock Picking Field Operative Training Manual - Guidebook covering terminology, tool use, and techniques for picking the vast majority of pin and wafer tumbler locks.
• Deviant Ollam's Lockpicking Video Presentations and Advisories - Collection of physec talks and locksport advice for all skill levels from a world-reknowned expert.
• Easy Pickings - Mini Lockpicking Manual - Widely-distributed beginner's manual with diagrams showcasing how to pick various entry-level locks.
• MIT Lock Picking Guide - Famous introductory text by Ted the Tool.
• Lock Picking: Detail Overkill - Exceptionally thorough guide "for those who want more than just the basics."
• LockLab's Lock Picking Course - Complete start-to-finish course from basic tensioning to speciality lock techniques.
• Locksport International Guide to Lock Picking - Locksport primer in the style of a comic book, with photographs and speech bubbles.
• Under Door Tool Kit Instructions - Short guide to constructing an under-door ("lever opening"/"Mule") tool using material available at a typical hardware store.

Locksport associations and organizations

• Fraternal Order of Lock Sport (FOOLS) - Lock picking club established to serve Bloomington, Indiana and surrounding areas.
• The Open Organization Of Lockpickers (TOOOL) - Worldwide association of lockpickers with national, regional, and local chapters.
• Locksport International - International association of lockpickers who offer help starting new locksport clubs and groups.

Online communities

• Keypicking.com - Bustling online forum for the discussion of lockpicking and locksport.
• Lockpicking101.com - One of the longest-running online communities "dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking."
• LockWiki - Community-driven reference for both beginners and professionals in the security industry.
• /r/lockpicking Subreddit - Subreddit dedicated to the sport of lockpicking.

Online resources

• Dark Sim 905's Lockpicking pages - Personal website of a knowledgable hobbyist discussing a variety of picking and bypass tools.
• Lockpicking Forensics - Website "dedicated to the science and study of forensic locksmithing."
• The Amazing King's Lockpicking pages - Hobbyist's website with detailed pages about locks, tools, and picking techniques.

Vendors

• Learn Lockpicking - Retailer of speciality practice locks, lock stands, and more.
• Safe Ventures, Inc. - Retailer for safe-opening tools who also offer paid training courses.
• Southern Ordinance / Exit 10, Inc. - SouthOrd® is a manufacturer of lock picks and professional locksmith tools; individual replacement picks as low as $1.50 USD.
• Southern Specialities - Retailer of numerous lockpicking sets, pick guns, and more.
• Sparrows Lock Picks - Manufacturer of specialty and quality lock pick tools; their King Pin pinning tweezer is particularly useful.