# How hard would this lock be to pick? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-this-lock-be-to-pick/475353 "2008-12-02T16:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-this-lock-be-to-pick/475353/21 "2008-12-03T06:30:47Z")
Re practical security I don’t think a drug addict or other thief is going to be trying to work out the combinatorial equation to your lock. They’ll break a window or kick in a door. An enterprising type might beat it with a sledge hammer after feeze spraying it to shatter it. The security of the combination pad is almost irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-this-lock-be-to-pick/475353/22 "2008-12-03T06:41:10Z")
IAAM but… Notice that 3_2_1 is still 6. I thought the original lock was 10 choose 10. Not 10 choose 4. I thought we established that already. If it’s 10 choose 4, then the answer is 10_9_8_7 or 5040, right? If it’s 10 choose 2, isn’t the answer 10_9 or 90? ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-this-lock-be-to-pick/475353/23 "2008-12-03T06:44:52Z")
I think I see… yeah… if 4321 opens the 1234 lock then yeah, this isn’t very secure at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-this-lock-be-to-pick/475353.md?page=1)