# Is there a secret to cracking the combination on a Master lock?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 26, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835 "2001-09-26T01:49:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![flup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@flup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flup)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/1 "2001-09-26T01:49:51Z")

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I’ve heard all the false tricks, “turn until you hear it click, listen to the back of it until you feel it fall into place, etc.” but I want to know: does anyone know if there really is a secret to finding the combination to a standard, 3-turn Master combination lock? the curiosity is killing me.

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**Author:** ![flup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@flup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flup)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/2 "2001-09-26T01:51:03Z")

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you know, come to think of it, this might be one for Cecil.

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/3 "2001-09-26T01:59:21Z")

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Sure is.

Step one: Buy a lock.

Step two: Memorize the combination.

Step three: Get the hell away from my stuff. If I wanted you to be able to get to it, I wouldn’t have locked it. 😛

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/4 "2001-09-26T02:10:58Z")

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There used to be a way to dramatically shorten the “brute force” method, but it only works with older models.

Since this borders on the grey area of legality, I’ll just say that a certain respected technical institute of higher learning, situated near another respected institute of higher learning documents the techniques involved.

You’re on your own from here, unless a mod steps in and says it’s okay to post more.

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**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/5 "2001-09-26T02:16:23Z")

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Two words: bolt cutters.

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**Author:** ![Caldazar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-secret-to-cracking-the-combination-on-a-master-lock/83835/6 "2001-09-26T02:49:43Z")

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Here’s a discussion from GQ:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78438](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78438)

Most of the solutions seem to revolve around breaking the lock rather than picking it by figuring out the combination, though.