So, this weekend, I decided to actually try the techniques described here. I set up a page with some pictures of the advanture at http://www.akabainc.com/lock
First I went to the Master Lock site. When I think of Master Lock, I think of that black dial on silver thing that I had in high school. But I wanted to be sure they didn’t have lower quality ones that could be broken more easily. They did not. They did have some stronger ones, but I didn’t play with those. Here’s the site if you’re interested: http://www.masterlock.com. It’s got frames, and I can’t give you the final link, but from the main page, choose the Product Category, then in Product Category choose Combination Padlocks. In dial padlocks, they have two types, standard and high security. the Standards come in classic black and macintosh rainbow “X-treme” colors. I decided Classic Black was the way to go.
I bought two of the classic black models.
I locked it on my garage door. Then I went through each of the techniques described in this thread. Enumerated:
a) pulling with my bare hands
b) Hit it with a sneaker
c) A heavier shoe (the heaviest I own, but in fairness not really a combat boot or anything)
d) The towel/t-shirt pulling technique mentioned in this thread and described in detail via email by Tranquilis
e) The towel/t-shirt twisting technique mentioned in this thread and described in detail via email by Tranquilis
f) Hitting it with a hammer. A standard hammer, not a big framing hammer, but not a ball-peen either.
So, let’s cut to the chase: Techniques A-E did absolutely nothing. I jerked with all my might with my hands, hit it as hard as I could with the shoes, yanked and twisted the towel as hard as I could. I’m not the strongest man alive, but I’m 6’1" and fairly strong. I gave it my honest best and I could not break it.
The hammer did break it. I used downward strokes against the upper case and dial. Again, as hard as I was able. It took 10 full strikes to break it. The force knocked the dial off.
I’m sure I could’ve broken it sooner if I would have used a screwdriver or punch to direct the force. I’m also sure that I could’ve broken it quicker with a small sledge.
So I stand by what I said earlier. No one. Noone will open a standard master lock with their bare hands. Noone will open that lock with a sneaker. Noone. And I’ll personally wager money on that. Any takers?
O.K. First : This is NOT an attempt to break into anything locked up that is not mine. But…
I trotted down to the local drugstore to buy a lock for my gym bag. Thinking that ANY lock would provide protection against crime of oppertunity, I bought a cheepo job. It had an ‘easy’ to remember combination, so I didn’t write it down. Yes, I forgot it. But I can almost (I think) remember it. So the R-L-R random theory is bunk. I have worked very hard to get this lock off (without damaging it) all to no avail. Remember, I (think) I know most of the numbers.
So what gives? Everyone talks about how easy it is to pick Masters, much less an inexpensive one. So what am I doing wrong. If you feel this is a matter of National Security then just e-mail me. But I agree with other posters - not revealing these “secrets” seems just plain silly.
But thanks to anyone who can help.
(I don’t mind spending a couple of bucks to replace it, but I want the dang thing off my bag)
OK,well, I’ll describe my method, then. After buying several locks in the mid-90s (this may be important, I’m not sure, since this method works on most Master locks, but not all of them. Yes, combo type.) I discovered if you pulled just right on the shackle and spun the knob clockwise, it would eventually stop 1 and a half numbers before the middle number. It takes a little practice to get the feel, but I’ve done it at least a dozen times. If you pull too hard, the knob’ll stop on every fifth number or so, too little, and it won’t stop at all. Like I said, it takes a little practice to get the feel, but it’s not all that difficult once you get it.
Now you have the middle number, now what? Well, you’re already halfway there. At this point, I go by twos from 0, and go 0-middlenumber-x. At x, I roll the knob and pull at every number or every other number as I go along until I reach the end. Then I go 2-mid-x, 4-mid-x, 6-mid-x, etc, etc. It takes a little patience, but the lock’ll be open in 15 seconds to 15 minutes, depending what that first number is.
There are also methods on the internet, but the ones I’ve seen don’t work for me. Perhaps they work on different models.
Anyhow, it’s not as fast as the shoe, but it works and there’s a bit of challenge to it.
Oh as a side note, Matser padlocks (with the dial combination at one time placed a code on the back of the lock. A local locksmith with a coade program would be able to look the combination up for you.**
Everyone talks about how easy it is to pick Masters, much less an inexpensive one. So what am I doing wrong.**
Practice actually, is easy (for me) to Pick regular door locks, generate keys for some cars with a keyblank and file.
Practice and a little bit of luck makes all the difference.** If you feel this is a matter of National Security then just e-mail me. But I agree with other posters - not revealing these “secrets” seems just plain silly.
But thanks to anyone who can help.
** Not really, a super secret, but maybe a small question of liability. Many many people read this board. Why make it easy for a teen to go nuts in his high school?
If you want it open at a low cost, take your bag inside with you to a home improvement center, fide the bolt cutters section, Give bolt cutters a “test run”. Sure tey might want to search your bag when leaving… no worries…**
(I don’t mind spending a couple of bucks to replace it, but I want the dang thing off my bag) **
Drop by a locksmith shop with yur bag, they might a)find a valid code on the lock, b) cut it off for you on the cheap. c) whack it with a hammer (so you can see how it is done. d) use a shim to bypass the ball bearing which locks the shackle.
The basic premise behind the “whack the bugger” trick is hitting the lock housing and causing the bearing which holds the shackle in to “bounce” out of the way for a brief time. Hitting the right side of the lock body, while adding a slight downward pull will most times pop the lock.
If your wanting to do this yourself, and you really wanting to have fun. Take a grinder, grind off the sides on the back of the lock until you can peel the back cover off. Then you can see all the bolts and guts in their glory.
Just wanted to be clear about my last post. Tranquilis said that the t-shirt techniques worked on smaller locks. He never claimed the technique would actually open a standard master lock.
Well, since my sampling is unscientific, and rather a while ago, I’ll have to accept Bill H.'s tests as “standard”, and file my experience under “fluke”.
When I was in high school, I forgot the combo to my master lock. I called the master lock company and gave them the 5 digit number on the back of the lock. They asked for the name of a local hardware store, which I gave them. Two days later, I called the hardware store, and they told me the combo.
As suggested by the other posters, security devices cannot be designed to be undefeatable, since it is difficult to stop a determined person. The point is to make it enough of a pain in the ((% to defeat the lock that most people won’t bother.