I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet.
I think one pretty cool thing to teach them is how to pick a Master Combination Lock. The locks are cheap, and they’re notoriously easy to pick. Since I don’t want to break any board rules, let me just say this. Google search for “hack master combination lock” and you’ll get over 4 million hits.
Basically by pulling up on the shackle while turning the dial you can feel when you align the tumblers. You write down places where the dial ‘sticks’ and then use a technique to eliminate the bogus numbers. By process of elimination you can have the lock opened in minutes.
Here’s one url to such a site, but do the google search above for utube links, etc. (remove the spaces)
http : // skattertech.com /2006 /08 /master-lock-hack/
Why people think it is important to start with padlocks I will never know. Warded locks are just different from combination locks are different from… well DOOR locks!
If you want to steal a bike, steal a bike, but James bond is into cars, ADOY!
At this point, the Attackkids will feel like gods if they can pick any kind of lock, so Master combination is a good start. They are forbidden to use these skills except in real emergencies* or demonstrations that I know about.
*The Queen has fallen down a well, and the ladder is padlocked in the shed.
Teach 'em how to tie knots, willya? It blows my mind how many otherwise functional adults don’t know how to tie the simplest of knots.
Of course, your kids will probably use this knowledge to rig a tyrolean traverse or something instead of using it to secure a Billy bookcase from Ikea to the top of the Honda.
Originally posted by Green Bean
“Teach 'em how to tie knots, willya?”
I agree with Green Bean. In addition to normal Boy Scout knots, I have found “Trucker’s knots” to be useful. They are two loops in a rope that are used like pulleys to tighten the rope.
And traditionally, after they have tied the load to the back of the pickup truck, someone must be on hand to say (in a fake Hong Kong accent): “Oh, da Spidahweb technique. I have not seen dat since da Monks buwn da cassew.” (since the monks burned the castle) For the benefit of those of you who didn’t grow up watching cheesy kung fu movies, there was often in those movies a body found killed by some arcane kung fu technique and the knowledgable kung fu master would say something like " . . . clawing tiger technique I have not seen that since . . ."
I have three doorknobs set into 2x4 sections that I wanted to use as training aids. But I couldn’t teach myself to lockpick them so I never taught my kids. I will send them. They have been sitting out in the rain so they will need to be refurbished.
So you have a Kukri but both Attackids and Attackmom don’t ?
Just the one Kukri now. Attacklass would probably be fine with one, but Attacklad is only 9, and may get a pocketknife next birthday, so I’m holding off on the zombie killing hardware for now.
I’ve started knot training a while ago, but I haven’t done enough. Thanks for the reminder.
May I suggest a multitool as a pocket knife? (after making sure that the kind folk at* 'lad’s** school don’t have a case of the 'vapors if they see it fall out of his pocket - some of these zero tolerance zealots think a kid with a nail file is on the verge of a berserk samurai killing spree*.)
I really like my Leathermen Charge, and use far more often than my old swiss army knife.
Oh, and if you have an iphone, there’s a cool app to show you how to tie knots. I think it’s called proknots or knotpro or something like that.
I couldn’t get your link to work.
Here is a similar site that is especially good for boating knots. My favorite is the taut line hitch since it’s fun to tie even if you don’t need it.
This site shows it being tied to a different line, but I usually tie it back on itself.
I don’t know that I ever said you should start with padlocks. I was merely stating that your standard run of the mill Master Combination lock is an easy lock open.
It’s not about breaking into the lock itself, but breaking the process down into cognitive steps.
Here (U.S.) Boy Scouts can shoot 22 rifle and shotgun - so roughly age 11 and above. Venture Scouts are age 14-22 and can shoot any caliber rifle, and handguns. And yes, it is one of the most popular events of the year, especially interesting considering that more time is spent on firearm safety than on actually shooting.
Two minutes skim-reading this, one bent paperclip, one screwdriver, and 30 seconds of fiddling, and I’ve learnt that my TopLock D-lock is every bit as useless as I’ve always assumed it was.
