Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter One - Let’s Rap About Locks
Chapter Two - The Father of the Pick Gun
Chapter Three - Mr. Majestic
Chapter Four - The Segal Patent
Chapter Five - Genesis of a Pick Gun
Chapter Six - The Miskill Patent
Chapter Seven - The Moore Patent
Chapter Eight - The Crasnianski Patent
Chapter Nine - Agency Lock-Opening Device

General Description
Attachments
Operation
Battery Recharging
Battery Replacement

Chapter Ten - The Cooke Patent

Background of the Invention

Summary of the Invention
Brief Description of the Drawings
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Also by John Minnery:

CIA Catalog of Clandestine Weapons, Tools, and Gadgets

Improvised Modified Firearms: Deadly Homemade Weapons
(with J. David Truby)
 Pick Guns: Lock Picking for Spies, Cops, and Locksmiths by John Minnery

Copyright © 1989 by John Minnery

ISBN 13: 978-0-87364-510-2

Printed in the United States of America

Published by Paladin Press, a division of

Paladin Enterprises, Inc.
Gunbarrel Tech Center 7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA +1.303.443.7250

Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address.

PALADIN, PALADIN PRESS, and the “horse head” design are trademarks belonging
to Paladin Enterprises and registered in United States Patent and Trademark
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All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no portion of this book may be
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Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for the use or
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Visit our Web site at www.paladin-press.com

Dedication

“L.C.’s”
 Acknowledgments

The author wishes to express his gratitude to the following

individuals who made this book possible:
H. Keith Melton, Curator, Clandestine Services Museum
(private), who was unstinting with his aid on lock-picking
devices.
Morris Moses of Albany, New York, who provided the author
with his initial research on this subject.
Khristine Balingit of Toronto, Canada, once my apprentice
and an extraordinary lock picker in her own right, who
developed the metered tension wrench and was of great
assistance in researching patents for me.
Fellow locksmiths and apprentices. In Canada: Bob
Salembier of Simcoe, Ontario; David Sloot of Brantford,
Ontario; and Carole McGrath of Brantford, Ontario. In the
United States: Terukazu Miyamoto and Mr. Carter of Ford
Locksmiths, Detroit, Michigan; Mr. Dan Dwyer (retired) of
Kelly’s Locksmithing, Boston, Massachusetts.
The staff of Art-Ex, Brantford, Ontario.
Your encouragement and support were sincerely
appreciated.
 Introduction

Locks are, in a real sense, sacred. They protect our

valuables and even our very lives. To be entrusted with the
keys to a lock has always been held to be a great honor. On
the other hand, to have a lock not open or to lose keys are
considered reasons to feel ashamed.
The ability to open locks without keys is thought to be
iconoclastic magic. It is one of the few remaining awe-
inspiring events in a world where mechanical marvels and
electronic wonders are boringly commonplace.
The secrets of lock picking have always been jealously
guarded by the locksmithing priesthood. Quite apart from
the most obvious reason of public safety, it is also because
they themselves only dimly understand what they do and
how they do it.
The lock picking gun took the art of lock picking out of the
Dark Ages and democratized the ability to open locks by
mechanical means.
Skill, it is true, is still needed. Some professional
locksmiths have never been able to use a gun and still prefer
their pick sets. By and large, however, the pick gun has been
a boon to the professional and a terrific aid to law
enforcement and even national security.
Criminals, alas, also use pick guns, as do private
detectives, industrial spies, and government agents. In this
book we are interested in the pick gun only and not its
wielder. Please do not abuse this knowledge.
 Chapter One

Let’s Rap About Locks

The modern pin-tumbler lock can trace its origins back to

the Temple of Karnak in ancient Egypt. During those times,
locks were made of wood and used on warehouse gates and
courtyard portals. When the bolt was slid across to lock the
gate, wooden peg tumblers fell (or tumbled) into recesses in
the bolt, thereby preventing it from being drawn back to
open the gate again. This arrangement relied on gravity to
keep the pegs in their blocking positions between the upper
and lower chambers. In order to withdraw the bolt, it was
necessary to lift the pegs back up to their previous upper-
chamber positions within the lock housing. To do this, a key
was required.
The key was introduced into a key slot underneath the bolt.
It had projecting pegs that corresponded with the tumbler
recesses within the bolt. The key was then lifted upward and
held horizontally against the bolt to allow the tumbler pegs
to nest once again in their upper chambers and clear the bolt
of its obstruction. The bolt was now free to be slid back so
the gate could be opened.
This type of lock, in exactly the form described, was used
in Egypt until the ousting of the Ottoman Turks—some four
thousand years! It is also worth noting that similar locks
were used in the Faeroe Islands (just north of the Shetlands)
until modern times. It is possible that the inhabitants,
descendants of Norse Vikings, were introduced to these locks
when their ancestors brought them back from trading with
(or perhaps raiding) Egyptians during the Dark Ages.
Ancient Egyptian locks. The upper bolt is shown
locked with key D inserted. This lock had three pins
and the key belonged to the Egyptian master. The
lower lock is shown with the bolt withdrawn by means
of a two-peg key. It belonged to a trusted slave.
The key to the upper lock worked in both locks,
since it could lift all the pins to shear line. The key
was introduced into the locks through a hole in the
door.
The arrangement of pins and pegs was arbitrary and
varied widely.

Modern pin-tumbler locks were invented by Linus Yale, Sr.,

and were incorporated in his Yale Bank Locks made at his
factory in Newport, New York. These locks, however, were
only the precursor of the pin-tumbler cylinder, designed by
his son, Linus Yale, Jr.
 Linus Yale, Jr., was born in Salisbury, New York, in 1821. In
his youthful ambition, he wanted to be an artist, but he had
inherited his father’s mechanical genius and went to work
with him designing bank locks. The junior Yale used his
talents to develop better and more intricate locks of the
bank and treasury type. He finally did away with the lock’s
weak spot, the key, when he introduced the first modern
dial-combination lock.

Linus Yale, Sr. (left), and Linus Yale, Jr.

Concurrent to Yale’s lock work, there was a tremendous

upheaval in the lock world. A.C. Hobbs, a brash and talented
American, had tweaked British craftsmanship and pride by
picking the best of the British bank locks. This momentous
event took place in 1851, while a grand exhibition of British
industry was being held, and it caused world attention to
shift to America for the design and production of better
locks.
Linus Yale’s final efforts (he died in 1868) were directed
toward perfecting the pin-tumbler locks his father had
worked with and making them available to the public at
large. As a result, Yale’s name became synonymous with
locks in general and locks of excellent quality in particular.
The company grew and prospered under the direction of
Henry Towne, with whom Yale had formed a partnership the
summer before he died. Yale truly made the world a more
secure place in which to live.

Pin-tumbler locks of today are made by many different lock

companies from all over the world. Their quality runs the
gamut from excellent to shoddy. If you want to learn about
picking locks—and pick guns in particular—you will have to
learn to dismantle pin-tumbler locks.
The following materials are required:
a. One new replacement night latch rim cylinder (low-
cost or imported is OK) with key;
b. Tweezers (eyebrow or sliver-removal type);
c. Screwdriver;
d. Pliers;
e. Wooden dowel (.5-inch diameter, 4 inches long).

The following materials are not required but helpful:

a. .002-inch metal shim (.75-inch wide, 1.5 inches long,
curved over the width, .75-inch radius);
b. Old sock with toe removed, or plastic bag with bottom
sliced open.
 There will be a tailpiece projecting from the rear of the rim
cylinder. This must be removed either by unscrewing two
small retaining screws or by withdrawing a retainer clip.
Have the old sock or plastic bag handy. Put the lock
cylinder in the bag and hold on to it, with your left hand
holding the cylinder and your right hand the key. Put the key
into the plug—the inner cylinder with the keyhole (keyway).
Turn the key slightly and pull ...
Surprise!
Five springs and five pairs of tumblers will go flying in all
directions, especially if you neglected to use the sock or
plastic bag. Gather everything up again, as you’ll be needing
them later.
Arrange the cylinder’s entrails in front of you and examine
them. Their intricacy might seem intimidating to the
beginner, but notice that the pins are different lengths and
half of them are pointed at one end. These are the lower pins
that fit into the plug that was just pulled out. Put the key
back into the plug and drop a pin, point first, into a chamber.
It will either ride above the plug, drop below it, or rest even
with the plug’s surface, in which case it is one of the correct
pins for the key’s combination of cuts. In this manner you
can arrange all the pins so they correspond to the cuts of the
key.
The upper pins are flat on both ends and are usually called
drivers because, under the influence of their springs, they
drive the lower pins downward. The location where the upper
and lower pins meet within the lock (when the proper key is
inserted) is called the shear line. It is here where the mating
surfaces of the two pins will slide, allowing the plug to turn.
You may notice chamfering on the pins, which encourages
this mating and turning process. You will observe now and
should be aware forever that tolerance also plays a major
part at this juncture of shearing surfaces. Tolerance is what
makes picking possible and, although it is vital to good lock
design and construction, too much tolerance—caused during
manufacture or by wear—lessens a lock’s security by making
the possibility of picking probable.
Now take the half-inch wooden dowel—hereafter called the
follower—and see if it will fit into the plug hole in the
cylinder. Some sanding may be necessary to achieve a good
fit. Pull the follower sufficiently out of the plug to expose the
rearmost upper chamber. Using your tweezers, place a
spring into the chamber. Pick up an upper pin with your
tweezers and press it into the chamber above the spring. By
coordinating your grip on the pin with the pressure being
exerted rearward as you push the follower, you will be able
to bind the pin so it will be half in and half out of the
chamber.
With the follower binding the pin, you will now be able to
release the tweezer’s grip and use its points to press the
exposed base of the pin and force it into the chamber. The
follower will override the pin and it will remain nested there.
Take the plug in your hand and put the correct bottom pin
in its last chamber. Reintroduce the plug to the front of the
cylinder and use it to push the slave-pin follower out the
rear. They must move in unison, as any gap will allow the
spring-driven upper pin to pop between.
You now have what amounts to a simple pin-tumbler lock
using a single set of pins and one spring. Your key will turn
the plug and when you withdraw it (be careful here, since
there is no retainer), the cylinder will be locked. It is ideal for
introductory practice work.
If you push in only the point of your key and give it a slight
twist, you will find the shear line as the pin rides up the ramp
of the key’s nose (tip). Even if you use a blank key, it would
behave in the same fashion. By using a .002-inch shim, it is
possible to pass through the juncture of the pins along the
shear line to each pin in succession as it is raised to the
shear line. Once separated by the shim, the lock will open by
shimming, a standard locksmithing technique. (For more
information on this and other basic locksmithing techniques,
refer to any standard reference text on locksmithing.)
The next locksmithing technique is known as rapping. Take
the cylinder in your hand and invert it with the upper
chambers facing down. With your forefinger, gently press the
rear of the plug inward. You might feel a slight “give,” so
don’t press too hard. Grasp the lock solidly with the rest of
your fingers and knock it against a bench or tabletop, as you
would when cracking a hard-boiled egg. Be careful not to
mash your fingertips in the process!
This action, in conjunction with the pressure on the plug,
should allow the plug to suddenly move forward when the
pins are jostled to the shear line. What is meant to happen
here is that the striking force of hitting the lock against the
bench is transferred to the pins through the medium of
inertia. The impact on the lock acts on the lower pin, which
in turn moves the upper pin, and for a brief interval they
split, creating a wide, gapping shear line. At that instant, the
gentle pressure you have maintained on the plug will take
over and it will shift out of the cylinder. If you have pressed
too hard at this time, the plug might pop out of the cylinder
and you could lose the upper pin and spring.
For those of you who are unsuccessful, you should vary the
degree of striking force you apply against the cylinder. Be
aware that you are trying for impact transference and it is an
acquired skill. It is initially hard to learn but, once learned, it
is never forgotten.
The rest of you who were able to do this task with little
problem should now load the fourth chamber with its
respective pins and spring and try the rapping technique
again. This should be continued until all five chambers are
loaded. The difficulty increases as the chambers are filled, so
you may need lots of practice to master this rapping act. You
also may want to rearrange the combination of pins to give
some variation and further test your skills.
 In the old days, rapping was the accepted practice when
locksmiths needed to open cylinders for servicing when no
key was available. Hollow depressions would be worn into
workbenches where locksmiths habitually rapped their
cylinders. Of course, there are other methods of rapping. The
lock can be held in your hand and the bottom of the lock
cylinder struck with a wooden mallet or even a hammer
handle.
The Raven Rapping Jig (on facing page) designed by
the author. A rim or mortise-lock cylinder is secured
into the “V” trough of the angle iron by means of a
hose clamp. The tailpiece (or cam) must first be
removed from the rear of the lock. A spring-loaded
dowel that acts as a plunger and follower bears on
the lock’s plug. This is adjustable by means of the
threaded eyebolt. A stop has to be located at the
front of the cylinder to prevent the plug from moving
forward too far when it is successfully rapped open.
The handle of the Raven Rapper is grasped and the
lock is struck against a square of carpeting laid on a
bench. The lock is rapped upside down in this
technique, just as it is during hand rapping.

The above photo shows a rim-cylinder Corbin lock that

has been successfully rapped. The plug has been
rotated prior to servicing disassembly.
The forward-movement adjusting screw and
thumbnut can clearly be seen. This should allow a
little less than one-eighth inch of forward movement
of the plug when rapped.
Some locks have six chambers, only five of which
are generally used. If the plug moves too far forward,
there is danger of the pins aligning with the next
forward chamber, which will relock the lock. This
situation is bad enough, but with a previously empty
chamber, the results are catastrophic and the lock
becomes difficult to service. This is an unnecessary
headache that can be avoided with a little foresight.

Personally, I’ve found that rapping is a real pain, chiefly in

the fingertips, and there is added frustration when the plug
shifts too far and the upper pins drop into the adjacent
chambers. Then you have to start all over again. If the lock
has six chambers and only five are filled, then generally the
upper pin has dropped into an empty bottom chamber, with
disastrous results. It can be serviced, but it’s a real pain,
chiefly in the bottom. (To overcome this difficulty, I have
designed a rapping jig named after Poe’s pet: The Raven.)

The now exasperated reader might well ask what all this
has to do with a book about lock-pick guns. It is this precise
point that I have been leading to: All modern lock-pick guns
rely on this impact transfer to pick locks. However, they rap
the pins, instead of the lock. This was a major step forward in
the art of lock picking. At the moment the pick gun was
invented, the art became subject to mechanical science and
a great deal of mystery went out of lock work.
With pick guns, locks could be picked (rapped) on site,
entry gained, and locks serviced by the locksmith or
evidence collected by the investigator. This was the profound
advance this device fostered, for it no longer was necessary
for locksmiths to spend years at their craft in order to
successfully pick locks. A rookie detective could learn the
technique with a few hours of instruction and practice. The
development of the lock-pick gun was, indeed, a quantum
leap in the evolution of lock picking.
 Chapter Two

The Father of the Pick Gun

We know locks can be rapped open as a service technique,

and padlocks and handcuffs can be opened by rapping as
well. The goal is to get the locking bolt itself to spring back
and release the shackle. Generally speaking, modern
padlocks and handcuffs do not respond to this action, but at
the turn of the century they could be bounced open with
practice and skill.
The great Harry Houdini wore a lead block on a belt hidden
under his suit. On occasion, he also wore a sheet of metal
around his upper leg. These belts acted as his “benches” to
strike his locks against while handcuffed. Houdini also was
not above “doctoring” the locks used in his act by
substituting weakened springs to make his escape more
certain. Indeed, he was well acquainted with locks and
locksmithing and did much to publicize locks and security
and—perversely—how to thwart them.
It was at this time that the pick gun was born.
The patent drawings shown at the end of this chapter
depict the earliest instance of a lock-picking gun that the
author could find. It was invented by either Nathan Epstein
or his brother, Eli Epstein. The drawings present a device
that looked vaguely familiar to the author, and it might have
struck some readers that way also. The metal bow and the
flat vibrating spring resemble the Jew’s harp, an instrument
far more commonplace back then than now. It is only
conjecture that the pick gun was based on the harp, but one
can readily see that the Jew’s harp is also an impact-
producing instrument, one which acts horizontally rather
than vertically.
Shown here is a Jew’s harp with a second spring of
flatwire inserted into the bow. This spring has a half-
turn twist that brings it into vertical relation to the
lock tumblers and is kicked upward by fingering the
harp’s slide trigger.
This impact-producing device might well have led to
the Epstein pick gun. The Jew’s harp was very
common in the last century and into the 1920s. The
device in these photos has picked locks, but it could
be made handier with a vertical handgrip.

To test this hypothesis, I procured a harp and inserted into

the bow a second, thinner spring of flatwire that was long
enough to enter a lock keyway. By pulling back and releasing
the mainspring trigger, it would strike the keyway spring and
thereby transfer the impact to the pin tumblers. It worked,
but was somewhat unwieldy because it didn’t have a
suitable handgrip.
Mr. Epstein had the quality of mind to discover that impact
could be induced within the lock on site, and he went on to
fashion a device to accomplish this end—the pick gun.
Who was the real father of the pick gun, Nathan or Eli
Epstein? I am indebted to Dan Dwyer (and to the Kellys of
Kelly’s Locksmithing, who put me in contact with Mr. Dwyer)
for much of the information I learned about the Epsteins.
The Epstein lock-picking gun (at rest).

Mr. Dwyer is now in his eighties, but he remembers the

Epsteins well. He worked with both “Nate” and Eli in the
1930s and 1940s. Immediately on opening conversation with
me, he stated quite categorically that it was Eli and not
Nathan who was the inventor of the lock-picking gun (the
people at Kelly’s Locksmithing in Boston said the same
thing), despite the fact that Nathan’s name appears on the
patent.

Cross section of the Epstein lock-picking gun showing

the internal hammer about to be “seared off” by the
thumb-plunger, forcing it against the releasing
shoulder.

It seems Eli had quite an inventive turn of mind and,

among other things, designed toothpaste tubes and tools for
the locksmith trade for which he never received any credit.
He made custom key blanks for the large lock-shops, and he
had a bench in a room by himself where he worked as a
locksmith’s locksmith, tackling the difficult work sent to him
by other locksmiths. He also worked at many of the larger
locksmith and hardware shops, such as Dougmore & Duncan
and Kelly’s, and he was employed for a time by the
Independent Lock Company in nearby Fitchburg.

The Epstein lock-picking gun (fired).

Independent Lock was run by the Falks in those days, and

Eli married one of the Falk daughters. They had a son, but
the marriage didn’t work out and they were estranged for
many years. The reason for mentioning this family history is
that Barney Zion, the subject of the next chapter, was also
related by marriage to the Falks. (Mr. Zion was related to the
Zions of Montreal, Canada, the founders of Dominion Lock,
another famous name in the lock industry.)
Eli Epstein stood only five feet, seven inches, but he was a
giant just the same. Not to be eclipsed by his own invention,
he also designed a pick-proof lock cylinder before he passed
away in the 1940s, according to Dan Dwyer.

Cross section of the Epstein lock-picking gun at the

moment of firing. The hammer has leapt upward,
striking the picking needle, which in turn impacts the
pin tumblers within the lock.

Mr. Dwyer also told me that the Yale & Towne Company
(the name in locks) bought the rights to Epstein’s lock-
picking gun in the twenties in order to keep it off the market,
so threatened did they feel by it. And rightly so, since it was
such a revolutionary development in lock picking. The
construction and function of the lock-picking device is clearly
laid out in the patent, so I will not belabor the points here
other than to say that it is an easily made item by anyone
familiar with metal-working tools, and it is worth the effort to
construct.
The Epstein patent.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

 NATHAN EPSTEIN, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

IMPACT-PRODUCING IMPLEMENT

1,403,753. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan.

17, 1922.
Application filed September 28, 1920. Serial No. 413,430.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, NATHAN EPSTEIN, a citizen of the United
States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of
Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Impact-
Producing Implements, of which the following description, in
connection with the accompanying drawing, is a
specification, like characters on the drawing representing like
parts.
This invention has for its object to provide a novel
implement designed to produce impacts or hammer-like
blows, and which is so constructed that it will deliver said
blows within a confined space, as for instance within a small
tube or pocket.
A device embodying my invention is capable of a wide
range of use, and as illustrating such a wide range, I would
state that it is adapted for use as a lock-picking implement,
or as an implement for delivering hammer-like blows to a
rivet head situated within a tube or other small confined
space. Both of these uses are illustrated in the drawings, but
they are referred to merely as showing the capacity of the
implement for widely different uses, and not for the purpose
of in any way limiting the use to which the invention may be
put.
My improved implement comprises a frame, which will
preferably be constructed so that it can be readily held in the
hand, and an impact-delivering member movably connected
to the frame and projecting beyond the latter, thereby
permitting it to be inserted into the confined space, a spring-
impelled or impact-producing member constructed to deliver
the hammer-like blows to the impact-delivering element, and
means, which is preferably operable by the movement of the
thumb or finger of the hand in which the implement is held,
for placing the spring of the impact-producing member under
tension and then releasing the spring, thereby to deliver the
blow.
In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have
illustrated in the accompanying drawings some selected
embodiments thereof, which will now be described, after
which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
Fig. 1 of the drawings is a side view of the implement
embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view on a larger scale,
showing the manner in which the spring of the impact-
producing element is compressed and then released;
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3—3, Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4—4, Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a view showing one way in which the device may
be used;
Fig. 6 shows how the device is used as a lock-picking
implement.
The implement herein shown comprises a frame 1 which
has a general U-shape, the end of one of the arms of the U
being bent inwardly toward the other arm, as shown at 2,
and constituting a guiding member for the impact-delivering
element. This impact-delivering element is herein shown as
an arm or lever 3 pivoted to the frame at 4, and extending
through a guiding slot 5 formed in the portion 2, said
member 3 projecting beyond the frame a considerable
distance as shown at 6. The projecting portion 6 of the
member 3 constitutes the portion of the device which
delivers the impact. The impact-delivering member 3 is
acted on by a spring 7 which normally holds it in retracted
position.
The end 6 of the member 3 is given its movement to
deliver the impact by the operation of a spring-actuated
impact-producing element. This impact-producing element is
herein shown as a plunger or hammer member 8, which is
slidably mounted in the tube 9 secured to and depending
from the arm 10 of the frame, said arm having an opening
11 there through in alignment with the tube and forming a
continuation of the bore of the tube.
Situated within the tube 9 is a spring 12 which acts on the
member 8 and tends to urge it upwardly or towards the
impact-delivering member. The lower end of the spring is
shown as being situated against a plug 13, which is screwed
into the lower end of the tube 9 and is removable therefrom.
By removing the plug 13, the spring 12 and plunger 8 can be
removed if such action is necessary.
Means are provided for retracting the plunger 8 and
compressing the spring 12 and then releasing said spring, so
that the expansive movement of the spring will drive the
plunger 8 upwardly in the tube and against the member 3
with a hammer-like blow. This will give a quick, impact-
delivering movement to the portion 6 of the impact-
delivering member 3. For this purpose I have provided a dog
14, which is situated within a slot 15 formed in the plunger 8
and is pivotally mounted thereto as shown at 16, said dog
being acted upon by a spring 17 which tends to move it
outwardly. The tube 9 is provided with a slot 18 through
which the dog normally projects, as shown in Fig. 1.
I have also provided a member 19 which can be operated
by the thumb or finger of the hand, and the function of which
is to act on the dog 14 and compress the spring 12. This
member 19 is in the form of a yoke which embraces the
frame, and which is connected at its upper end to a spring
arm 20 that is secured to the frame as shown at 21. The
member 19 stands in line with the dog 14, so that when said
member 19 is moved downwardly against the action of the
spring 20, it will engage the dog and thereby carry the
plunger 8 downwardly against the action of the spring 12.
When the plunger has been fully retracted, then the dog is
automatically released from the member 19, thereby
allowing the spring 12 to throw the dog forward with a quick
movement. For this purpose, the tube 9 is formed with a
dog-releasing member 22 situated at the lower end of the
slot 18, and arranged so that when the back side 24 of the
dog engages the member 22, as shown in Fig. 2, a further
downward movement of the dog will cam said dog inwardly
out of the path of movement of the member 19, thus
disengaging the dog from the member 19.
As soon as this has occurred, the spring 12 will
automatically expand, thus throwing the plunger 8 forward
with a quick movement, and causing it to strike the member
3 with a hammer-like blow. This blow will produce in the
member 3 a quick, hammer-like movement the extent of
which is limited by the slot 5, and during such movement the
spring 7 will be compressed. The spring 7 is a relatively light
spring whose only function is to restore the member 3 to its
normal position after the blow has been delivered, and
therefore the said spring has no appreciable effect in
retarding the hammer-like blow of the impact-delivering
member 3.
As soon as the member 19 has been depressed to a point
sufficient to release the dog, then said member is released
and returned to its normal position by the action of the
spring 20.
The frame is of such a shape that it can be conveniently
held in the hand, and the member 19 can conveniently be
depressed by the action of the thumb or one of the fingers.
One use to which the invention is especially adapted is
that of picking so-called cylinder locks, and in Fig. 6, I have
illustrated the manner in which the device can be used for
this purpose. In said figure, 25 indicates the cylinder of a
cylinder lock, 26 indicates the plug having the key slot 27, 28
indicates the spring-pressed tumbler pins carried by the
cylinder 25, and 29 indicates the drivers that are actuated
when the key is inserted.
One familiar way of picking a lock of this type is to jar the
barrel repeatedly and at the same time apply a slight
pressure to the plug, the jarring operation resulting in driving
the tumbler pins 28 backwardly against the action of their
springs. A continued jarring will eventually line up all of the
tumbler pins so that the plug can be turned.
In using my device for picking a lock, the projection portion
6 of the impact-delivering member 3 is inserted in the key
slot 27 beneath the drivers 29, and then the device is
operated thereby to give impacts to the drivers. This results
in driving the tumbler pins backwardly against the action of
the spring, and by exerting a slight pressure on the plug
during this operation, any tumbler pin that is driven back
completely out of the plug 26 will be held in such position so
long as the pressure is applied. By delivering the repeated
impacts against the drivers, it is possible to line up all of the
tumbler pins, thereby unlocking the plug so that it can be
turned.
The pressure may be applied to the plug in various ways
while the impacts are being delivered. One way would be by
using an implement 30 in the form of a crank, one end 31 of
which is inserted into the upper end of the key slot, and the
other end 32 of which constitutes a finger-piece by which
turning pressure may be applied to the plug. The shape of
the impact-producing implement is such that it can operate
on a cylinder lock while the latter is in the door, so that this
invention provides a device by which a cylinder lock can be
readily picked without removing it from the door.
Another use to which the invention is especially applicable
is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein 33 indicates a tube having one
end inserted into a sleeve or tube 34 and which it is desired
to rivet to the sleeve 34. When the implement is to be used
for this purpose, the projecting end 6 of the impact-
delivering member will preferably be formed with a hammer-
head 35 of a size that it can be inserted into the tube 33—
34. After the rivet 36 is inserted, then the outer end of the
rivet may be held against an anvil 37 and the hammer-head
35 introduced within the sleeves. By actuating the
implement, the hammer-head will give the inner end of the
rivet repeated blows sufficient to upset the end of the rivet,
and thus rivet the two tubes together.
The above are only two suggestions as to uses to which
the invention may be put, and I wish it understood that the
invention is capable of a variety of other uses.
I claim:
1.In an impact-producing implement, the combination with
a frame having a guide, of an impact-delivering member
movably mounted on said frame, a relatively light spring
acting against said member in opposition to its impact-
delivering movement, a spring-actuated impact-producing
member slidable in said guide and adapted to strike the
impact-delivery member a hammer-like blow, and a
reciprocating actuator adapted during its movement to
engage the impact-producing member, thereby to compress
its spring and then to release said member to permit the
spring to act.
2.In an impact-producing implement, the combination with
a frame, of an impact-delivering member pivotally mounted
thereon, a relatively light spring acting against said impact-
delivering movement, a spring-actuated impact-producing
member adapted to strike the impact-delivering member a
hammer-like blow, a dog carried by the impact-producing,
and an actuator arranged to engage the dog and thereby
compress the spring of the impact-producing member, and
then to release the dog to permit said spring to act.
3.In an impact-producing implement, the combination with
a frame constructed to be held in the hand and having a
tubular guiding member extending laterally therefrom, of an
impact-delivering member pivoted to the frame and
extending beyond the latter, a spring-actuated impact-
producing member slidably mounted in said tube, the latter
being slotted, a dog carried by said impact-producing
member and operating in said slot, and an actuator arranged
to engage the dog and thereby move the impact-producing
member backwardly against the spring, and means for
releasing the dog from said actuator.
4.In an impact-producing implement, the combination with
a frame constructed to be held in the hand, and having a
tubular guiding portion extending laterally therefrom, of an
impact-delivering member pivoted to the frame and
extending beyond the latter, a relatively light spring acting
against said impact-delivering member in opposition to its
impact-delivering movement, an impact-producing member
slidably mounted in the tube, the latter having a slot, a dog
pivoted to the impact-producing member and extending
through the slot, a spring acting on said impact-producing
member, and an actuating member movably carried by the
frame and adapted to engage said dog, thereby to compress
said spring, and means for automatically releasing the dog
from said actuator when the spring is compressed, so that
the latter will cause the impact-producing member to deliver
a hammer-like blow against the impact-delivering member.
In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this
specification.

NATHAN EPSTEIN
The author’s version of the Epstein patent. The
vertical plunger is a tube slotted along three-fourths
of its length to allow the pick needle to be centered
and slid within. Directly above the needle in the tube
is a compression spring held in by the end cap. By
pressing with the thumb downward against this cap,
the tube extends beneath the pipe body and jumps
upward when released, immediately striking the pick
needle just as in Epstein’s original patent. The
forward grab screw and lock nut are for adjusting the
impact stroke.
 Chapter Three

Mr. Majestic

Bernard “Barney” Zion was born in 1887. He went to work

for the Independent Lock Company in 1928, earning a
commission of fifty dollars for every machine he sold. He was
a good salesman but he wanted to own his own business, so
with little money down, he founded the Majestic Lock
Company in 1931. He had a four-room office next to the
Woolworth Building, off lower Broadway in Manhattan. It was
a small business, employing Barney, his wife, and his
assistant, Dick Feingold.
In 1931, Barney invented the Lockaid pick gun and by
1935 had a patent claim filed. He became one of the better-
known New York locksmiths of his day and worked closely
with the police department and federal agencies. During
World War II, he tutored informal classes for intelligence
agents going overseas to prepare them for the types of locks
they might encounter there.
The Lockaid pick gun was closely controlled by the
authorities, and each one was registered and sold only to
locksmiths and police officials. The guns traditionally came in
wooden boxes of dovetailed construction, with detailed
instructions on how to use the device. The early guns were
made of a much heavier gauge steel than what is currently
used. The guns resembled toy cap guns and were riveted
closed. They were guaranteed for life and, if anything went
wrong, it was only necessary to return them for repair. The
author had occasion to use this service and was quite
impressed by it.
 Mr. Majestic, Bernard “Barney” Zion, and his
Lockaid pick gun, Pat. No. 1,997,362. This gun
belonged to an FBI agent. It was made in the 1940s
and is noticeably heavier than modern lock-pick guns.
Note the riveted construction and wooden issue box.

The Epstein patent had run out by the 1930s, and

everyone was free to manufacture his own version of the
gun. Yet the Majestic Lockaid pick gun brought the “impact-
producing implement” to its highest functional form. It felt
good in the user’s hand, and Barney Zion also claimed his
gun imparted control and “touch” to picking.
Hardly ever without a cigar and always surrounded by
dossiers of key codes, Barney Zion was a real character and
a legend in American locksmithing. Every locksmith worthy
of the name has owned a Lockaid pick gun at one time or
another, and sometimes several—one for the bench, one for
the truck, and one for spare. It is hard to imagine working
without one.

The Lockaid pick gun complete with box and

instructions.
 There are a few modifications that can be done to the
Lockaid pick gun to improve its performance or to suit the
individual tastes of the user.
First, I never liked the grip. It is vestigal at best, and should
be lengthened to give the gun more control. This is perhaps
best accomplished by affixing sideplates (like the ones on a
regular pistol) so that they extend downward at least a finger
width. These can be fashioned out of wood or plastic.
Second, the trigger can be shortened as an alternative to
the original pick gun, or as an adjunct modification. Most
users will be strong enough to achieve the same trigger pull
and would prefer to have the gun fill their hand more fully
than the present size.
The patent number on the grip of the Majestic Lockaid
pick gun is 1,997,362. The U.S. Patent Office,
however, has this dual-compartment bucket
registered under that particular number. It appears to
have been placed on the pick guns to prevent
duplication rather than for patent protection.
The E-Z Pick Gun. Made in the Orient, these guns sell
for about onethird the price of the Majestic.
The guts of the E-Z Pick Gun show a large trigger, “V”
sear, spring-loaded hammer, and impact-adjusting
wheel. The pick-needle holder resembles a boxer’s
arm cocked at the elbow.

This diagram shows the E-Z Pick Gun at the instant of

hammer release. The “V” sear has dropped downward
as the trigger has drawn the spring-loaded hammer
rearward. It is flying forward to hit the pick-needle
swing arm at its elbow. This movement, in turn,
impacts on the pin tumblers within the lock.
 As with regular pistols, this gun should also have a holster.
This would make the gun easier to carry and at the same
time would protect the delicate needle pick, which forever
snags in pockets. The holster can be worn on the belt and
can also hold spare needles and tension wrenches in a side
pocket, similar to European military or police holsters.
The attachment of the needles to the gun is another sore
point for me. They can come loose at the most inopportune
times, but this can be alleviated by the use of a miniature
wing nut, which will allow the tightening of the clamp.

The Click-it is a compact version of the E-Z Pick Gun.

It is triggered by pressing down with the thumb on
the toggle joint. This device was designed by the
author and called “The Click-it” because it resembles
a cricket or grasshopper.

Don’t be afraid to make your own needles out of spring

stock. The notches can be cut with small-diameter chain-saw
files or Dremel-tool abrasive wheels. You can also make
needles having sinous (wavy) pick patterns as well as half-
diamond patterns so that you can use the pick gun as an
ordinary pick when locks don’t respond to the vibrations.
Extreme paracentric keyways may require very narrow or
thin picks, so you also should have some of those on hand.

F.B.I. LOCK-RELEASE GUN INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE

LOCKAID PICK GUN

Since locks with the pin-tumbler embodiment are the most

widely used, the attached sketches will help you operate the
Lock Gun.
The Lock Release Gun is not an automatic instrument that
opens locks by mere trigger action. It will open locks easily
only when properly used.
Both hands are required to open locks with this instrument.
A small black tension wrench is supplied with each gun. Do
not attempt to open locks without this wrench.
Pin-tumbler-type locks have a cylinder core or round shaft
that rotates to the left (counterclockwise) or right (clockwise)
after inserting a key in the keyway. In the center of this
cylinder core or shaft is the keyhole or keyway, which is an
oblong slit in a vertical position (see Figure 1).
When opening this type of lock with a regular key, first
insert the key, turn the key to the right or left, and the lock is
opened. By inserting the key and not turning it, the lock will
never open.
It is the same with the Lock Gun. After inserting the gun
needle in the keyway and pulling the trigger, the lock will not
open unless the keyway turns to the right or left. Since the
needle would break if you tried to turn the keyway, it’s
necessary to use the small tension wrench at this point.
When you trigger the gun, the upward blows of the needle
knocks the tumblers in place so the shaft or cylinder core will
turn freely and open the latch. The turning of the shaft or
core when using the lock gun is done by turning the tension
wrench.
Before attempting to open a lock with the gun, determine
whether the keyway turns to the right or left. A good many
tumbler locks turn either way to open. Others turn only to
the right, while others go to the left.
It is safe to assume that the keyway should be turned to
the right. If this does not work, use the tension wrench so the
keyway turns to the left.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. A knurled wheel at the back of the gun takes care of

the tension adjustment of the blow. The wheel is
turned toward you for greater tension, and away from
you for less tension. Before starting to work on a lock,
turn the wheel away from you as far as it will go. Then
turn the wheel toward you five turns, which will
produce a little tension.
2. First insert one curved end of the tension wrench at
the bottom of the keyway. Arrange one curved end of
the wrench in the keyway so the other end will hang
slightly to the left. In this position, the wrench will act
as a lever, permitting you to turn the core after the
tumblers are knocked into place.
3. Insert the gun needle in the keyway directly above the
end of the wrench. Keep the needle as low as possible
in the keyway under the tumbler pins. When inserting
the gun needle, keep it in a straight line—just
remember how straight a regular key fits into a
keyhole. Don’t push the gun needle into the keyway
too far. Glance at one of your keys. The notches should
give you an idea of how far to insert the needle.
Inserting the needle too far will catch the inside end of
the lock and fail to strike the pins.
4. While holding the gun free in the lock with one hand,
maintain a slight pressure on the wrench with a finger
of your left hand. Only a slight touch on the wrench is
necessary. Don’t jerk or exert heavy pressure on the
wrench.
5. Pull the trigger while holding the gun needle in a
straight line and pull slowly. After each shot, apply a
slight finger pressure to the wrench with your left
finger. Then release the finger pressure on the wrench.
6. When the gun needle knocks the pins into position
inside the lock, you will feel a slight “give” on the
wrench. This means the gun has done its work and you
should immediately stop triggering. Turn the wrench
slowly to the right as you would a key and the shaft will
turn and open the lock.
7. By using the wrench as a lever, push your finger to the
right. The keyway will turn with the wrench and the
lock will open.
8. It is going to be slightly awkward to keep the curved
end of the wrench in place in the bottom of the keyway
without using too much pressure with your finger or
fingers. However, after a few trials, this awkwardness
will disappear.
9. Try both curved ends in the bottom of the keyway. One
end is slightly narrower than the other.
10. The wrench can also be used at the top of the
keyway, but this is more awkward.
11. If the lock does not open after eight or nine shots,
release the tension on the wrench, allowing the pins to
drop back into place, and start over. If the lock still
does not open, keep turning the wheel of the gun
toward you for more tension. Keep a record of the
number of turns it takes to successfully open a lock, as
this will serve as a guide for similar locks.
12. Some locks have narrow corrugated keyways, which
means that the gun blade or needle will have to be
 filed thinner. Never file the top edge of the blade or
needle—file only the sides or bottom.
13. An additional offset gun needle is furnished with
each gun. This is used only on locks that are directly
on top of the doorknob, in which case the needle
cannot be held in the keyway in a straight line.

The Segal patent.

 Chapter Four

The Segal Patent

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

SAMUEL SEGAL, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

LOCK-PICKING GUN

2,309,677. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1939. Serial No. 271,996.
The present invention is directed to an impact-producing
implement and more particularly is concerned with a
functionally and structurally improved serviceable lock-pick
gun and the objects, advantages, and features thereof will
be apparent from the teachings of the following detailed
description viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing
wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lock-pick gun according
to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1 with parts broken
away to show the internal construction.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, however illustrating the
impact-delivering rocking arm in a released position and
ready to impart a blow to the vertically shiftable lock-pick
shoe or holder.
 Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4—4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section view on the line 5—5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7—7 of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the shoe
and support.
Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the lock-pin gun
is generated denoted 10 and compromises a hollow metal
casing 11, a pivoted trigger 12, a trigger-locking pawl or dog
13 pivotally mounted on the pivoted impact-delivery rocking
arm or hammer 14, a vertically and bodily shiftable lock-pick
holder or shoe 15, and the lock pick 16.
According to the invention, shoe 15 is vertically guided
between upper and lower stops 17 and 18 integral with the
back wall 19 of the casing by a key or rib 20 projecting from
wall 19. More particularly, rib 20 cooperates with the spaced
transverse walls of the vertical keyway or slot 21 in the shoe
to vertically and slidably guide the shoe between the back
wall or plate 19 and the cover 22 of the case.
The shoe or pick holder 15 is provided with upper and
lower flanges 23 defining a channel in which the expanded
part 24 of the pick is inserted and clamping means in the
form of a bolt 25, and nut 26 is utilized to hold the expanded
part 24 firmly against the reduced part 27 of the shoe, which
overhangs the forward end of the casing. In the normal or
retracted position of the trigger (Fig. 1), the shoe 15 is also in
a retracted or elevated position; namely, the upper flange 23
together with the upper face of the shoe are against the
upper stop 17, which serves as the top wall of the casing.
In such retracted relation of the shoe, it will be observed
that the lower flange 23 is spaced or away from the lower
stop or seat 16. Cap or tumbler 28, which is telescopically
slidable in bore 29 of the rear part of shoe 15 and which is
now against the stop 17, compresses the helicoidal spring 30
in that the hammer portion 31 of the impact-delivering
device 14 is in its fully raised position and abutting the lower
flange 23 of the shoe, thus supporting the latter.
The impact-delivering device 14 includes the transversely
arranged bore 32 receiving the fixed fulcrum post 33, which
extends from the rear wall of the casing. By this
arrangement, the impact-delivering device is pivotally or
rotatably mounted on the fulcrum post 33. The impact-
delivering device also includes a recess 34, which is bridged
by the fixed fulcrum post 35 secured to sides 36 of recess
34, which sides serve to tiltably guide pawl 13 pivotally
sustained by post 35.
The latch or pawl 13 has its longest arm 37 normally urged
outwardly by reason of the helicoidal spring 38, in part
encompassing a post 39 fixed to arm 37 and in part
projecting into a recess 40 in the impact-delivering device or
rotatable lever 14, which is provided with a bore 41 housing
the normally expanded spring 42 surrounding the reduced
stem of the slidable tumbler 43 telescopically receivable in
bore 41.
For controlling the power of the impact to be struck by
hammer portion 31 of the impact-delivery device 14 against
shoe 15, means has been provided for adjusting the power
spring 42. To this end a threaded set screw 44 is employed.
This set screw is threadably connected to stop 17 and to a
depending lug integral with the stop and cooperates with the
slidable tumbler 43 to regulate the desired kickback power in
the spring 42.
As previously set forth, the trigger 12 is normally in a
retracted position as shown in Fig. 2. This trigger has one
arm 45 pivoted on the fixed fulcrum post 46 fixedly carried
by the rear wall of the casing. Another arm 46’ of the trigger
is provided with a nose or lip portion 47 having an inclined-
actuating shoulder or projecting catch 48 disposed in close
proximity to end face 49 of the long arm 37 of pivoted pawl
15. As shown in Fig. 2 of the forward end of trigger 12, which
is normally held in a retracted position by reason of reach 50
of the inverted U-shaped leaf spring 51’ appropriately
retained within the casing, is interlocked with the forward
end of the pawl; that is, end face 49 of the pawl cooperates
with shoulder 48 of the trigger to lock the latter against
involuntary rearward displacement. If, therefore, the finger-
gripping portion 51 of the trigger is moved rearwardly, the
trigger is caused to pivot rearwardly against the resistance
of reach 50.
During this operation, shoulder 48 abuts the end face 49 of
the pawl, thus bodily shifting the latter rearwardly and, since
the tapered tail or short arm 52 of the pawl is against the
inclined face 53 of the rockable hammer or impact-delivering
device 14, the latter is pivoted bodily or counterclockwise.
Thus the hammer portion 31 of the hammer or the impact-
delivering device 14 is moved away from the shoe 15 and
the latter drops by gravity on the lower stop 18 and such
action is accelerated by the expansion of spring 30 once the
shoe 15 loses the support of the hammer. To resist tilting of
the shoe 15 after the support of the hammer 14 has been
removed, the rear end of the shoe has a projection 54
cooperating with the curved stop or seat 55 to limit
downward displacement; that is, the shoe drops vertically at
the beginning of an operative cycle, which starts to take
place at the beginning of the rearward stroke of the trigger,
thus causing the upper flange 23 of the shoe to fall away
from stop 17.
As the cycle continues, the trigger continues to travel
rearwardly and lip 48 continues to abut the latch, which in
turn causes the impact-producing device to rotate or pivot
rearwardly, that is, counterclockwise, at which time the
helicoidal power spring 42 becomes compressed in that the
shank of the set screw 44 forces the slidable tumbler into
bore 41.
The impact-producing device or hammer 14 rotates
rearwardly until lip 47 of the trigger slips off from the end
face 49 of the nose of the long arm 37 of the pawl 13. Thus
the trigger becomes free of the pawl in which instant the
power spring releases its energy and expands, thus causing
the impact-producing device to retract in a clockwise
direction whereby the hammer portion 31 imparts an
appreciable impact and shock against the lower flange 23 of
the shoe 15, which is abruptly lifted or raised from its stops
or seats 18 and 55 and against the energy spring 30 to
abruptly position the upper flange 23 of the shoe against the
stop 17. In other words, a sudden blow is imparted by the
hammer portion to the shoe and consequently the pick
thereof is also bodily lifted.
With the impact-producing device 14 automatically
restored to its normal position (Fig. 2), the trigger is also
retracted automatically upon release of finger pressure on
the manipulating portion 51, in which instant reach 50 of the
leaf spring 51’ urges the trigger forwardly. On the retraction
of the trigger, cam face 56 of the lip 47 contacts the bottom
curved face 57 of the pivoted pawl 13, thus causing the long
arm 37 of the latter to be rocked into the recess 34 against
the action of spring 38 to permit lip 47 of the trigger to pass
the nose or front end of the pawl, after which spring 33
expands, causing the arm 37 of the pawl to move outwardly
again and interlock with lip 47, thus ending a complete cycle
of operation and the trigger is again in its normal and waiting
relation.
It follows, therefore, that on each cycle of operation, the
lock pick drops against the lower stop as the trigger starts to
recede, the hammer begins to pivot rearwardly, the power
spring starts to store a certain amount of energy until the
pawl becomes free of the lip of the trigger, at which time the
power spring suddenly dissipates its energy and the hammer
automatically retracts to strike the shoe carrying the lock
pick. Therefore the latter is elevated against the upper stop.
Following this impact, the trigger retracts automatically to
interlock with the pawl. Thus by the present arrangement, a
certain vibratory motion is imparted to the pick when the
trigger is snapped through several cycles. The lifting impact
to the pick is utilized to control certain tumblers of a
conventional cylinder lock (not shown); that is, in the matter
of picking the latter. The lifting impact applied to the
tumblers is transmitted to the drivers of the cylinder lock for
parting the latter from the tumblers. Once this is established,
the cylinder lock is picked. This is in line with the well-known
principles of picking cylinder locks and further discussion in
respect to the method of picking locks therefore need not be
further discussed.
The shoe 15’ according to the showing of Fig. 8 is provided
with bore 62 for receiving the rear end of the pick 16, which
is adjustably held clamped by the set screw 61. Attached to
the bottom face of the shoe 15’ is the block 60, which is of a
suitable sound-deadening material. This block is provided
with an arcuate shoulder 55’ cooperating with the curved
stop 55 to prevent tilting of the shoe when hammer portion
31 of the rockable lever 14 is operated. In other structural
aspects, the form according to Fig. 8 is along the lines of the
emodiment according to Fig. 1.
Without further analysis, the foregoing disclosure will so
fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others may,
by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it to various
applications without omitting certain features, that from the
standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute the essential
characteristics of the generic and special aspects of the
invention and therefore such adaptations should and are
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range
of equivalency of the following claims:
I claim:
1.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a pick carried by said shoe and
extending laterally of said casing, a pivoted hammer within
said casing and having a shoulder, a power helicoidal spring
within said hammer, adjustable means carried by said casing
and cooperating with said spring for holding said hammer
against said shoe to normally hold the latter against said
upper stop, a pawl pivoted to said hammer and having a
forward portion, spring means normally urging said forward
portion of said pawl out of said hammer, a trigger pivotally
sustained within said casing and having a catch, a leaf spring
for normally holding said catch to interlock with said portion,
and a manipulator carried by said trigger for operating the
latter to shift said pawl to rearwardly and pivotally displace
said hammer away from said shoe whereby the latter falls by
gravity against said lower stop and whereby said adjustable
means compresses said power spring until said shoulder is
free of said forward portion of said pawl.
2.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a relatively thin pick carried by said
shoe and extending laterally of said casing, a pivoted
hammer sustained by and within said casing, a power
helicoidal spring within said hammer, adjustable means
carried by said casing and cooperating with said spring for
holding said hammer against said shoe to normally hold the
latter against said upper stop, a pawl pivoted to said
hammer and having a terminal, spring means for projecting
said terminal out of said hammer, a trigger pivotally
sustained within said casing and having a shoulder, an
inverted U-shaped leaf spring for normally holding said
trigger to removably engage said terminal and shoulder, and
a manipulator carried by said trigger and disposed outside of
said casing to shift said pawl to rearwardly and pivotally
displace said hammer away from said shoe whereby the
latter falls by gravity against said lower stop and whereby
said adjustable means compresses said power spring until
said shoulder is free of said terminal, at which time said leaf
spring automatically retracts said trigger to tiltably shift said
terminal of said pawl within the hammer to permit said
shoulder to pass said terminal whereupon said spring means
urges said terminal outwardly to engage with said shoulder.
3.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a relatively thin pick carried by said
shoe and extending laterally of said casing, a pivoted
hammer sustained by and within said casing and including a
stop at the rear thereof, a power helicoidal spring within said
hammer, adjustable means carried by said casing and
cooperating with said spring for holding said hammer against
said shoe to normally hold the latter against said upper stop,
a pawl pivoted to said hammer and including a tail, spring
means for projecting a forward portion of said pawl out of
said hammer and said tail against said stop of said hammer,
a trigger pivoted within said casing and having a catch, an
inverted U-shaped leaf spring for normally holding said catch
to interlock with said forward portion, and a manipulator
carried by said trigger and disposed outside of said casing
for displacing said trigger to shift said pawl rearwardly to
rearwardly and pivotally displace said hammer away from
said shoe whereby the latter falls by gravity against said
lower stop and whereby said adjustable means compresses
said power spring until said trigger is free of said forward
portion, at which time said leaf spring automatically retracts
said trigger to tiltably shift said forward portion of said pawl
within the hammer and said tail away from said stop of said
hammer to permit said catch to pass the forward portion,
whereupon said spring means urges said forward portion
outwardly of said hammer to interlock with said catch.
4.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a relatively thin pick carried by said
shoe and extending laterally of said casing, a pivoted
hammer sustained by and within said casing and including
an inclined stop at the rear thereof, a power helicoidal spring
within said hammer adjustable means carried by said casing
and co-operating with said spring for holding said hammer
against said shoe to normally hold the latter against said
upper stop, a pawl pivoted to said hammer and including a
tail, spring means for projecting a forward portion of said
pawl out of said hammer and said tail against said inclined
stop, a trigger pivotally sustained within said casing and
including a shoulder at its forward end, an inverted U-shaped
leaf spring for normally holding said trigger to removably
engage said forward portion, and a manipulator carried by
said trigger and disposed outside of said casing for shifting
said shoulder against said forward portion of said pawl to
rearwardly and pivotally displace said hammer away from
said shoe whereby the latter falls by gravity against said
lower stop and whereby said adjustable means compresses
said power spring until said shoulder is free of said forward
portion, at which time said leaf spring automatically and
bodily retracts said trigger to tiltably shift said forward
portion of said pawl within the hammer to permit said
shoulder to pass by said forward part of said pawl,
whereupon said spring means urges said forward portion
outwardly to interlock with said shoulder.
5.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a relatively thin pick carried by said
shoe and extending laterally of said casing and having a
depending portion, a pivoted hammer sustained by and
within said casing and including a curved stop, a power
helicoidal spring within said hammer, a cap mounted on said
spring, adjustable means carried by said casing and
including a depending portion cooperating with said cap to
compress said spring for holding said hammer against said
shoe to normally hold the latter against said upper stop, a
pawl pivoted to said hammer, spring means for projecting a
forward portion of said pawl out of said hammer, a trigger
pivoted within said casing and having a projection, an
inverted U-shaped leaf spring for normally holding said
projection to removably engage said portion, and a
manipulator carried by said trigger and disposed outside of
said casing for shifting said trigger and said pawl to
rearwardly and pivotally displace said hammer away from
said shoe whereby the latter falls by gravity against said
lower stop and against said curved stop and whereby said
adjustable means compresses said power spring until said
projection is free of said forward portion, at which time said
leaf spring automatically retracts said trigger to tiltably shift
said forward portion of said pawl within the hammer to
permit to pass said forward portion of said pawl, whereupon
said spring means urges said forward portion outwardly to
interlock with said projection.
6.In an impact-delivering device, a casing having upper
and lower stops, a vertically displaceable shoe movable
between said stops, a pick carried by said shoe and
extending laterally of said casing, a spring controlled tumbler
vertically slidable within said shoe and cooperating with said
upper stop, a pivoted hammer within said casing, a power
helicoidal spring within said hammer, adjustable means
carried by said casing and cooperating with said spring for
holding said hammer against said shoe to normally hold the
latter against said upper stop, a pawl carried by said
hammer, spring means normally urging a forward portion of
said pawl out of said hammer, a trigger pivotally sustained
within said casing and including a projecting catch, a leaf
spring for normally holding said catch to displaceably
interlock with said portion, and a manipulator carried by said
trigger for operating the latter to shift said pawl to
rearwardly and pivotally displace said hammer away from
said shoe, whereby the latter falls against said lower stop
and whereby the adjustable means compresses said power
spring until said trigger is free of the forward portion of said
pawl.
The ESP version of the Segal lock-picking gun. The
author has seen criminally made versions of this gun.
 Chapter Five

Genesis of a Pick Gun

In late 1979, I conceived of a wire-pick gun that could be

made in a few minutes by using the most ubiquitous of
materials—the common coat hanger.
The coat hanger is a drawn-and-formed steel wire about a
tenth of an inch thick. It is not a spring, but the metal is
snappy enough due to the drawing process.
I cut off the hook and its wire-wound neck and
straightened out the coat hanger. A loop was needed, so I
secured another common item—a broom handle. After I
wrapped the wire a turn and a half around this form, I
fashioned a grip and a frame by using two pairs of pliers to
bend and twist the wire until I came up with the outline of
the wire-pick gun.
The pick-needle portion of the coat-hanger wire was
compacted with heavy blows on both sides with a hammer.
This densified the metal and forged it into a flattened blade.
The now too wide blade was then ground to the shape of the
pick needle used on the Lockaid tool.
I immediately tried my creation in the Weiser lock I had on
the workbench. It picked after a few snaps of the trigger. The
trigger was pulled back and down by the trigger finger and
then released. The distance of the pull could be varied and,
therefore, so could the impact on the pin tumblers.
 Two versions of the author’s Spring Pick Gun. The
Derringer version below is designed for handiness—it
may be carried in a shirt pocket. They are both made
of coat-hanger wire. The S.P.G.-1, available from
Hardware Products Corporation (H.P.C.), is a
commercially available version of the Spring Pick Gun.

Seeing the success with the Weiser, I then tried a

Dominion lock cylinder and then a Schlage key-in-the-knob
lock. These, too, were picked in short order. I knew I was on
to something then. For the price of a coat hanger, a pick gun
was fashioned that could duplicate the action of expensive
custom-made tools. It was flimsy to be sure, but if one
treated it with care it could simplify the job of emergency
picking when one’s tools were back at home or at the shop. I
called my device the Spring Pick Gun.
Two Spring Pick Derringers made by the author.

The Spring Pick Ferret, made by the author out of

coat-hanger wire. By squeezing the Ferret’s body, the
lower arm rakes across the twin protuberances,
causing the pick needle to vibrate upward and
downward as well as forward and backward. The
needle is snake-shaped to take advantage of this
action. It picks by combined action rather than relying
on impact alone. The “ear” of the Ferret is a thumb
rest.

I immediately wanted to share my design with other

locksmiths, so I sent the design, a sample, and a short
description of its manufacture and use to a national
locksmith publication. The written comments were published,
but not with an accompanying drawing or photo. The article
was rendered useless by this oversight, and I felt somewhat
miffed that a useful design for a loclcsmithing tool had been
shoved aside.
Having been bitten by the bug to make wire-pick guns,
however, I proceeded to make a couple dozen. These were
all made by hand at first, but I later designed a template
with pins at the appropriate locations.
I had occasion to visit a former CIA man that spring and
took a Spring Pick Gun with me. He was quite enthralled by
its design and encouraged me to see if I could find a way to
market it. I told him about my experience with the locksmith
magazine and said I was not so hopeful, as my article hadn’t
elicited any inquiries.
The Lock Clicker. The author remembers this
instrument being offered for sale to private
detectives in the 1950s.
This device is held in the palm of the hand. Its upper
arm is pressed and released by the thumb in a snappy
manner. This causes the arm’s lower portion, which
wraps around the pick needle, to impact against the
needle on its return stroke, kicking it upward and
transmitting force to the pin tumblers within the lock.
The upper Lock Clicker was made by the author.
Note that the needle has been reground. The lower
one is commercially available from law enforcement
supply houses. It is often illustrated in catalogs being
held, incorrectly, upside down.
 The Scorpion lock clicker is, quite obviously, a
clothespin with a channel grooved in it to accept a pin
needle made from a street-sweeper brush. The “tail”
of the Scorpion curls back and around the user’s
thumb, and the snap action is provided by the index
finger slipping off the lower half of the clothespin
after it is pinched together.
This Flare Gun pick has a slip trigger that fires when
the thumb slips from the cocking groove. The gun has
a tiny hole drilled through its upper body and a flat-
spring needle doubled over at the rear for jam fit. It is
held vertically in the hand and cocked and released
rapidly, causing impact and recoil to transmit along
the length of the needle. The gun is made by the Life
Support Technology Company of Beaverton, Oregon.
 Note: The expended flare cartridge is cut down for
clearance.

Later that year, I attended the Master Locksmiths

Convention in Coventry, England. I took several guns with
me and passed them out as mementos. The locksmiths there
were most appreciative. An official of Scotland Yard was in
attendance, and when I gave him the wire gun he expressed
alarm that such a tool might get into the hands of the “other
side” (i.e., criminals). Nonetheless, he wished me well and
thanked me for the gun.

Detail of the Flare Gun pick’s thumb trigger and

doubled spring.

My local association, the Ontario Locksmiths, had their

convention in the fall and I approached the H.P.C. reps
(Hardware Products Corporation, a major supplier of
locksmithing equipment) at their booth during the trade
show. They were quite interested in the tool and took my
name and a sample and promised to get back to me.
I heard nothing from them, but was later quite surprised to
see an ad from H.P.C. showing my gun! It listed its features
and included the closing notice: patent pending. I was
nonplused and contacted them immediately. I spoke with
their president, who remembered me from the show. He said
he had lost my address and that I would be entitled to
royalties based on sales of the Spring Pick Gun. I was
mollified by this offer, but the story does demonstrate that
the road to locksmith tool design and merchandising is a
rocky one. If H.P.C. had wanted to, they could have cut me
off completely. If nothing else, a confidential disclosure
statement should have been signed and patent protection
for the design secured. Let this experience be a lesson to all
would-be inventors out there!
These wound-spring wire picks impart a snap action
while picking—in effect, miniature pick guns. The A
pick is for regular locks and the B pick is for double-
sided pin-tumbler locks. The C tool is a wire tension
wrench for a delicate touch. These may be homernade
or purchased through KENCO or A-1.

One of the big secrets of lock picking is the correct

use of the tension wrench. Most beginners overdo the
turning pressure. Delicacy of touch is achieved by
calibrating the pressure with a torque wrench (shown
here) in conjunction with the pick gun. A journal
should be kept listing the successful attempts and
torques used.
A modified Correx gram/pond, centi-newton tension
meter used by Khris Balingit. It has a maximum-hold
indicator and is used just like a normal tension
wrench.
The Miskill patent.
 Chapter Six

The Miskill Patent

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

WILLIAM J. MISKILL, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

POWER-ACTUATED LOCK PICK

2,565,254. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug.

21, 1951.
Application filed April 16, 1948. Serial No. 21,436.
This invention relates to an improved lock-picking machine
for imparting a vibratory motion to a lock-picking blade and
more particularly has reference to an electrically actuated
mechanism for imparting a vibratory motion to the blade
support.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of
the aforedescribed character of extremely simple
construction and wherein through the making and breaking
of an electric circuit automatically accomplished in the
operation of the machine, the constant vibratory motion of
the lock-pick blade will be accomplished without the operator
being required to execute any manual operation so that the
implement, which is manually supported, can be accurately
held and guided by the operator for accomplishing the lock-
picking operation.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device
for accomplishing the aforedescribed result, which is of
extremely simple construction, capable of being
economically manufactured and sold, and which will be very
efficient and durable for its intended purpose.
Another object of the invention is to provide an implement
whereby a lock-picking operation can be accomplished much
more rapidly and with considerably less manual effort than is
required in employing manually actuated lock-picking
devices.
Various other objects and advantages of the invention will
hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following
description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred
embodiment thereof, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the assembled
machine;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof looking from left
to right of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine looking
from right to left of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in side
elevation taking substantially along a plane as indicated by
the line 4—4 of Figure 3;
Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal cross sectional views taken
substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 5—5 and
6—6, respectively, of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the parts
in a circuit-interrupting position, and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tool for use with the
lock-picking blade.
Referring more specifically to the drawing, the novel lock-
picking machine in its entirety and which is designated
generally 10 includes a housing, designated generally 11 in
the shape of a pistol grip and which is preferably formed of
corresponding sections 12 detachably connected by
fastenings 13. The housing 11 has two electrical conductors
14 and 15 extending therethrough from the lower end of said
housing or grip 11 to adjacent the upper end thereof. Said
conductors 14 and 15 project from the back edge of the
housing 11 adjacent its upper end and through an opening
16 thereof, adjacent the upper end of said housing. A
conventional electric switch, designated generally 17 is
attached to the opposite, front edge of the housing or grip
11 and the conductor 15 is provided with spaced portions
which are connected to the two contacts, not shown, of the
switch 17 and whereby a gap is normally formed between
said portions of the conductor 15 and which is adapted to be
electrically bridged by pressing inwardly on the plunger or
button 18 of the switch 17, all in a conventional manner. The
conductors 14 and 15 are each enclosed in a tubing or
casing 19 of a suitable insulating material, except portions of
the conductor 15 which are connected to the switch 17 and
the exposed ends of the conductors, as will hereinafter
become apparent.
A yoke-shaped supporting frame 20 has a substantially flat
intermediate portion 21 which is mounted on the upper end
of the grip or housing 11 and transversely thereof. A bracket
22 has an intermediate portion suitably secured, as by
welding, now shown, to the underside of the intermediate
frame part 21 and which is disposed in a recess 23 at the
upper end of the housing 11. The bracket 22 is provided with
downwardly and inwardly curved free ends 24 having
terminal portions which are apertured and which bear
against corresponding portions of opposite sides of the
housing 11 and through which the uppermost fastening 13
extends. Said fastening 13 comprises a headed bolt and nut.
A solenoid, designated generally 25, includes two
corresponding units 26 and 27 which are suitably secured to
the upper side of the intermediate portion 21 of the frame 20
and the coiled wires of which are connected by a conductor
wire 27a, as seen in Figure 2. Solenoid units 26 and 27 are
electrically insulated from the frame 20 by insulators 28.
The frame 20 is provided with upwardly diverging arms 29
that rise from the ends of the intermediate portion 21,
outwardly of the solenoid 25, each of which arms terminates
in an outturned terminal portion 30, which carries a clamp
31. A normally flat spring 32, preferably formed of two or
more elongated resilient leaves, as best seen in Figures 4
and 7, is disposed above the solenoid 25 and with the ends
of the spring 32 secured to the terminals 30 by the clamps
31.
An armature 33, illustrated as comprising two metallic
bars, has a rod 34 extending through the central portion
thereof and which is preferably fixed therein. The rod 34 also
extends through an intermediate portion of the spring 32. A
metal strip 35, through which the rod 34 extends, is
interposed between the armature 33 and spring 32 and has
downturned terminal portions 36 which engage opposite
sides of the armature 33 and upturned lugs or terminal
portions 37 which engage the side edges of the spring 32 to
prevent the armature and rod 34 from turning relatively to
said spring. Accordingly, the armature 33 is disposed
beneath and substantially in alignment and the spring 32
and with the solenoid 25. The upper end of the rod 34 is
threaded to receive two clamping nuts 38 by means of which
the armature is clamped to the spring 32 and above said
nuts 38, the rod 34 is longitudinally slotted as seen at 39 to
detachably and adjustably receive the shank portion of a
lock-picking blade 40. A nut 41 engages the threaded rod
portion above the blade 40 for clamping the blade between
said nut and the uppermost locking nut 38, and a locking
wing nut 42 engages the upper threaded end of the rod 34 to
retain the clamping nut 41 in adjusted position.
The bracket 22 is provided with an upstanding extension
43 which rises from the side edge thereof and which extends
outwardly from the housing 11 adjacent its outer or rear
edge, as best seen in Figures 1, 4, and 7. The supporting arm
43 supports an angular bracket 44, one leg of which is
connected to the outer side of said arm 43 by fastenings 45.
Interposed between the arm 43 and the adjacent portion of
the bracket 44 is a standard 46 through which the fastenings
45 loosely extend and a strip of insulating material 47 is
disposed on either side of the standard 46 for insulating said
standard from the arm 43 and bracket 44, as clearly
illustrated in Figures 4 and 7. The standard 46 is provided
with an inturned upper end 48 carrying on its underside an
electrical contact 49. A leaf spring 50 is anchored by
fastenings 51 and a retaining plate 52 to the upper side of
the other end of the bracket 44 and extends inwardly
therefrom and has its free end disposed beneath and in
engagement with the underside of the armature 33. The leaf
spring 50, which is formed of a conducting material, is
provided with a contact 52a on the upper side thereof and
which is disposed to normally engage the contact 49.
As best seen in Figure 3, a conductor wire 51a connects
the coil of the solenoid unit 27 to a laterally extending
portion of the standard 46 and as clearly illustrated in
Figures 1 and 4, the end of the electrical conductor 15 which
extends from the opening 16 is connected to one of the
fastenings 51 thereby forming an electrical connection with
the contact 52a through the resilient conductor strip 50. The
corresponding end of the conductor wire 14 is connected to
the coil of the solenoid unit 26.
The opposite ends of the conductors 14 and 15 are
adapted to be connected to any suitable source of electrical
current, not shown, preferably with a transformer interposed
between the machine 10 and current source.
From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the
circuit to the solenoid 25 will normally be interrupted by the
switch 17. The grip-shaped housing 11 can be grasped in
either hand and by applying one finger to the switch plunger
18, said plunger can be pressed inwardly for bridging the
gap between the conductor portions 15 for closing the
electric circuit to the solenoid 25, assuming that the
conductors 14 and 15 are connected to a source of electric
current. When this occurs, the solenoid 25 will be energized
and magnetized for attracting the armature 33 downwardly.
As the armature 33 is drawn downwardly, the spring 32 will
be flexed downwardly and at the same time the resilient
conductor strip 50 will also be caused to flex downwardly at
its inner or forward end by its engagement with the armature
33. Accordingly, as the armature approaches the solenoid
the resilient conductor strip 50 will draw the switch contact
52a out of engagement with the contact 49, thereby
interrupting the electric circuit at the switch 49, 52a for de-
energizing and demagnetizing the solenoid 25 so that the
spring 32 will return the solenoid 33 from its position of
Figure 7 back to its position of Figures 2, 3, and 4. As the
solenoid 25 is thus moved upwardly, the resilient strip 50 will
return to its position of Figure 4 thereby returning the
contact 52a into engagement with the contact 49 for again
energizing and magnetizing the solenoid 25 for repeating the
operation just described. It will thus be readily apparent that
the solenoid 25 will be alternately magnetized and in
combination with the spring 32 will thereby impart a
vibratory motion to the lock-pick blade 40 which is supported
by said spring. Accordingly, so long as the plunger 18 is held
depressed, the lock-pick blade 40 will be vibrated in a
vertical plane to enable the proper impact to be imparted to
the tumbler of a lock for accomplishing the lock-picking
operation.
Figure 8 illustrates a tension implement 55, which is
adapted to be disposed in the keyway of a lock to be picked
beneath the blade 40 and for holding the lock-pick blade in
the upper part of the keyway and in a position for impact
engagement with the lock tumblers.
Various modifications and changes are contemplated and
may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the
appended claim:
I claim as my invention:
1.An electric lock-picking machine comprising a supporting
structure adapted to be manually engaged and supported, a
solenoid supported thereby and adapted to be connected to
a source of electric current, an armature for said solenoid, a
resilient support connected to said supporting structure for
supporting said armature in spaced relationship to the
solenoid, means connected to said resilient support for
supporting a lock-pick blade thereabove and for movement
therewith, an electric switch interposed in the electric circuit
of the solenoid and including a fixed contact and a resilient
contact, and said resilient contact having a portion disposed
beneath and in engagement with the armature whereby
when the solenoid is energized and magnetized for
attracting the armature, said resilient contact will be moved
by the armature to a circuit interrupting position for de-
energizing the solenoid, and said resilient support reacting to
move the armature away from the solenoid when the
solenoid is demagnetized.
2.An electric lock pick as in claim 1, said supporting
structure including a yoke-shaped frame in which said
solenoid is fixedly disposed, said frame having upstanding
side members, clamping means on the upper ends of said
side members for detachably engaging and clamping the
ends of the resilient support to the frame and for positioning
the resilient support above the solenoid.
3.An electric lock-picking machine comprising a manually
supported supporting structure, a solenoid fixedly supported
thereby, a spring bridging a portion of said supporting
structure, an armature supported by said spring in spaced
relationship to the supporting structure, means mounted by
said spring for adjustably and detachably mounting a lock-
picking blade, said solenoid being electrically energized for
attracting the armature and flexing said spring, a switch
interposed in the electric circuit to the solenoid including a
movable contact, and a resilient member normally
supporting the movable contact in a circuit closing position
and disposed to be engaged and moved by the armature to
move the movable contact to a circuit interrupting position
for interrupting the circuit when the armature is drawn
toward the solenoid, said spring reacting to move the
armature away from the solenoid when the latter is de-
energized for closing the switch and re-energizing the
solenoid.

A modified Dremel jigsaw with a pick needle attached

to its vibratory mechanism. It is strikingly similar in
concept and execution to the Miskill patent, which
itself is based on the doorbell-clapper unit.
The Moore patent.
 Chapter Seven

The Moore Patent

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

LLOYD L. MOORE, PORTLAND, OREGON

VIBRATORY LOCK PICK

3,264,908. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented August

9, 1966.
Application filed August 24, 1964. Serial No. 391523.
This invention relates to a lock pick, and more particularly
to an electrically actuated lock pick including a vibratory
needle, which is adapted to be inserted into the key opening
of pin-tumbler or wafer locks to facilitate the work of a
locksmith in the unlocking of such locks.
A primary object of this invention is the provision of an
improved lock pick of this character having means whereby
upon connecting the device to a source of alternating
current, the pick will be automatically vibrated or oscillated
at a relatively high rate of speed in order to facilitate the
alignment of the pin tumblers or wafers, so that the lock may
be readily opened by means of a conventional turning
wrench.
 An additional object of the invention is the provision of
such a device which may be readily adapted for insertion
into a six-volt converter, which in turn is connected to a
portable battery so that the device may be used in any
location.
A further object of the invention is the provision of such a
device which is provided with a body in the form of a
compact handle, the latter being provided with an external
telltale light and an actuating switch in a position readily
accessible to the operator.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a
device of this character that is provided internally with an
electromagnetic coil, which, when connected to alternating
current, will impart oscillatory vibration to a bar, which will in
turn impart such vibration to a lever, at the end of which is
mounted the needle comprising the lock pick per se.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a
device of this character that is sturdy and durable in
construction, relatively compact and easy to transport and
manipulate, reliable and efficient in operation, simple and
inexpensive to manufacture, and simple and efficient in use
and operation.
Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be
pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and
disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is
shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.
In the drawing:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the lock pick of the
instant invention.
FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken
substantially through the center line thereof; and
FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the devices of
FIGURES 1 and 2 as viewed from the right.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views of the drawing.
 Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is
generally indicated at 10 an electric lock pick constructed in
accordance with the instant invention which includes a body
11 comprised of two separable halves 12, which are secured
together as by means of screws or bolts 13. A centrally
positioned cavity in the center of the body contains a wire
wound coil 15 surrounding a laminated core 16, adjacent
which is a U-shaped magnet 17, having its poles projecting
upwardly. The magnet ends have positioned there-across a
metallic bar 18, one end of which extends beyond one leg of
the magnet into an adjacent cavity 19a, and abuts the
underside of a horizontal arm 19 comprising a part of a lever
20. The lever includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined
portion 21 and a central portion 22, through the midpoint of
which a pivot 23 extends. The lever also includes an
outwardly extending tapered portion 24, which projects
through a narrow slotted opening 25 in the front of the
casing and terminates in a socket 26. The socket contained
in the shank 27 of a lock-pick needle 28, which is held in
position in the socket by means of a set screw 29. The
needle 28 is adapted for insertion in the key opening of a
pin-tumbler lock, for a purpose to be more fully described
hereinafter.
A depending lug 29 adjacent arm 19 engages one end of a
coil spring 30, which is set in a socket 31, and which serves
normally to bias the upper portion of horizontal arm 19 into
engagement with the lower side of the extending end of bar
18.
A set screw 32 extends through a threaded opening 33 in
the top wall of the casing and may be adjusted to limit the
range of the oscillatory vibration imparted to the bar, and
hence the pivotal oscillation of the lever 20 and its
associated needle 23.
Current is supplied to coil 15 through a first wire 35, which
extends through a switch 36 operated by a button or slide 37
located exteriorly of the casing, and thence through the
filament 38 of a telltale or indicator bulb 39. From the other
end of the filament 38 a wire 40 leads directly to the coil 15,
from which a wire 41 returns to a common wire conduit 42.
The conduit 42 terminates in a conventional electric plug,
which may be inserted in any wall outlet for a source of
alternating current. Alternatively, the plug may be connected
to an inverter and employed in conjunction with a battery
supplying direct current to the inverter.
In the use and operation of the device, the needle or pick
is inserted in the key opening of a tumbler lock, the switch
37 moved to circuit-closing position, after connection of the
conduit 42 to a suitable source of alternating current, and
the operation of the device occasioned by the vibration of
the bar 18 and the consequent oscillatory pivotal vibration of
the lever 20 agitates the pin tumblers into alignment so that
the lock may be turned or opened after aligning the tumblers
by means of an ordinary or conventional locksmith’s turning
wrench.
Obviously, the use of such a device facilitates and
expedites the work of a locksmith, since the rapid vibratory
movement has the effect of aligning the pin tumblers with
extreme rapidity and simplicity, and requires no particular
skill in its use and operation.
From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein
provided an improved lock pick that accomplishes all of the
objects of this invention, and others, including many
advantages of great practical utility and commercial
importance.
As many embodiments may be made of this invention
concept, and as many modifications may be made in the
embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be
understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely
as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
I claim:
1.A lock pick comprising, in combination, a body forming a
handle, a laminated core surrounded by a coil in said body, a
magnet adjacent said coil and selectively energizable
thereby, an elongated bar mounted for oscillating movement
in said body adjacent said magnet, an electric circuit
connected to said coil, means for connecting said circuit to a
source of alternating current to impart oscillating vibration to
said bar, a lever pivoted in said body having one end in
contact with said bar for oscillating vibration thereby and its
other end extending outwardly through an opening in said
body, and a needle adapted to be inserted into the key
opening of a tumbler lock for vibrating the tumblers thereof
fixed to said other end.
2.The structure of claim 1 wherein said circuit includes an
electric switch, and means exteriorly of said body for closing
and opening said switch.
3.The structure of claim 2 wherein said circuit includes an
indicator light visible from the exterior of said casing, and
illuminated when said circuit is closed by said switch.
4.The structure of claim 1 wherein a compression spring in
said body engages said lever to bias said one end into
continuous contact with said bar.
5.The structure of claim 4 wherein said lever includes a
central portion through which the pivot extends, an upwardly
extending portion terminating in a horizontal arm abutting
the underside of said bar, an adjacent vertical lug engaging
the end of said coil spring, and a downwardly extending
tapered portion extending outwardly through said opening
and having a socket at its outer end, said needle sitting in
said socket, and a set screw for retaining said needle in said
socket.
6.The structure of claim 1 wherein a set screw is threaded
through the wall of said body adjacent one end of said bar
for regulating the oscillation thereof.
Battery-powered scissors form the basis for this
electrical pick gun made by the author. Note the
similarities to the Moore patent and its advantage of
being portable. My sister, when just a schoolgirl,
picked her first lock with this device with no previous
lock-pick training.

The Crasnianski patent.

 Chapter Eight

The Crasnianski Patent

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

SERGE CRASNIANSKI, GRENOBLE, FRANCE

APPARATUS FOR PICKING PIN-TUMBLER CYLINDER

LOCKS

4,156,375. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May

29, 1979.
Application Filed September 20, 1977. Application No.
835,149.
This invention concerns a method of picking a cylinder lock
of the pin-tumbler type and a lock-pick apparatus embodying
the method, such as are useful for opening a lock of that
type when the key has been lost and cannot be replaced.
In such cylinder locks, the closure is secured in the locked
condition by a plurality of spring-loaded counterpins in the
stator of the lock extending into the bores into which they
respectively press the pin tumblers of the cylindrical rotor of
the lock. The pin tumblers and counter-pins are so made that
the projections and recesses on the key bit shift the
tumblers, and with them the counter-pins, when the key is
inserted, to the correct extend against the respective
springs, so that the separation surface between pin tumbler
and counter-pin brought exactly in alignment with the
boundary between rotor and stator (cylinder and casing
respectively). The cylinder can then be rotated so as to open
the lock.
If the key to such a lock is lost or misplaced, it is possible
only with the greatest difficulty to obtain by any other means
the simultaneous precise shift of the individual pin tumblers
and counter-pins, against the force of the springs, that will
enable the lock to be opened.
It is known how to pick such a lock by means of a pistol-
grip device carrying a pick needle in an operative position
suitable for feeling out the tumblers and equipped with a
trigger-operated mechanism for setting the needle into
vibrations, in order to apply the vibrations to the tumblers
and to the counter-pins and thereby to press the latter back
into the stator. During that operation, a rotary force is
applied to the cylinder by means of a bent tool, so that the
cylinder will turn as soon as the counter-pins have been
forced back into the casing by acting on the tumblers. The
ends of the auxiliary tool for exerting a rotary force on the
cylinder are made in various ways and a set of such tools
can be provided for opening locks of a variety of individual
types. The operator, normally an experienced locksmith,
inserts one end, namely a bent-over portion of the tool, into
the keyway of the lock and presses on the other end to apply
a rotary force to the cylinder. While rotary force is applied in
this way, the locksmith inserts the needle of the pistol-grip
tool into the keyway and seeks to determine the position of
the tumblers and the exact place and position in which the
needle can best be effective in order to align the tumblers in
accordance with the unlocking combination. After he has
performed this exploring function by feeling out the lock, he
presses on the trigger, in order to vibrate the needle with a
sudden movement.
 It has been found in practice that opening a lock with such
a gun tool and an auxiliary tool requires an inordinately large
amount of time. It generally takes a half hour before an
experienced locksmith can open a cylinder lock with these
tools. The reason for the difficulty is that both of the hands of
the locksmith are needed for this method of operation, one
hand for holding the auxiliary tool and the other one for the
opening instrument. Furthermore, the hand of the locksmith
with which he holds the opening instrument must also at the
same time actuate the trigger for the vibratory drive. These
different manipulations, on the one hand the necessary
fingertip feeling to explore the tumblers and on the other
hand the force for pulling the trigger to release the vibratory
movement, produce difficulties. Finally, the force that it is
necessary to expend in order to apply force to the
mechanism through the trigger until the release point of the
mechanism is reached often results in loss of the exact
position of the needle that has been laboriously established
beforehand.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,908 disclosed a device, likewise in gun
form, having a pick needle for insertion in the keyway of the
lock for movement of the tumblers and counterpins, in which
a weight is mounted so that it may swing about an axis,
equipped to be excited into vibration by means of an
electromagnet and a spring. The electromagnet is in this
case connected to an alternating current supply, so that the
weight and the needle execute sinusoidal vibrations.
With the device just described, the lock-picking operation
is indeed simplified, because the operator no longer needs to
apply force to generate the vibratory movement of the pick
needle and can therefore insert and place the gun-like tool
more accurately, but a rapid alignment of the tumblers in the
cylinder of the lock is still not possible, even with this device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
and apparatus for picking pin-tumbler cylinder locks in which
the above-described disadvantages are overcome and which
will make possible the opening of the lock by a sudden
movement. It is an object of the invention to enable such
opening of locks in less than a minute, relieving the operator
of the device entirely from all operations requiring the
application of force, for example for pressing a trigger, so
that the operator can direct all his skill to finding a favorable
position for the pick needle in the lock. It is also an object of
the invention to provide an auxiliary tool that will enable him
to hold the pick device with both hands.
Briefly, the lock-pick tool has a pick needle arranged to be
struck one or more times towards the counter-pins with so
much energy that tumbler and counter-pin will separate as
the counter-pin is thrown back into the locked casing
(stator). In the method according to the invention, contrary
to operations according to the disclosure of the above-
mentioned U.S. patent, a shock or power pulse is applied to
each individual tumbler, which shock or pulse is of such
magnitude in energy that on the basis of the laws of
conservation of momentum and of energy, the counter-pin
abutting the end of the tumbler opposite to the end that
receives the impact of the stroke separates from the tumbler
and is driven back into the casing (stator) against its loading
spring.
The method according to the invention can be performed
particularly well with a lock-pick device according to the
invention in which a pick needle is fastened to a massive
member in a hand-grip tool, for pressing back and adjusting
the pin tumblers and counterpins, but in which, in contrast to
the device described in the above-mentioned patent, a
hammer is provided for applying an impact stroke on the
tumblers through the pick needle, the hammer being thrown
against the massive element carrying the pick needle in
each stroke by an energy storage device charged by an
electric motor drive.
In order to perform the movements for generating a stroke
and applying its impact on the pick needle, a preferred form
of the invention utilizes a drive using a rotary cam with an
effectively linear lifting or retracting characteristic and
sudden return stroke for first retracting the hammer from the
massive member against a spring operating as an energy
storage device and then releasing the spring to drive the
hammer suddenly. The cam drive is in this case driven by an
electric motor through a reduction gear in such a way that
the hammer delivers individual impacts to the massive
member at a sufficient spacing in time to allow transient
oscillations following the stroke to die down between strokes.
Quick opening of a cylinder lock is made possible in this way,
because even after a few strokes, the individual counter-pins
are so driven back that rotation of the cylinder in the lock
casing is possible.
Since an electric motor drive is provided, the operator does
not need to apply any substantial force in order to
manipulate the device or to produce the oscillations of the
pick needle.
By a further development of the invention, means are
provided for adjusting the energy of each impact, the stroke
length, and the repetition rate of the impacts. The energy of
the impact can be adjusted by variation of the bias of the
spring, against which the hammer is moved by the cam
drive. The stroke length can be determined by limiting the
movement range of the weight (massive member) by means
of a simple adjustment pin, and the repetition rate of the
strokes can be determined by adjustment of the rate of
rotation of the electric motor drive, which is most simply
done by means of a rheostat in the current supply circuit of
the drive. Since in this mode of operation it is not necessary
to feel out the position of the individual tumblers, it is also
not necessary to provide the pick needle in a bent shape. It
is sufficient, rather, to provide in a simple cylindrical or
parallel-piped rod shape, which is very easy to handle and
manipulate.
 The invention is further described by way of illustrative
example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section passing through the central
axis of the casing of a lock pick according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section to the line II-II of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a top view of an auxiliary tool carrying out the
method of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electric motor drive including
reduction gearing, collectively designated 2, is housed in a
casing 1 consisting of two pieces held together with flanges.
The drive is powered by a battery 3 to which it is connected
by means of wire 4 and an interposed rheostat 5, the battery
and rheostat having their own common housing.
At the free end of the shaft 6 of the reduction gear drive 2,
a cam 7 is keyed to the shaft. The cam has two linear lifting
curves (FIG. 2) (i.e. linear relation between radius and
angle), each leading to a sudden step 8. The cam operates
on a cam follower 9 that is part of a hammer 10, the end 11
of which strikes against a massive member 12 that operates
as a weight set in motion by the stroke of the hammer. A
restoring spring 13 bears at one end against the inner
surface of the end 11 of the hammer 10 and at the other end
against a nut 14 that has a guiding extension 15 that slides
in a guideway 15a that is a cavity in the casing of the device.
The nut 14 can be shifted axially by turning of a screw 16 by
means of the knurled knob 17 in order to change the bias of
the spring 13.
The massive member 12 can pivot on an axle rod 18
mounted in the casing. The swinging stroke of the member
12 is executed against the force of a spring 19 that presses
the member 12 against the hammer 10, so that the massive
lever 12 moves clockwise about the axle 18 by a certain
amount when the hammer 10 is moved downwards.
The free end 20 of the massive lever 12 operates
externally. It has a chuck 21 in which a pick needle 22 is held
by means of a clamping nut 23 that is screwed onto the
external threads 24 of the chuck. At the end 25 of the
massive lever 12 on the opposite side of the axle 18 from
the end 20 there is provided a cavity 26 in which the pin 27
set in the end of the lever 12 can move freely. By axial
adjustment of the position of the pin 27, the stroke length of
the pivoting movement of the lever 12 can be adjusted.
FIG. 3 shows an auxiliary tool consisting of a strip 30,
preferably made of metal, the ends of which are bent over in
opposite directions. On the strip itself a counterweight 33
can be shifted along its mid-portion. This counterweight 33
has a threaded bore 34 for seating a set screw 35 for the
purpose of fixing the position of the counterweight 33 on the
strip 30.
To operate with the lock pick according to the invention,
the user holds the lock pick by the casing 1. The motor 2
turns the cam that at regular intervals releases the driving
pin 9 of the hammer 10 in such a way that the end 11 of the
hammer 10 suddenly strikes the massive lever 12 as a
hammer 10 is driven by the spring 16 that serves as the
energy storage device of the system. The massive lever thus
provides the stroke by a counterclockwise rotary movement
about the axis 18 to the pick needle 22, the amplitude of the
stroke being limited by the abutment of the pin 27 against
the wall of the casing cavity 26.
By more or less rotation of the holding screw knob 17 and
corresponding axial shift of the nut 14, the operator can
change the degree of bias of the spring 16 and thereby the
force with which the hammer 10 strikes the massive lever
12.
By variation of the resistance in the current supply circuit 4
of the electric motor by means of the rheostat 5, the rotation
speed of the drive motor 2 and hence that of the cam 7 can
be changed. In that way the repetition rate of the strokes of
the hammer 10 on the massive lever 12 and hence the
impact frequency of the needle 22 can be varied.
 When the bent-over end 31 of the strip 30 is inserted in a
lock, the counterweight 33 on the strip 30 causes a torque to
be exerted on the cylinder on the lock without requiring the
operator to hold the auxiliary tool in his hand. By shifting the
counterweight along the strip 30, the torque applied can be
adjusted, so that between the adjustment of the motor-
driven pick and the adjustment of the torque of the auxiliary
tool, it is possible to utilize the equipment and method of the
present invention successfully on a wide variety of cylinder
locks.
Although the invention has been described with reference
to a particular illustrative embodiment, it will be understood
that variations are possible within the inventive concept.
I claim:
1.A dynamic lock pick, for picking a cylinder lock having a
plurality of pin tumblers in the cylinder resting in the locked
condition respectively against spring-loaded counter-pins
housed in a stator, an end of each of the pin tumblers being
accessible in a keyway, said pick comprising:
a. positioning; casing of a size and shape suitable for
manual positioning;
b. a pick needle 22 insertable in the keyway of a cylinder
lock and mounted on a massive member located
mainly within said casing and movable over a limited
range of positions relative to said casing in a direction
corresponding to movement of said pick needle
transversely in said keyway;
c. means 27 for adjusting the range of movement of said
massive member 12 in said casing and thereby
adjusting the stroke length of said pick needle;
d. A hammer 11 movable mounted in said casing for
hitting said massive member 12 carrying said pick
needle so as to transmit shock to said pin tumblers
when said pick needle is in the keyway of a cylinder
lock;
 e. a mechanical energy-storage member 13 in said
casing and bearing against said hammer;
f. an electric motor drive 2 for alternately storing energy
in said energy-storage member 13 by moving said
hammer against said energy-storage member and
releasing said hammer and energy-storage member
suddenly to cause said hammer 11 to be thrown
against said massive element 12 carrying said pick
needle 22; and
g. a restoring spring 19 for urging said massive member
12 in a direction towards such hammer for returning
said massive element to the position of the beginning
of a stroke.

2.A lock pick as defined in claim 1, in which said energy-

storage member is a spring 13 in said casing and in which
said electric motor drive 2 includes a rotary cam 7 for
alternately moving said hammer 11 against the force of said
spring 13 and releasing said hammer and said spring.
3.A lock pick as defined in claim 2, comprising also means
14, 16, 17 for adjusting the bias force of said spring 13
exerted against said hammer 11.
4.A lock pick as defined in claim 3, in which said adjusting
means 14, 16 includes a screw having a knurled head
accessible from the outside of said casing.
5.A lock pick as defined in claim 2, in which said
movement range adjusting means includes an adjustable pin
27 movable in a cavity 26 of said casing, said adjustable pin
27 being so mounted adjustably on said massive member 12
that at the extremes of the stroke length set by its
adjustment, its end lies against an edge of said opening 26.
6.A lock pick as defined in claim 1, comprising also means
for adjusting the repetition rate of hammer strokes produced
by said electric motor drive 2 by adjusting the supply of
power to the electric motor of said electric motor drive.
 7.A lock pick as defined in claim 6, in which said repetition
rate adjusting means is a stepless adjusting means.
8.A lock pick as defined in claim 7, in which said stepless
adjusting means is a rheostat 5.
9.An auxiliary tool for a trip hammered vibrating lock pick
comprising a metal strip 30 bent over at right angles at both
ends 31, 32 in respectively opposite directions and an
adjustable weight 3 slidably mounted on the mid-portion of
said strip between its bent ends and having means 34, 35 for
fixing it at a selected position on said strip.
10.An auxiliary tool for a lock pick as defined in claim 9, in
which said fixing means for said adjustable weight include a
said screw 35 for releasably fixing said weight longitudinally
of said mid-portion of said strip.
 Chapter Nine

Agency Lock-Opening Device

AGENCY LOCK-OPENING DEVICE OPERATING

INSTRUCTIONS

List of Items
1—Lock Opening Device
1—Attachment #1
1—Attachment #2
1—Attachment #3
1—Attachment #4
5—Picks
1—Universal Charger
1—External Battery Cable
1—Line Plug Adaptor
2—Allen Wrenches
1—Instruction Booklet
1—Leather Carrying Case
 GENERAL VIEW OF DEVICE FIG. 1

EXCHANGING FRONT ATTACHMENTS FIG. 2

 PICK REPLACEMENT FIG. 3

PICK ANGLE ADJUSTMENT FIG. 4

BATTERY CHARGER FIG. 5
EXTERNAL BATTERY CONNECTION FIG. 6

FIG. 7
 General Description

The Lock-Opening Device is a self-powered

electromechanical device designed to permit rapid opening
of a specific group of pin-tumbler locks manufactured by
Zeiss-Ikon, Yale, BKS, and others using similar style keyways
(see Figs. 1 and 7). An opening is usually effected within 20
seconds.
Power is provided by two self-contained nickel-cadmium
batteries, which permit twenty minutes or more of total
operation without recharge. Recharging in one hour is
possible by use of the universal charger provided, which
operates on 90 to 250 volts of 50- or 60-cycle current.
The device is provided with four attachments that are
readily replaceable and are designed to permit insertion into
the greatest number of various keyways. These are
numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 and have been classified in the
following manner. For the purpose of simplification, keyways
were divided into four broad categories—left—hand, right-
hand, curved and straight—thus making a total of four
attachments of the following combinations:
#1: Right-Hand Curved
#2: Left-Hand Curved
#3: Right-Hand Straight
#4: Left-Hand Straight
These attachments are easily exchanged by following the
instructions in Fig. 2. A leather key case is provided with wire
holders to carry the attachments.
Two lengths of picks are provided to permit the opening of
either the five-pin or six-pin locks. The exchange or
replacement of these is covered by Fig. 3.
 Attachments

Four stainless-steel attachments are provided to permit

insertion into various keyways and are marked by the
numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 stamped on the front of each
attachment.
Reference is made to the following page showing enlarged
views of typical keyways with the area occupied by the
attachment (crosshatched area) and the pick (solid area)
clearly indicated. The views shown are those seen when
facing the front of the lock plug and typify right-handed and
left-handed keyways of both the curved and straight types.
Attachment #1 is designed to be used on right-handed
keyways of the curved type and as seen from the view
shown consists of a right facing angular member, which
enters the lower part of the keyway, and a right curved
member, which enters the extreme top portion of the
keyway. This places the pick in the best position for optimum
results.
Attachment #2 is designed to be used on left-handed
keyways of the curved type and consists of a left facing
angular member which enters the lower part of the keyway
and a left curved member which enters the very top of the
keyway.
As shown in the enlarged views, Attachment #3 is for
right-handed straight keyways and Attachment #4 is for left-
handed straight keyways. These are very similar to # 1 and
#2 except that the member that enters the very top of the
keyway is a straight section. Attachments #3 and #4 have
been designed to hold the pick at an angle in the keyway to
permit proper impact with the pins.

TYPICAL KEYWAYS
 Operation

1. Select proper attachment and pick and install on

device (Figs. 1 and 2).
2. Set pick-angle selector to center position of its
adjustment (Fig. 4) and insert device into keyway.
3. Actuate slide switch to start mechanism and, while
supporting device between thumb and fingers, allow
device to seek a neutral position in keyway.
4. Apply a very light rotational force in the direction an
opening is desired, momentarily releasing and
reapplying this force each three to four strokes until an
opening is effected. In the event an opening is not
effected, alternate positions of the pick-angle selector
should be tried along with slight lifting or lowering of
the device while the mechanism is in operation.
Important: The lightest rotational force is the best
assurance that an opening will be effected.
 Battery Recharging

Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries are used to power

the device and require recharging on a regular basis to
insure proper operation. See Fig. 5. To recharge batteries:
1. Connect the universal charger to the device by means
of the connecting cable and microdot fitting provided.
2. Rotate the voltage-selector switch to the 230-volt
position and insert the line plug into a wall outlet.
3. Rotate the selector switch counterclockwise until the
neon indicator glows. This indicates the proper
transformer tap has been selected for the line voltage
provided.

Caution: Be certain to select the 230-volt tap before inserting

plug, or the fuse will be blown. In the event the fuse has
been blown, the neon indicator will not glow on any position
of the selector switch and a new fuse must be installed.
The charging rate is approximately 1 ampere and is
capable of recharging the batteries in one to two hours, but
longer periods are permissible.
After charging at the 1-ampere rate, continued charging at
a reduced rate is possible by rotating the selector switch to
the next higher voltage position (called a trickle charge).
This provides a charging rate of approximately .1 ampere
and can be used to keep the batteries in top charge
condition for extended periods of time.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT FIG. 8
 Battery Replacement

The nickel-cadmium batteries used to power the Lock-

Opening Device should never need replacing with normal use
and regular charging; however, in the event replacement
should become necessary, refer to Fig. 8. This view shows
the device with the vinyl cover removed and the polarity
marking engraved in the housing. The insulating sleeves
shown must be used on the new batteries.
The vinyl cover is removed by first removing the pick-angle
adjusting knob by using the small Allen wrench provided and
then sliding the cover off the device. The batteries can now
be readily removed from their mounting and new ones
installed, being careful to observe the polarity markings and
using the original insulating sleeves provided. The batteries
originally supplied with the device are Sonotone S113 and
are used quite extensively in electric shavers and electric
toothbrushes and should be available at service centers in
many countries.
The Agency Lock-Opening Device. The turning
member is not fitted. (Photo courtesy of H.K. Melton.)
The Agency Lock-Opening Device with accompanying
manual and Buxton key wallets for spare parts. This
device is unique in that the tension-wrench
equivalent is built-in so that locks may be opened
with one hand—just like in the movies.
The original Agency lock pick came in a clear Lucite
case about the size of a pocket novel. The picks were
round needles of various shapes, and a rheostat
controlled the speed of impact. These devices
appeared to be based on a buzzer unit and were
battery-operated, as I remember. (Photo courtesy of
H.K. Melton.)
The Agency Lock-Opening Device with pick needles
and keywaysuited turning wrenches. (Photo courtesy
of H.K. Melton.)
Close-up of turning wrenches and pick-needle wallet.
(Photo courtesy of H.K. Melton.)
The Cooke patent. It is a truly revolutionary pick gun.
 Chapter Ten

The Cooke Patent

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

ROBERT G. COOKE, JR., AHOSKIE, NORTH CAROLINA

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING CYLINDER
LOCKS

4,606,204. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug.

19, 1986.
Application filed December 27, 1983. Application No.
565,403.
 Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a method of opening a wide

variety of modern locks in common use and a lock-opening
mechanism embodying the method. More specifically, this
invention relates to a new and improved method and
apparatus to facilitate the opening of a variety of security
locks, including disc-tumbler, wafer-tumbler, and pin-tumbler
cylinder type locks when the key has either been lost or
misplaced.
 While it is the endeavor of lock craftsmen to design
pickproof locking devices, it is known among experts of the
lock-making industry that a key-operated lock mechanism is
subject to picking. However, it is not a simple task for the
lock artist to design and construct an instrument to pick a
real security lock. As a result of extensive laboratory
research, many present day locks, while not pickproof, are
pick resistant and will stubbornly resist attempts to pick
them. Consequently, lock picking itself has demanded a
great deal of expert knowledge, skill, and a considerable
amount of study. Most typically, it is known how to pick pin-
tumbler cylinder locks by means of a device carrying a pick-
needle member with a trigger operated means for setting
the needle, inserted into the keyway, into vibration in order
to apply vibrations to the tumblers and counterpins. During
this operation, a rotary force is applied to the lock cylinder. It
has been found in practice that opening a lock with such a
device requires skill and an inordinately large amount of
time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,375 to Crasnianski disclosed a lock-pick
mechanism comprising a motor driven cam in order to
impart a shock motion to the pick needle member, which is
inserted into the lock keyway. The pick needle of the
Crasnianski device is arranged on a member to be struck
repeatedly by the end of a hammer to impart a shock or
pulse to the pick needle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,908 to Moore
also disclosed a vibratory lock device comprising an
electromagnetic motor that imparts a vibratory motion to the
pick needle so that the lock may be opened by means of a
turning wrench. U.S. Pat. No. 2,565,254 to Miskill discloses a
power-actuated lock pick that operates in a manner very
similar to that disclosed in the Moore patent. The Miskill
reference disclosed the use of continuous vibrational motion,
which is imparted to a lock-pick blade. Miskill further
disclosed a tension member, which is adapted to be inserted
into the keyway to a lock beneath the lock pick in order to
hold the lock pick in the upper part of the keyway in a
position for impact engagement with the lock tumbler pins.
 Summary of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved

method and apparatus to be used by initiated lock craftsmen
and law enforcement officials as an instrument for opening
all standard makes of pin and wafer cylinder locks in a
minimum of time. Many locks can be opened in a matter of
seconds. It is also an object of the invention to provide a
lock-opening mechanism that can be conveniently,
economically, and rapidly assembled. Another object of this
invention is to provide a mechanism for enabling the
lockmaster and law enforcement officials to open high grade
locks while requiring very little, if any, skill on the part of the
operator.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an
oscillating mechanism that operates to rotate lock cylinders
back and forth repeatedly in a very rapid movement to
facilitate their opening.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a lock-pick
mechanism to facilitate rapid opening of locks by means of
an oscillating implement that imparts a rotary action to the
lock cylinder, a spring arm or tension member, and an
adapter assembly. The adapter assembly is provided with a
clamp and base constructed to be inserted into the keyway
of the particular type lock to be opened. The adapter base is
designed to provide a space between the base and the lock
tumbler pins such that the operator can easily insert a lock
pick into the keyway of the lock.
The foregoing objectives and other objectives are
accomplished by using an oscillator unit to rotate the
cylinder of a lock in a back and forth motion. The motion is
transmitted to the cylinder through the adapter assembly
base. The adapter base, which comes in different shapes
depending upon the particular lock to be opened, is
detachably mounted to the adapter clamp. Each adapter
base is provided with two openings. One of the openings in
the base is to facilitate a fastener screw.
The adapter clamp is provided with a cylindrical stud
positioned to fit into the other base opening. This hole and
stud alignment resists twisting of the adapter clamp in
relation to the adapter base. The adapter clamp is provided
with a threaded hole to receive a standard screw-fastener
means for holding the adapter base and clamp together in a
snug or tight fit. The adapter clamp is provided with four slits
or openings arranged to facilitate the insertion of the end of
the spring steel arm through one of the slits. The adapter
clamp is further provided with two grooves or recesses
arranged at a right angle to each other to permit the end of
the spring steel arm member to be passed through the slit to
seat with one of the recesses such that the edges of the
adapter clamp and base will be flush together when joined
by the screw-fastener means.
The two grooves are so arranged, and the slits are so
positioned such that the tension or spring steel arm member
can be turned in various positions at 90-degree intervals
throughout 360 degrees. This allows the operator to position
the oscillator unit in various positions to obtain the most
optimum position to facilitate the opening of a lock. The free
end of the tension or spring steel arm member is designed to
be inserted into one of two slots or openings carried on the
end of the oscillator unit rod. The slots are arranged at a
right angle to each other to allow the spring steel arm
member to be turned to obtain the most optimum position
for the operator. The spring member is secured in the slot
with a set screw provided on the end of the oscillating rod.
 Once the spring arm is secured between the adapter
assembly and the oscillator unit, the lock-opening device is
completely assembled and ready for use. In one
embodiment, the adapter base of the adapter assembly is
inserted in the lower or bottom portion of a lock cylinder plug
of a particular lock to be opened. The adapter base selected
for this particular lock fits snug in the keyway, thereby
avoiding or reducing any lost motion between the spring arm
member and the lock cylinder plug. This snug fit permits
more efficient application of the oscillation force to the lock
cylinder plug and results in less wear-and-tear damage to the
adapter base.
It would be impractical to employ an ordinary key as an
adapter base by cutting off its upper portion for at least two
reasons. First, there would be so much play between the key
base and the lock cylinder plug that a great deal of the
oscillation force would be lost. Second, and more
importantly, the key base would probably break after a few
applications or within a short period of time.
The oscillator unit is pushed in the direction that you wish
the lock cylinder to turn. This bends the adapter spring arm
member slightly and puts a little pressure on the adapter
assembly and the lock cylinder plug. When the lock-opening
mechanism is turned on with the switch, the oscillator unit
rod moves back and forth, causing the spring steel arm
member to move back and forth. This causes the adapter
assembly to move the lock cylinder plug back and forth
rapidly. Thus, the adapter assembly repeatedly asserts a
rotary motion on the lock cylinder plug.
Quick opening of the lock is made possible by inserting a
lock pick to the rear of the lock cylinder plug and picking
each pin up until all the pins have been picked upward. While
holding this vibrating tension on the lock cylinder plug with
the lock-opening device, the operator gently turns the lock
cylinder plug with the pick in the opposite direction from
which the lock-opening device is applying the most of its
pressure. The upper pins will then vibrate down to the shear
line and the lock-opening mechanism will turn the cylinder
open before the tumbler pins can pass the shear line of the
lock cylinder.
The lock-opening device oscillates its shaft very fast
(approx. 3500 C.P.M.), causing the lock cylinder plug to grip
the lock tumbler pins many times and release them many
times each minute. The tumbler pins are alternately in a
stationary state and a movable state many times a minute.
Therefore, they can be manipulated by the operator to open
the lock with little difficulty. The lock-opening device will
operate when the tumbler pins are raked, picked, or even
pushed up all at once. Thus, the operator has a choice of
ways to use the device.
The oscillator unit is driven by a small electric motor that
has a current rating of less than four amps. This motor can
be a standard motor, a two-speed motor, a rechargeable
power-pack type motor, or a variable-speed motor. Also, the
stroke of the oscillator unit rod can be changed by changing
the position of the stud mounted on the driver gear, which
carries a bushing that rides in a slot or bracket carried on the
oscillator rod. The motor drives a small gear on the end of its
shaft. This small gear drives a larger gear called the driver
gear. This gives the motor more driving power.
The driver gear has a small stud and bushing on it that fits
into a slot on the oscillator shaft. Each time the motor makes
a complete revolution, the oscillator rod makes a complete
cycle. As the driver gear turns round and round, the
oscillator rod goes in and out. As the oscillator rod goes in
and out, the spring steel arm or tension member repeatedly
asserts the back and forth rotary pressure to the adapter
assembly and lock cylinder plug. Also, some of the vibration
from the oscillating spring steel arm member is directed to
the lock tumbler pins, causing the lock to cleave at the shear
line. The tension of the lock-opening device will cause the
lock to open.
 The lock-opening device of this invention varies from the
prior art in several important respects. In the past,
instruments were made to strike the lock pins and force
them up into the lock case. This damages the pins, making
them out of round and scarred. They are left in a condition
that is not proper for the best lock operation.
In accordance with this invention, the adapter assembly
base does not strike the pins in the lock. The base fits tight
in the lock core, and therefore it eliminates any undesired
play between the adapter assembly and the lock core. To
simply cut the top off of a key and use the bottom portion
would not be feasible, since the difference in tolerance would
be so great that the key would soon break off. The adapter
assembly of this invention fits tight; therefore any play is
removed and the adapter assembly is not apt to break off.
Also, in the absence of play, the device can impart more
back and forth force to the lock cylinder plug. The lock-
opening device moves the lock cylinder plug back and forth
very rapidly, causing the lock tumbler pins to be suspended
when moved by the lock pick or even by a straightened
paper clip.
The lock-opening device of this invention will work with
any small piece of strong metal that is of a sufficient size to
allow it to move the lock tumbler pins freely. The operator
can also use any standard lock pick for this purpose. The top
tumbler pins of a lock can be pushed above the shear line of
the lock by the operator and then allowed to work
themselves down to the shear line when the lock cylinder
plug is gently turned back away from the main tension
pressure of the lock-opening device. In this way, the tumbler
pins are slowed down from movement, yet they are free to
move downward as desired by gently removing some of the
oscillating tension pressure.
Because of the many tumbler pins in a lock cylinder, with
prior lock-opening devices it was very difficult to get all the
pins in the proper place because, as they were forced
upward, the recoil from the lock springs forced them back
downward very rapidly. It took much patience to get them all
in the proper position to open the lock. With the lock-opening
device of this invention, the pins tend to stay where placed
better, and this makes the job of opening a lock easier and
faster. In addition, the pins will not be damaged as they
might when struck by hard hammer blows from such
instruments as lock-pick guns and electric-driven picks.
The lock-opening device of this invention achieves its
objectives by moving the lock plug back and forth very
rapidly using a spring steel arm member attached to the
adapter assembly on one end and the oscillator unit rod on
the other end. As the rod moves in and out, the spring steel
arm moves the adapter assembly and the lock plug back and
forth. The lock tumbler pins are free to be moved, yet they
tend to be held in place long enough for the lock to be
opened. In this process, the lock-opening device does not
touch the tumbler pins of the lock with any of its parts. The
adapter assembly is wedged into the bottom of the lock core
and cannot touch the lock tumbler pins. The lock pick is the
only instrument that actually comes into contact with the
lock tumbler pins. Thus, manipulation of the pins by the
operator can be done in a gentle way.
 Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing objectives and other objects and advantages

of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art after reading the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a primarily side elevational view of the lock-
opening system according to the present invention;
FIG. la is a detail sectional view through FIG. 1 on the plane
of line la—la;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the adapter assembly
portion of the lock-opening system;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the disassembled
adapter assembly portion of the lock-opening system;
FIGS. 4 through 8 are side elevation sectional views of the
lock-opening mechanism in various stages of opening a lock;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the oscillator portion of the lock-
opening system;
FIG. 9a is a detail sectional view through FIG. 9 on the
plane of line the 9a—9a;
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the oscillator rod
portion of the lock-opening system;
FIG. 10a is a detail sectional view through FIG. 1 on the
plane of the line 10a—10a;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the guard assembly
portion of the lock-opening system;
FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the guard assembly of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a front view of the adapter assembly.
 Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The invention herein is described and illustrated in a

specific embodiment having specific components listed for
carrying out the functions of the apparatus. Nevertheless,
the invention need not be thought of as being confined to
such a specific showing and should be construed broadly
within the scope of the claims. Any and all equivalent
structures known to those skilled in the art can be
substituted for specific apparatus disclosed as long as the
substituted apparatus achieves a similar function. It may be
that systems other than lock-opening systems have been or
will be invented, wherein the apparatus described and
claimed herein can be advantageously employed, and such
other uses are intended to be encompassed in this invention
as described and claimed herein.
Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in which various
system components are illustrated. The lock-opening
mechanism, generally denoted 1, includes the adapter
assembly 2, the spring steel arm or tension member 6 and
the oscillator unit 7. The adapter assembly is comprised of
three major components: the screw-fastener means 5
secures the assembly section together; the adapter clamp 4,
which has a tapped or threaded hole 10a to receive the
screw-fastener means 5; and the adapter base 3, which is
form fitted and interchangeable depending upon the
particular keyway of the lock to be opened. The adapter base
3 is designed to provide a different base finger 9 shape for
the various types of lock keyways in common use. Each base
finger 9 is designed and constructed such that the member
does not come into contact with the lock tumbler pins of the
lock being opened. The base finger 9 is also designed such
that there is sufficient space between the base finger 9 and
the lock tumbler pins to permit insertion of a lock pick.
The adapter base 3 is provided with two holes or openings.
The hole 10 is arranged to receive the screw-fastener 5 and
opening 11 to receive the pin or steel 11a formed on the wall
of the adapter clamp 4. The stud 11a extends into the
opening 11 in the adapter base 3. The adapter clamp 4 is
held very close to the adapter base 3 by screw-fastener 5 to
prevent relative twisting motion during use of the lock-
opening device. The adapter clamp 4 is provided with four
slit openings 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d for insertion of one end
16 of the arm member 6 through the clamp into one of the
grooves 14 or 15. When the end 16 of the arm 6 is placed
through one of the slit openings 13 a-d into either groove 14
or 15, the edges of the adapter base 3 and adapter clamp 4
will be flush together when secured together by the screw-
fastener 5. The tension arm 6 can be selectively positioned
in various directions depending upon which of the slits 13a-d
is selected for installation of end 16, and also which of the
grooves 14 or 15 is selected. Hence, this allows positioning
the oscillator unit 7, carried in casing or housing 8, in a
variety of positions to obtain the most optimum position for
each application. The opposite end 17 of the tension
member 6 is inserted into the opening or slot 34 in the
oscillating rod 30, and is held secure by set screw 32. Once
the ends 16 and 17 of arm 6 are attached through a slit 13a-
d into the adapter assembly and to the oscillator rod 30, the
lock-opening system 1 is completely assembled and ready
for use.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 8, the finger 9 of the
adapter assembly 3 is shown inserted into the bottom
portion of the lock cylinder 20 and plug 26. When the lock-
opening device is turned on, the oscillator unit rod moves the
arm member 6 back and forth. This vibration force causes
the adapter assembly 3, through base finger 9 to assert a
rotary force on the lock cylinder plug 20. As shown in FIG. 5,
lock pin 22 is inserted to the rear of the lock plug 26, and all
of the lower lock tumbler pins 23 can easily be picked
upward. Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, upper tumbler pins 24
will vibrate down to the shear line 25, and the lock-opening
device will turn the lock open before the tumbler pins 24 can
pass shear line 25, and as shown in FIG. 8.
Referring now to FIGS. 9, 9a, 10, and 10a, the lock-opening
device is powered by a small electric motor 40, which has a
switch 46 and a current rating of less than four amperes.
Motor 40 can be a standard motor, a two-speed motor, a
variable-speed motor, or even a rechargeable portable
power-pack type motor. The motor 40 drives gear 41, which
drives a larger driver gear 42. Driver gear 42 has a stud 43
and bearing or bushing 44. The bushing 44 rides in a bracket
or slot 45 contained on the oscillator rod 30. The speed of
the motor can be varied by changing or adjusting switch 46.
Also, the stroke of the oscillator rod 30 can be varied by
changing the position of the stud 43, which is mounted on
the driver gear 42 and which carries the bushing 44. Each
time the motor makes a complete revolution, the oscillator
rod 30 also completes a cycle or revolution. As the driver
gear 42 turns about its axis, the oscillator rod 30 moves back
and forth or inward and outward. Since the rod 30 is
attached to the arm member 6, as the rod 30 moves back
and forth, the spring steel arm 6 causes rotary and
vibrational forces to be applied through the adapter
assembly to a lock cylindrical plug 26.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the lock-opening mechanism
includes a safety guard 50. The guard 50 comprises rods 51
and 52 and base plate 53. The guard 50 is mounted on the
lock-opening mechanism casing 8 to provide protection for
the oscillator rod 30, which is driven back and forth by the
driver gear 44.
 Other modifications to the above described invention will
be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are intended to
be incorporated herein.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature
of the lock-opening system, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, what is claimed is:
1.A lock-opening device for unlocking various types of pin
cylinder locks comprising:
a. a flexible spring arm member;
b. an adapter assembly having;
(i) a base member provided with a finger extension
having essentially straight, flat top, and bottom
surfaces extending substantially parallel to each
other;
(ii) a clamp member;
(iii) fastener means for detachably mounting one
end of said flexible spring arm member between
said clamp member and said base member;

c. an oscillator unit having;

(i) a rotary shaft member for providing a rotary
force to said flexible spring arm member, said
shaft member provided with detachable fastener
means for securing one end of said flexible
spring arm member to said shaft member;
(ii) variable driver means for driving said shaft
member at variable speeds and in a back and
forth motion to thereby impart a rotary force
through said flexible spring arm member to said
finger extension and causing rotary forces to be
applied to a lock plug, facilitating the opening of
the lock without mechanical impact to tumbler
pins
 2.In a lock-opening device according to claim 1 wherein
said finger extension top surface is designed to be spaced
out of contact with tumbler pins when inserted into a lock
keyway.
3.In a lock-opening device according to claim 2 wherein
said clamp member comprises multiple slit openings
arranged in grooves to permit installation of one end of said
flexible spring arm at the desired angle.
4.In a lock-opening device according to claim 3 wherein
said grooves are disposed to form a right angle within said
clamp member.