cyrano's picked locks

[cyrano138]

Thought I'd start a thread for all my picked locks instead of doing a new one every time. Tonight I got an Abus!



It was tough but compared to the American 5200 it wasn't too bad.

[Oldfast]

Beautiful!! I look foward to seeing more victims

[cyrano138]

Thanks, Oldfast!

[cyrano138]

Finally tried the other Abus 83/45 I had. This one was a lot easier. The core on this one says, "300." On the one in the post above it says, "700 patented," and that one had a lot more spools. Also I believe this one is set up for a master key system. I didn't gut it but it seemed to have multiple drivers in each stack. Maybe someone who's familiar with them can clear it up?

Jack


I was going for kind of a 'lockpicking noir' thing...

[Arctor]

That's some high quality lock pron right there!

[cyrano138]

That's some high quality lock pron right their!

Thanks! I guess I should have labeled the thread NSFW.

[cyrano138]

Got these (plus a Medeco that will stay in the box for a while) from someone over at lp101 today. I was really proud of myself for getting all three in about five minutes, total. Of course, the Americans might be the newer, crappier, Master built kind, but maybe not. Does anyone know how to tell?

[jeffmoss26]

Do the American keys look like a Master padlock key? Or are they a squared off triangular head (for lack of a better term)?

[cyrano138]

The keys look like the older style, but isn't the keyway the same? Couldn't someone have cut new keys from old blanks?

[Oldfast]

I was going for kind of a 'lockpicking noir' thing...

I LOVE it! That's a beautiful photo. Cool lighting/shadows.

Got these (plus a Medeco that will stay in the box for a while) from someone over at lp101 today. I was really proud of myself for getting all three in about five minutes, total.

Great job on the Americans (one of my favorites). And your killin the ABUS's... nice. I haven't picked (or owned many)
but personally, a few give me some trouble for some reason. Guess that just means I'll have to buy more of them. lol
And don't leave that Medeco all by it lonesome for too long... they're fun! Don't doubt yourself. Watch some of Xeo's
vids, read his write-up, and delve right in

Of course, the Americans might be the newer, crappier, Master built kind, but maybe not. Does anyone know how to tell?

You should be able to tell from the keyways. From your pics I'm pretty certain your 1100 is the original American with an AM3 keyway.
The YEF means it was made around Feb. of 2009. I can't see the keyway on your 5200, but it's from 2005... could be wrong, but I
don't think Master had started muckin shit up yet at that time.

I'm holding one of MasterLocks newer bumpstop versions of the 5200 that has a production date of 2010. The keyway is completely
different from an American, as is the bow of the key. Not sure, but I'd bet both of yours are the 'older' versions. Otherwise, just
gut em' and you'll find out in a hurry. The bumpstop versions have all standard drivers with one bumpstop driver. But I'm thinking
you'll probably find serrated drivers and and hybrid spools.

Also, take a look into the keyway. It's quite possible you'll be able to see the serrations on the first keypin...
and you'll know right then it's 'oldschool'. Master's not putting ANY serrations on the driver OR keypins.

Keep up the good work, and keep those pictures comin'

[cyrano138]

Wow, thanks for the great info, oldfast. I have two types of Abus's: on the actual core they either say "700 patented" or "300". The latter seem to be a lot easier than the former. The 300's have two spools, I think, and not much else. The 700's seem to have either tighter tolerances or something more going on and it took me quite a few hours to get mine for the first time. If you want to try some you're welcome to borrow mine.

The Americans definitely have serrated pins and I can see the serrations on the first key pin in the 5200. I remember reading that when they get worn out from picking they can be much harder to pick, and maybe that's why the older 5200 I had before still takes me forever to open even though I know the bitting, and these (which show a lot less use) were pretty easy to do blind. Or, maybe it was a bit of luck. Who knows? I felt like I was feeling the difference between the pin sliding past a serration and the pin setting, which I could never feel on the older, worn out lock.

I don't know about the medecos. I have performance anxiety.

[Oldfast]

Yup, sounds like you've definitely got a couple of the good ol' Americans then.

Thanks so much for the offer on the ABUS! I'm a little too busy this time of year,
but I may very well take you up on that down the road. Maybe we could swap a
few locks for a bit. If we put together enough locks, the $10 for shipping there
and back wouldn't be a bad cost in order to experience some locks.

(In fact, I've often thought of getting a 'swap page' up and doin this on a regular basis
in order to expose myself to as many locks as possible w/o spending a great deal of $)

..... I don't know about the medecos. I have performance anxiety .....

hahaaa! I like it when a lock intimidates me..... turns me on. lol

[mdc5150]

5200.jpg

keys.jpg

The Abus lock with only 2 spools was most likely rekeyed. The difference in the two cylinders (300 or 300 Patented) is whether it has the quick rekey function on it.

[cyrano138]

Here are some pictures of my Abus's. Like I said before the 700 patented was waaayy harder, but still not the worst lock I've ever tried by a long shot. They seem to have multiple pins in the front stack for master keying.






Also thanks, MD, my Americans are definitely the old keyway. I guess I understand why Master did what they did. If you had to choose to protect (I assume cost made them choose one over the other and not both) against picking or bumping, bumping seems like the criminals' method of choice. No offense to bumping enthusiasts here on the forums.

Jack

[cyrano138]

Wow. I forgot I had this one. A bit harder than the last two, but also brand new with a really weird bitting.