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Cut-Away Practice Locks
One of the most valuable training aids for locksmith students, these locks are meticulously and precisely milled so as to reveal much of the inner workings of the cylinder. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this is even better. We recommend that every beginning lock picker should own one cut away lock. It is most valuable to the person who has had no prior experience with lock picking . . . and who has little or no understanding of how pin tumbler locks work. Once the student gains knowledge with respect to the workings inside the lock, he can then use the cut away cylinder just as he would any standard practice lock, as these locks are fully functional as such. These cylinders are rekeyable using standard rekeying tools and techniques.
Cut Away Locks for Picking Practice and Educational Training Aids
Click here for standard (non-cut away) Practice Locks
Our cut-away KIK (key-in-knob) practice locks are milled on site using high grade cylinders. They are meticulously milled and finished on high quality CNC (computer controlled) milling equipment, and each one is loaded by hand. This design was pioneered by LockPickersMall and has stood the test of time.
We mill material from the top chamber to reveal both the top springs and top pins, and we also mill a slot (seen clearly in the above illustration) right at the shear line, which clearly demonstrates the concept how and why a working key enables the plug to rotate, and, conversely, why and how an incorrect key or key blank does not. Milling is done in such a way that the lock is fully functional as a lock picking practice lock, in that pins cannot escape from the lock during practice or use.
The recommended strategy is to select a lock with pinning that best suits your current level of expertise. To be perfectly honest, I would not recommend choosing a 2-pinned cylinder at all, though we do sell them. You will pick it within minutes, and from that point on it becomes useless unless you have it rekeyed.
If you have never picked up a lock pick, choose at least the 3-pinned model and plan to have it rekeyed soon . . . or better yet, choose the 5-pinned model right up front and work your way into picking it. It will take a bit longer, perhaps, but once you get the hang of picking it you can still use it as a viable practice lock (just because you manage to pick a lock once does not mean it will pick as easily the next time . . . one of the weird oddities of lock picking). Cut Away Practice Locks are most useful to hobbyists and students of Locksmithing who are starting out right at the first step . . . with no understanding whatsoever of how a pin tumbler lock works.
RECOMMENDED:
We advise the use of a PRACTICE LOCK STAND to make your lock picking practice sessions much easier. We have a wide variety of these stands in all price ranges.
Available in a variety of
configurations:
2-Pinned
3-Pinned
5-Pinned
6-Pinned
Two keyways to choose from:
Kwikset
Schlage
Available with standard or spool drivers.
All our Practice Locks are rekeyable using standard rekeying tools and techniques. In addition, our EZ-ReKey Practice Locks can be rekeyed without tools of any kind, and with no prior experience.
Each Cut-Away Lock is supplied with both a working key and an incorrect key, to better illustrate how keys align the pin tumblers.
Includes highly detailed, illustrated instructions along with valuable tips to make your practice sessions more effective.
Your Price: $39.95
While these cut-away practice locks can be rekeyed using standard tools and procedures, we offer another version which can be rekeyed WITHOUT tools and requires NO prior experience in lock rekeying . . .
The EZ-ReKey line of Practice Locks is a masterful design, originated by LockPickersMall. Available in either Schlage or Kwikset keyway, the EZ-ReKey locks are delivered complete with extra pins (including high security spool drivers) to give you full control over how easy or difficult a picking challenge you require. You also receive fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions AND valuable tips. Click the photo for more info.
