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Pocket pick sets

It isn't always convenient to carry around a bag of lock picking supplies while walking around town; what is a lockpicker to do?

I have searched out and tried as many different types of pocket pick sets as I could find and have developed a few opinions about the tools available…

 

Credit Card Sets

There is a TON of variation here with all but the worst, being adequately functional in a pinch.

  • Plastic Tray style “Credit Card” sets are usually a vacuum formed plastic tray and sliding sleeve cover to hold 3 or 4 short handle pocket picks… and the cheesy sticker to make it look like a child’s toy.  These sets are all fairly similar with typically thicker picks, around .020” (.5mm) to .030” (.6mm), and a top of keyway tension wrench to round out the set.
    • My Opinion: These are usually very thick, making them difficult to carry in most wallets and some sets can rattle in the pocket
  • Laser cut stainless steel “break-a-part” style cards come from many sources with their major differentiator being thickness.  With a range from .009" to .030" (.21mm to .6mm) in thickness, their stiffness and overall usability can vary significantly.  These are intended to be carried in a wallet for that "Hour of need", but in most cases will need replacement if ever used. 
    • My Opinion: They are useful as a backup, but can take 5x the time to use them
  • CountyComm brand card tools are made from .030" (.6mm) titanium in the “break-a-part” style, but with a twist since the metal card is mounted to a sticky foam pad, enabling the occasional use of the pick tools while still being able to store them neatly back in the wallet.  The only downside is the increased card thickness, of ~2-2.5mm total, not allowing the card to fit in some wallets with tighter credit card slots.
    • My Opinion: This is a truly viable option for regular use wallet carry


Jackknives

These dense little tools use the "Pocket Knife" form factor, typically somewhere around 3" x 3/4" x 1/2” (76mm x 19mm x 13mm).

  • Generic Cheap Jackknives - I have had dozens of these over the years and much the same experience with them all.  They are CHEAPLY MADE; this is not a problem IF we are willing and able to spend HOURS of our time filing, sanding, polishing, and maybe significantly modifying the tool.  If we are looking for something that works great out of the box, look elsewhere!
    • Between 4 and 10 picks
    • Typically a single wiper blade style wrench
    • My Opinion:  Not worth the time to make them usable
  • SWICK - So many turners with all the best picks in a super light slip joint style package make this my favorite pocket tool.  https://www.picklocks.com/?product=swick-2
    • 12 Picks .020” (.5mm) thick picks
    • 6 wiper blade style tension wrenches
    • 2 double ended top of keyway wrenches
    • My Opinion:  Best and lightest of this style tool


Minimalist/Ultralight

The smallest, lightest, and most concealable lock picking tools, for those times when other people… don’t need to know.

  • Minimalist Bogota Sets – These usually consist of a ~3.5” (90mm) long pick with the handle bent down by 45 degrees, enabling each pick to also be used as a tension wrench.  The triple peak “Bogota” is most commonly paired with either a “Diamond” or “Medium Hook”, though the King and Queen profiles are also a fairly available pair.  This set can be easily carried by either repurposing a click-pen spring or using a piece of heat shrink tubing to hold the tools together in the pocket.  Some of these sets even have expansion picks or wrenches available, that can add significant functionality with minimal added weight or bulk.
    • Stainless Steel
      • The stainless versions usually measure around .022” (.56mm), and tend to fit nicely in most keyways.
      • My Opinion: These are a great usable option that is reasonably comfortable to use
    • Titanium Alloy
      • The titanium models often measure quite thick at .031” (.8mm), yet are shorter in height to help them fit in more locks with the added thickness. 
      • My Opinion: Not recommended for anyone likely to pick lots of tight keyways

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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