When we talk about prepping, there are several skills that typically come to mind, such as food preservation, self-defense, and wilderness survival. But there are also a few uncommon skills that are worth exploring. Lockpicking is definitely one of them.
There are several legitimate reasons why those who pursue a self-reliant lifestyle should consider adding lockpicking to their repertoire. Before we get into them, let me clarify something. We’re using the term lockpicking rather loosely. Rather than focusing strictly on manipulating pins and tumblers, we’re also talking about bypassing locks and similar security measures in a more general sense.
Enhancing Security
Learning lockpicking allows you to understand how locks work. This, in turn, will help you determine which locks and similar security products actually work and which ones are junk. No lock is impregnable, but the higher the quality, the longer it will take someone to circumvent it. This plays into the Delay aspect of our security plan.
Locked Out
My youngest son became interested in lockpicking at an early age. I got him a starter set of picks and a practice lock for Christmas one year, and he took to it like a duck to water. About a year later, he found himself accidentally locked out of the house. Guess who didn’t need to call for help? Today, he works in construction, and he’s found a use for this skill set a few times on the job.
Escape and Evasion
Not to be overly dramatic, human trafficking is a very real thing today. Should you be restrained or confined against your will by someone who wishes to do you harm, knowing how to get free could literally mean the difference between life and death. This might include being able to get out of handcuffs as well as open locked doors or windows.
Post-Collapse Scavenging
Okay, admittedly, this one is kind of on the fringe, but it’s still worth mentioning. In the event of a major collapse of some sort, it might become necessary to scavenge for food or other supplies. We are not advocating illegal activity. What we are suggesting is that there may come a time when foraging for supplies could become necessary for survival. Being able to do so without a “smash and grab” approach might be so much the better.
How to Learn
There are innumerable resources for learning basic lockpicking. One of the best is found at Locklab. They have a Locklab University link on their site where they offer an extensive online course in lockpicking. You can find the first page for that course here.
Another great resource is the Lockpicking Lawyer channel on YouTube. He has over 1,600 videos showcasing all sorts of different locks and how to defeat them.
You might also check to see if there are any locksport clubs or organizations in your area. Locksport is a recreational sport where participants work to defeat locks or other security measures.
Where to Buy Lockpicks?
I recommend Sparrows Lock Picks. They have top-of-the-line products that aren’t just gimmicky nonsense. Sparrows sells practice locks, individual picks as well as sets, and other bypass tools. They have excellent customer service, and they stand by what they sell.
Tuff Possum Gear is another great resource for top-notch gear. They have a range of products, including picks, as well as various ways to carry them, some more discreet than others.
Is This Legal?
I am not an attorney, nor have I played one on TV. But my layman’s understanding is that owning lockpicks isn’t illegal in most states in the US. Carrying them around might be a different matter. But merely owning them and using them at home doesn’t violate the law. This site purports to have fairly current information on lockpick legalities state-by-state.
I also recommend you do your own homework, just to be certain.
