textfiles/anarchy/master.locks

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      TC PUBLICATIONS  --  APRIL 29, 1991  --  "Master Combination Locks"

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                           MASTER COMBINATION LOCKS

     

          Almost all combination locks, including safe locks, operate on

     the same basic principle.  The dial is turned to a preselected

     series of numbers that line up the unlocking mechanism and allow the

     lock to open.  People always lose the combinations for these locks.

          If you have a thorough knowledge of the construction of this

     type of lock you can usually open them quite easily and determine

     the combination.  There are four methods commonly used to open

     combination locks, I will briefly discuss all four.

          The first method is called manipulation, which is a highly

     skilled field of locksmithng that ver few are able to master.  Safe

     and combination lock manipulation is a specialized field of the

     locksmith trade.  The type of locks that you will usually run into

     are the cheap inexpensive ones which aren't worth the time to

     manipulate.  Generally manipulation is not even a last resort;

     generally manipulation is always ignored.

          A common method of opening is to drill a small hole in the case

     to trip the locking mechanism, or read the combination.  Some locks

     can be opened by rapping the case with a soft face hammer or wooden

     mallet.  Others can be opened by codes, but only if you have a code

     book.  

          I highly suggest buying a master padlock and peeling the back

     cover off of it to reveal the internal mechanisms.  You should be

     able to identify:  the shackle, locking pawl, locking dog, and three

     tumbler gates.  Each manufacturer will have some variation of the

     actual construction, however, they all operate in almost the same

     manner.

     

                                   DRILLING

          Drill a hole approximately 1/16" in diameter.  To find out

     approximately where to drill, draw a line for the 'M' in Master on

     the back of the lock.  A straight line for the edge, through the

     'M', and just missing the '.' in WIS on the other side.  Now once

     you have the holw drilled, take a pen light, and look in and read

     the tumblers.  Through the hole you should be able to see the

     locking pawl and the tumbler gates.  Line the tumbler gates up with

     the locking pawl.  Do this by first clearing the lock by turning the

     dial knob at least two turns to the right, or clockwise as you face

     the front side.  Holding the lock in your left hand, continue

     turning the dial clockwise slowly, and look through the hole you

     drilled in the back.  Now stop turning the dial when the gate of the

     first tumbler lines up with the pawl.  Now slowly turn the dial in

     the opposite direction, notice the #2 or middle tumbler, does not

     move at first.  After one revolution, it will begin to turn. 

     Continue turning slowly until the gate of the #2 tumbler lines up

     perfectly with the gate of the first tumbler.  Next, reverse the

     dial rotation and slowly turn it clockwise until the gate of the #3

     tumbler lines up with the gates of the #1 and #2 tumblers.  Now pull

     out on the shackle and the lock will open if you line up the three







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     tumblers properly.

     

     

                                    RAPPING

          Sometimes you can open these locks by rapping them open by

     hitting them with a soft face hammer or wooden mallet.  A sudden

     blow on the opposite side of the locking dog will sometimes depress

     the locking spring and release the dog, allowing the shackle to come

     out.

     

                          DRILLING METHOD #2 (MASTER)

          On the back right hand side of the lock, draw a 3/8" line down

     from where the shackle meets the lock case(inside of loop, not

     outside!), then draw and 3/8" line at a 90 degree angle to that one.

     Now, if you have drawn your lines right, you should be able to

     drill right next to your pin-point created by the lines.  NOTE: 

     This will destroy the lock, but it is a fail safe method of opening

     and opening it fast.

     

     

                                    CLOSING

          I have seen many small files on the Master combination lock,

     but all of them usually talked about the manipulation method. 

     Hopefully some of you out there will read this file and realize that

     these methods really work.  This file may be destributed freely, but

     please don't re-write it and take credit for it when you don't have

     any solid facts to back up the fact that you wrote it.

     

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      TC PUBLICATIONS  --  APRIL 29, 1991  --  "Master Combination Locks"

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     MASTER COMBINATION LOCKS                                     Page 2