The Theory Of Lockpicking

Or why it is possible to pick locks

No lock is perfect, and lock picking relies on the mechanical imperfections inherent in every lock (known as ‘tolerances’) to allow the pins to be raised one at a time, instead of all at once, as would happen when using a key.

Essentially, when we apply rotation to the plug, the driver pins will get caught at the shear line and prevent the plug rotating (known as ‘the binding effect’). However, due to the tolerances, ONLY ONE of the pins will get stuck at the shear line and prevent it rotating at any one time. This is known as the ‘binding pin’.

If we then lift that pin until it crosses the shear line and gets stuck (known as ’setting the pin’), the plug then rotates a little more and the binding effect gets transferred to the next pin, allowing us to work through all of the pins one at a time.

Once all of the driver pins are at the shear line, the plug will be free to rotate and the lock will open. Simple and easy way on how to pick locks!