How to Open Locks Without Keys or Picks

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Opening locks without keys or picks - Rated
This book is thin, very thin.

The tools it seems to refer to most of the time are "jimmys" - for those of us in the UK that means our old mate the crowbar.

The section on drilling locks is worthless (working as a locksmith I'd never get anything done using their method) It's an old book, which explains why it doesn't make any reference to the proper "anti-drill" measures used by proper lock companies.

The other "techniques" are extremely basic and do not take into account the evolution of security.

If you need a book to learn how to use a crowbar, should you be let out without a grown-up?

Too short to be worthwhile - Rated
There's a couple of useful tricks here, but it doesn't teach you anything that a few hours' experimentation couldn't. You can learn as much by disassembling locks etc. and by listening to other people. It's not expensive, but it's not golddust either.

Hmm. Yes, not bad, but it's only a pamphlet! - Rated
It's not a bad little guide, I agree. But there's not much of it... It's a single-staple, folded-to-A5 softback pamphlet. The sort of size bank leaflets or brochures on smoking from a doctor's surgery are. Xerox-quality. It's good as far as it goes, like I say, but really, it's about four minutes cover-to-cover...

I love this book. - Rated
This is one of the few locksmithing books that I read time and time again.

It covers lots of techniques which can effectively be used to open doors, gate, desks, filling cabinets and windows.

Most of the techniques involve prybars and wedges, although drilling locks is also covered.

This is a lovely little book on a subject that is usually neglected by locksmiths.

Clear text and lots of illustrations make this book an excellent guide to a useful skill.