Customer Reviews

Visual Guide to Lock Picking (Third Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you have ever enjoyed taking something apart to see how it works, this book will thrill you. Tradecraft aside, the inner workings of these otherwise inaccessible devices are a wonderful study of mechanical engineering.

Having purchased similar books with varying degrees of satisfaction I easily rate this the highest. The text and pictures are independently useful and very complimentary. Its hard to call a book on lockpicking a must-read, but this should be a foundation for any learning of the subject.

I bought this book to learn physical security (locks) and discovered that this book is "THE" definitive guide to lockpicking. I just started picking locks when I got this book and after 1 day of reading and understanding the first 2 chapters and doing the exercise, I was able to successfully pick my first lock (addicting for anyone that doesn't like to give up). Also, tons of illustrations that will help you understand how a lock works.

I highly recommend this book if you want to start learning about the "challenging" world of lockpicking!

This is a great guide book to lock picking. I knew almost nothing about the subject before getting this book and after reading the first few chapters I was able to pick basic locks! The pictures and discriptions are great and very informative. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the subject.

The book is quite easy to follow and tries its best. However it would be excellent if they provided a cd/dvd with short animations showing the locking mechanisms. I believe they spent so much time on the figures, so they could also provide these animations... Still, a very good one to read.

I do road service for several companies, that need lock out service. I have done the regular lockouts and some locks I simply picked. Great for a trained locksmith that hasn't done picking, it gives you the principals of how to do, however you just have to practice to get it right

As a person who worked in a lock shop for about 2 years, I'd have to say this book was very informative in the basics of lock picking pretty much about any thing. The diagrams were top rate as well as the descriptors below them. Nothing was confusing about what they were referring to in the diagram from the text provided below it.
As much as I love this book I can't see how they could improve on it like they did the previous edition but will be looking forward to any additional updates in editions.

I can see why anyone with experience would hate this book because it sticks to only the basics. For anyone reading this review, note that the only way to get good at lock picking is practice; any book that states otherwise is only trying to sell you something. This book for sure fully explained common locks and how they work. The pictures gave a good depiction of what it takes to pick the lock and gives a few tips on picking them. A great book for explaining general logic; however don't expect this book (or any for that matter) to be a holy-grail of secrets.

This is my second book i'd read about locksmithing and i found it very clear to understand, great images so you can comprehend what they are talking about. The basics are covered with almost any book but this one is very clear and also explains a lot of high security types of locks. Obviously... practice is better than any book.

Being a beginner this book gave me a great insight into the basics of locks and lock mechanics. After reading this book I was able to purhcase a nice set of picks that matched my experience level. If you've no idea how a lock works, then this is for you. If you are a professional then opt for The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing (Complete Book of Locks & Locksmithing) which I am currently reading after finishing Visual Guide to Lock Picking (Third Edition). The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing contains more details and better diagrams. The Visual Guide to Lock Picking is a great book for beginners. Four stars out of five, because there is always room for improvement.

Although it is very good book, its have a problem, pass over one of the main items in lockpicking, that is, opening cross bolts. The author forgot that keys. There is specialized tools for that task that book don't touch, for example the tubular pick and the like.

In the other items the books is excelent. The master ilustrations can help you to understand inside the lock. Some locksmither bookish tell us about lockpicking zen, like an art of imagine inside lock. This book lead you by the hand inside lock. Reading this book, you will feel like visiting a friend house, but the hous is the lock. Througth this walk you will be able meet each part of the device and this knowledge will allow you open it. The explanation is direct and clear.

Very nice book. Really.