Why do I carry a set of lock picks?
Jokes aside, these little guys have gotten me out of a couple jams. That being said, the rules published by The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers (TOOOL) are quite helpful to remember; I follow them myself, though I am not a member:
1. Never pick or manipulate with the aim of opening any lock that does not belong to you, unless you have been granted explicit permission by the lock’s rightful owner.
2. Never disseminate knowledge or tools of lockpicking to individuals whom you know or whom have reason to suspect would seek to employ such skills or equipment in a criminal manner.
3. Be mindful of the relevant laws concerning lockpicks and related equipment in any country, state, or municipality where you seek to engage in hobbyist lockpicking or recreational locksporting.
TOOOL U.S.
That being said, I’m a big fan of this Bogota toolset as a pretty barebones regular carry item. I have a much more extensive entry toolset that I also try to keep around, but that lives in my backpack – these can be kept on my person when necessary.
They’re low profile and their titanium construction means they’re quite lightweight while remaining very durable. I use the pen spring in conjunction with them to keep them together; one piece of the pair does no good without the other.
They don’t replace a full lockpick set, but the set you have on you is worth ten sets in a bag somewhere if the bag isn’t on your person.
Here’s a link to buy them, I’m a fan of ITS Tactical in general, and they carry a lot of stuff I like as well.
I’ll continue to profile lockpicks and other tools if there’s interest – that’s all for today though. Just know there are more types of lockpick out there, and plenty of other interesting tools too!
-T