(1876) Leif's Pirate Chest Locks

In video 1876 we'll look at Leif's, what can best be described as, pirate chest locks. Simple, but tricky. Unless you're smart enough to....well, watch the video...
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[@CPB24421]

4:07 "45mm.. that's quite a substantial shaft there".. finally!.. thank you Bill, I've been telling my wife that for years, but she's still skeptical.

[@aserta]

7:20 would like to point out that the long shaft is an indication that the lock was behind at least as much wood, making any attempt to directly bypass the lock nearly impossible. Just saying.

[@TheRealBanana]

Im sure a stiff bent wire would get past any added depth.

[@derekbroestler7687]

@@TheRealBanana I'm a locksmith who specializes in antique locks, that's EXACTLY what I do to get an unlock. Then, typically with the chest open, I can usually remove the lock which almost always makes fabricating a key much easier.

[@NigelTolley]

@@derekbroestler7687 yeah, any of these mass production or really old warded locks that were blacksmith, rather than locksmith, made tend to be fairly easy to defeat. That was certainly no box of wards!

[@CrinosAD]

@@derekbroestler7687 A bent wire that needs 30 mm to 40 mm reach versus steel prongs that are the springs in them selves seems not plausible. Must be a welders rod or something that really holds it shape :) (This lock is probably behind 1 to 1.5 inch of wood).

[@user-cd8yj2vx4i]

@@CrinosAD You don't see people with hard enough fork back in the day?

[@aserta]

The second one almost looks like the kind of a lock you'd find on old, really old sliding doors. A friend's house in South of France still has a eerily similar lock still installed. Neat to see this kind of...let's say cross pollination between lock genres.

[@jbombrobertson4765]

I love those old locks like that. Just imagining what they were used for and who used em...so cool. 🗝️

[@SesamoPicking]

This must be one of the greatest lock picking videos I've ever seen, you have an amazing skill for picking and entertaining us using pure and simple logic. Thank you Bill.

[@gozzendk]

Thanks for the video and to Leif, who is a treasure chest full of 🔒's himself 👍

[@gkeyman565]

That 2nd locks center post is probably due to lock being mounted to the other side of wood panel. Have a great pirate day

[@JacobWyatt]

Given the length of that center post, I'm guessing that lock was meant to be on the other side of a very thick piece of wood and most the key way would have been a hole in the wood. A screwdriver wouldn't have worked then.

[@magpiejames1440]

Very true! Between that and a lack of power tools, this was pretty secure in its day.

[@skygh]

Correct and whatever it was every time it closed it locked.

[@moesby80]

This looks like a lock from when Bill was young ;-)

[@seanv5306]

They had locks when bill was young?? what was he locking up, his stone square wheeled bicycle?

[@wikinoa]

Actually looks similar to the locks in villages across Balkan countries.

[@OlaMagnusLie]

-er. From when Bill was younger.

[@dougmacqueen1679]

That first lock is a variation of the crab lock style. The large circular steel in the lower section is a 'C' spring. And the part that the key contacts that you called the lock shackle is called the talon. Still called the talon today but back then it looked like a talon. These locks are very primative compared to the very best warded locks that came along up until around the mid 1800's. Of course these locks and keys were typically owned and commishioned by royalty and very wealthy. I have had the pleasure of working on and making keys for a couple of these masterpieces. One Southern France chest of the early 1800's used 3 keys that took me about a month to make. Picking with wires or trying to fit the keys by impression would be no simple matter.

[@RobinPillage.]

Interesting stuff Leif, thanks for sending them so we can see some of these cool old locks.👍

[@no.springs]

Leif's identity as Swedish-Viking-Locksmith-Pirate, confirmed.

[@awizardalso]

The house I now own was built in 1913. All the inside doors for rooms and closets have old type locks that use skeleton keys. None of them are locked as the lock bar is still retracted into the mechanism and the doorknob will open the door when they're closed and the angled spring loaded catch gets into the plate in the door frame.

[@danliberty734]

What you did was a logic exercise return to KISS.

[@petaks01]

You usually have about an inch of wood in front of the second lock and a tooled piece of metal around the keyhole so the screwdriver method will be hard. I think the chests these locks come from are called hope chests in English.

[@Gameboygenius]

I came here to say this.

[@no.springs]

Wow, really? "Pirate treasure chest" vs "hope chest" -- jeez, sometimes the context behind the lock can actually make the story way less exciting! (Although I'm sure "plundering someone else's hope chest" would still be a rather harrowing affair...)

[@petaks01]

@@no.springs Considering that the young lady in question probably used the chest for her most valuable items it was a treasure chest ;)

[@no.springs]

@@petaks01 Fair enough! But imagine spending hours fabricating a key so you could break into a chest and discover.... sheets and assorted linens! Yay! (I'm sure they were lovely sheets, however.)

[@NigelTolley]

@@no.springs the few square yards of fine linen or even silk would have been worth a fortune back before the mechanics of automated cloth production. Hence locks required!

[@arrrg3846]

Interesting! Just to continue the theme, you could have CNC drilled the tie-wraps away. :)

[@youview1327]

This is strange coincidence . Like 2 hours ago i was searching for a lock picking video for locks like this without really finding what i wanted. I have several 18 and 19th century chests and cabinets with locks (some unfortunately locked without any keys) like this and even some of my older doors has similar locks (larger keys). I even thought i might send one to Lockpicklawyer and now Bonsai posted this! These locks are very common on 2-300 year old chests in Sweden. Loads of locks where transported to America during the great immigration as locks where expensive but the chests replaceable (20%~ or so of our population moved to North America, about 1 million or something similar)

[@eralehm]

Bonsai Bill posted the video?

[@volvo09]

"Warded locks" and "skeleton key locks" will help your search if you look for more videos or whatever. But this covered the operation quite well.

[@youview1327]

@@eralehm Dunno what happened there. Bosnian being the lock ninja he is became a bonsai.

[@no.springs]

@@youview1327 Probably April fools joke? Either that, or a tree in Bill's back yard got itself a youtube account.... I think I prefer the second answer. I look forward to more Tree and Tree-Adjacent Content to come! :)

[@agkozy2006]

It's nice to see these old locks and how they worked

[@brentmodzelewski1689]

It was nice to see how 2 old skeleton keys work in a real lock. Thanks.

[@Mekkiceh]

Thank you Mister Bill for all the good work, I wish you a pleasant retirement

[@Archades6969]

Thats very cool. I always like to see historical representations of things like locks and clocks just to see how things used to be put together.

[@Pyrolock]

Since this video premiered on April 1st, I was expecting an April Fools Joke, but looks like the joke was on BB to make a High Security screwdriver...

[@THR33STEP]

As I was watching this, I thought if a screwdriver would be able to open it and then the video hit 7:20! LMAO!!! Awesome key Bill!! Great job!!

[@joshuaobelenusable]

The screwdriver trick would be much more difficult with the lock installed on a piece of 1 inch thick wood as intended.

[@Madlintelf]

Two hours to make a perfect key and you could have opened it with a screwdriver, I love it. Really cool locks Leif, thanks for sending them in we love them!

[@ruinsleepless9098]

Ok I definitely need to screencap and try to build a few locks like that, time to make myself some storage chests.

[@micky8ball]

Thanks for all these wonderful videos. Take care Bill.

[@XxShantilisxX]

I can't wait to find a pirate chest to try that 😂😂😂

[@no.springs]

Leave it to this group of weirdos (myself included) to stumble upon a pirate chest and spend a couple hours tinkering with the LOCK before eventually getting around to whatever the contents might be! Not entirely unlike my cats, when they opt to ignore a new toy completely because they're far too enamored with the box it came in...

[@lairdcummings9092]

Thanks for all you have done over the years; enjoy your family time!

[@notbrollan6107]

all the knowledge you send over the years was appreciated

[@itssummertime6854]

Wait did you guys go in together on who can say shaft more in their April 1st video

[@RWBHere]

That curtain is quite high, but a piece of piano wire, or stout coathanger, might defeat it, maybe more easily than the screwdriver. Interesting locks, Bill. Thank-you.

[@penfold7800]

Quite neat that second one. It's worth noting that if the lock was mounted on the inside of a chest made of 1 inch thick iron or wood, your screwdriver would not have worked. But using coal dust on a blank key, (or a soft wood blank to get the patern), it would have been possible to impression a key.

[@bluejayoutpost9170]

The mindset back in those days was amazing really. Nice pick Bill..Thanks

[@user-xm1nq6oy3u]

Very very interesting video 👍 Old locks it something special !!! Nice 👍

[@Dewgs.]

Saw you are retiring, thought I would say thanks for the over 2000 videos and I hope you get your well-deserved quality family time. Enjoy it. Again, thanks for your consistent contributions of your expertise.

[@flboy77]

Happy retirement, Bill!

[@MomusFilms]

I freakin' love ya, Bill. Your videos are so dang fun!

[@jackjones7615]

Bill that was fantastic 😂 I had to laugh between you and Andy Mac it's like going back in time !!!! Where the hell are you two getting all those locks. I must say you're both like a double act. Many thanks Robbie from Huyton Liverpool UK

[@loz11968]

Basically Bill just made a skeleton key..... as Bill said. If you wanted to make a key for this type of lock you would use a candle to cover the key in soot then you put the key in the lock wiggle it back and forwards then you file where the soot is removed... rinse and repeat until you have a key that fits the lock.... If the lock is on an old oak door or on an old church door that could be a couple of inches thick then you can use special tools to open it but if the customer needs a key then that’s what you have to do to make one... I do it for my customers but a lot of modern locksmiths won’t do it as it’s very time consuming.... Nice job Bill

[@frankbiz]

Now you know how, "The Bowley Lock Company", got the idea.

[@thumperlockpicking9269]

Nicely done Mr.Bill

[@roybrewster4872]

There is a method using a candle, you let the soot off the flame cover the test key, then put it in the lock. The warding will make an impression in the soot. Another method is to put a light layer of wax on the test key. I have never tried either method myself, but being a history nut and a locksmith, I always wanted to try.

[@NigelTolley]

You've never sooted a blank to make a warded key? Guess you're not a UK locksmith then!

[@roybrewster4872]

@@NigelTolley no, an ALOA certified American locksmith. If I am ignorant of something, please enlighten me.

[@tonyholt90]

Nice one Bill it's really great to see an antique Lock on your channel. I have one similar in my collection. Nice to see on KZbin.👍

[@steves5933]

Thanks for this video. It was helpful to see how you approach such a challenge. Lock-picking beats Crosswords anytime. 😁

[@donnierobertson3088]

Great job and video like always

[@twjohnson1203]

"Cap'n, a Bos'n feller figger'd out 'ow ta open 'em locks fer yer chests!" "Arrr! That mean we gotta dig up ever lasst one uh'v 'em! If'n I could just be a memberin' whar I bury'd the map, what show'd whar I bury'd the maps, what show'd whar I bury'd the chests!"

[@no.springs]

Still more secure than their last lock -- they grabbed one of those alphanumeric combination locks, but everyone kept guessing the code, which was, naturally "RRRRRRRRRRRRRR." Um, I'll see myself out ---> lol

[@twjohnson1203]

“Pag lag! Who be that feller?” “ ‘e calls ‘is-self No Sprangs Cap’n. ‘e been ‘angin’ roun’ ‘ere givin’ thang’s the eye ‘e ‘as!” “I thanks we be showin’ ‘im th’ way out by th’ plank! RRRRR!”

[@no.springs]

@@twjohnson1203 RRRR, indeed -- sounds fun! Wait, show *who* the *what* now? RRRRRRats.

[@SomeMorganSomewhere]

I suspect if the lock was in-situ on the other side of an inch-thick chunk of wood (i.e. the trunk) the screwdriver trick probably wouldn't have worked ;) Decent chunk of music wire bent into an L on the other hand... Suspect also that the long central post is more for orienting the key through an inch of wood than pick resistance

[@obijanjebrave]

It was really fun to watch this video. Thanks!

[@spencerworm6296]

My entry for your give aways. New to the sport. All my picks are made by myself and I don't have a professional pick for comparison. Anyway love the vids

[@no.springs]

Okay, you're a **BIT** more hardcore than me, lol. I'm new to the sport as well, but my picks all come from the finest pick-retail establishments (because otherwise I'd probably be trying to get into this stuff with a bobby pin or a coat hanger). May I ask, how did you even know where to start, making a set of (functioning) picks without actually having any existing picks to compare them with? Did you just dream up something that "seemed like it would work" or did you at least have youtube videos or images/schematics from which to base your designs? I find this super fascinating.

[@MrMannakin]

Very cool locks

[@jameskillalotthewarr]

I was disappointed Bill didn't say possibili-keys.

[@Chuycabra]

So cool! I love old locks!

[@ohmbug10]

That was a cool video. However, no matter how big your key is the 1.7 inch shaft just doesn't measure up to LPL's 18 inch Johnson. 😂

[@no.springs]

It's not the size that matters! And if I, and others, keep insisting this repeatedly...one day people may start thinking that this statement is true. ;)

[@ohmbug10]

@@no.springs 😂

[@johnmorgan1629]

It be the Masterlock of ye olden days, Yarr. What do you say matey?

[@no.springs]

I believe it's actually a Master Lock Model FouRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

[@_mrcrypt]

That was cool! Thanks 🍷

[@user-xm1nq6oy3u]

Finale was interesting more 🤣

[@iggymac3473]

Nice thanks bill

[@paulconroy6564]

Bill I dont think iv ever seen you fail🔁🔐

[@bosnianbill]

Then you missed all my videos with titles beginning with "whipped by"... LOTS of them out there.

[@no.springs]

@@bosnianbill Don't try to fool us with that shenanigans. We know most of those videos involved off-camera exchanges of various chocolate-flavored bribes. "Oh no, I cannot defeat this lock. What shall I do?" (Meanwhile the "too-high-quality-for-its-own-good-microphone picks up a very subtle "Crunch, crunch, crunch...mmmmm" in the background noise.) Shenanigans I say!

[@NigelTolley]

2 lengths of 2mm piano wire, Bill!

[@parabellum1]

Looks like this lock is really happy to see you, Bill ;)

[@KomenCents]

I'm a pirate and I really appreciate this

[@no.springs]

To be fair, most movies about pirates seem to put them in outfits that never have any pockets... So I imagine you lose your keys a lot... Now you know you just need a screwdriveARRRRRRRRR.

[@KomenCents]

@@no.springs 😂 nice one. Nah we have inner pockets (Brest pockets etc) but I'm not an ancient pirate and we still use inner pockets. Our clothes make excellent pockets since they're tied down. Think of where a ninja keeps his stuff (under his cloak suspended from falling by his belt) and so the clothes are tight so our pockets are pretty large 😉

[@no.springs]

​@@KomenCents Look, I'm no authority when it comes to role play -- but I'm pretty sure you've gotta either be a pirate OR ninja. You seem DANGEROUSLY close to trying to have it both ways. I'd hate to see anyone run afoul of Section 4a of the Omnibus Pirate/Ninja Reform Act of 2019 (or the various counterparts that are enforced by the WTO and other international treaties). (PS: Your *clearly* strong understanding of pirate attire is quite impressive and I'm quite certain I do not own any type of boat at the moment.) I'd hate to make myself a tarrrRRRRRget [okay last RaRRR joke, I promise, lol]

[@KomenCents]

@@no.springs @No Springs I didn't know there was such an act 😂 I would be more than happy to pick you up in a boat and give you some pointers since you seem genuinely interested... Piracy and ninja(ism?) Are two sides of the same coin really¹. People think we are all sea pirates (for the least part I am, but I'm more of a fresh water pirate and mostly a land pirate) but mony of us pirate on land... I'm sure you've heard of hackers (and lawyers😂)...Well people use the term to mean cracker. I think you get the pic. That being said... I'm not malicious by any means... I just go for what's been left for history to destroy. ¹If you see it from the angle of pirate=criminal and ninja=criminal then I guess you're right. But criminal is a subjective term. I prefer freeman. The law of the land is enough for me I don't deal with these acts and all this theatre anyway... Education and experience is all you got. So go get it while you still can. Just to add a point I missed earlier. We don't need keys.. And we don't say arrrr (actually we do as jokes sometimes 😂) Learn to sail against the wind and you will never turn back.

[@KomenCents]

@@no.springs Damn that was a pretty long comment. Excuse me

[@bradw0535]

Very cool! Nice one Bill 👍🏻

[@jabr991]

Nice 🤙

[@CyclingSteve]

Nice open. The long central pin would have been surrounded by the wood of the chest making it much more difficult to open with a screwdriver back when this lock was in use.

[@dkline8874]

I will you still did videos Bill we miss you brother

[@forteandblues]

Damn, nice job

[@srivinayakamobiles]

Nice to see

[@RocRizzo]

I’ll have to remember my screwdriver the next time I go plundering pirate’s treasure.

[@napalmholocaust9093]

I fit parts w/ chalk instead of layout fluid or black grease. Made a crossbow and the other stuff would dirty the wood. I know its metal in your case, but I can't see any mark on the skeleton you made and you said its a guess so why use it? The force needed to mark w/ chalk is less. Some make chalk layout fluid with alcohol. It might be for sale somewhere too.

[@PINEAPPLEKELLY3]

How do I send you a picture of my lock. I can’t find a key. It’s on a wood door. The lock has 2 staples eye. It’s big. I would love to find a key for that lock.

[@sureshchand3794]

Very nice

[@trackingbuzz1931]

Nice vidoe❤️

[@Penjulum]

Drat. *_I was hoping for a whole half dozen locks for pirate booty!_*

[@-42-47]

Well, that is a pretty simple bybass, it's a good thing pirates didn't have access to long pointy metal thingies...oh wait.

[@Yorspick]

Guau crak authentic ...saludos

[@srivinayakamobiles]

Amazing

[@nigozeroichi2501]

The screw driver only works because there is no wood, that lock goes inside, I believe that pin would be almost flush with the outside of the chest.

[@penfold7800]

Why is the Keyway hatchet shaped? Was there another ward that's missing that had to be hooked down to release the locking pall?

[@Rob-sr9rj]

Awesome

[@seatedliberty]

A 1.7 inch shaft just doesn't compare to the Lock Picking Lawyer's 18 inch Johnson.

[@FrankDouglas]

I'm sure it has been mentioned but if that was put into a chest where the wood made up the difference for that center Post you would not be able to get screwdriver in

[@kemelvargas6317]

You rock

[@alaric_]

I bet that the second lock would not open with a period correct soft iron pin. Soft in comparison what modern toold are. That was very narrow and the force required was huge, my guess is that the spring was designed that hard precisely so that that it wont open with a simple ice pick.

[@johndododoe1411]

ice pick = rondel dagger for prying open canned knights.

[@vicenterivera5693]

Cool.

[@geoffcampbell7846]

Great fun, and yes, kiss first, but then where's the fun in that? 👍

[@billcarson1966]

Arrrrr, matey! Tis pirate Bill time. Today he's going to teach us scallywags how to pick open pirate's chests!

[@deepakupadhyayupadhyay3676]

Nice

[@arankin2914]

One I have has two.

[@GAIS414]

Luckily for the pirates, screwdrivers that hard and thin wasn't around back in those days.

[@johndododoe1411]

They had weapons with those dimensions, designed for stabbing hearts when only the shoulders are exposed.

[@roysammons2445]

That was fun to watch : )

[@lockpickleif822]

Very cool, but slightly disappointing when I realized it wasn't about one of the locks I sent him! 😕😔😣😖😫😭

[@deepakupadhyayupadhyay3676]

Nice ki

[@PhenomRom]

I know nothing about locks but I still click

[@seriousmaran9414]

Of course it is, April 1st today!

[@JoshStLouis314]

A long and girthy shaft 😳

[@parags9917]

Cool

[@kareno8634]

Leaf Also sent a Strict Security Enforcement not usually mentioned - did you see it? Read it? *"KEEP OUT"!* 8 )

[@no.springs]

That's the old pirate version of today's modern "Do Not Duplicate" key markings. Fort Knox security at a price you can afford!

[@fotmasta]

Would that be considered a skeleton key? (for similar locks)

[@bloodvue]

Thanks for all the knowledge, enjoy your retirement

[@grandpl8703]

Good work with key fabrication but I think in "real world" you can't open it with a screwdriver because you also need to fight against thickness of wood in front of this lock (not only a cardboard) ;) Try again with thicker front :)

[@hektik8007]

Where did u get the highway video at the end