Decoding Multi-Wheel Locks with a Mini Knife

There are other videos online already that discuss this tactic, but they mostly appear to appeal to experienced lockpickers and locksmiths... as you all know, I like communicating facts like this to the masses so here's my take on multi-wheel decoding.
It's possible to fabricate a decoding shim out of any found metal if it's thin enough (on some, but by no means all, locks the aluminum from a beverage can can work in a pinch) but for best results we recommend using a proper steel tool.
Our students use either of the following in our classrooms...
redteamtools.c...
redteamtools.c...
...so if you've got a key box or other combination-based lock to which you've lost the code, try this tactic and see how it works out for you! Most of the Master Lock 5400-series key boxes are susceptible, as are Sesame multi-wheel locks, ShurLok products, Brinks locker locks, and a whole galaxy of no-name knock off products which are clones of the units that dominate the market.
Good luck!

[@lockpickinglawyer]

Nicely explained... very clear and great use of animation. 👍

[@DeviantOllam]

Thanks! Coming from you that means a great deal! (Do you think folk would ever believe what our recording stations look like? And how oddly we position ourselves to be in front of the camera?) :-)

[@jmr]

Wow LPL follws Ollam, the guy who does the talks that got me back into this chicanery. I'm subscribed to the both of you and of course Bosnian Bill.

[@lockpickinglawyer]

DeviantOllam True... not many people realize just how awkward it can be working around a camera/tripod. However, about 6 months ago I started using something that helped mitigate that issue: the manfrotto magic arm. It’s sturdy and really opens up lots of great options for camera positioning. It’s a tad pricy, but I still highly recommend it. 👍

[@alpacatwoniner2370]

@@lockpickinglawyer I like that I can ascribe a voice to your commentary hahaha "Hi, this is the lock picking lawyer and here's the comment I have for you today"

[@jeanettedavies1731]

Unm8u

[@ThatLemonPancake]

Awesome to see you posting Deviant. I absolutely love your talks.

[@DeviantOllam]

Thanks, man! I hope to toss some new videos up more often... Life's just wicked busy these days. But I appreciate that you are enjoying them! More to come!

[@jeremywhite92]

That was really useful. Thanks! It's partially about having the tools, but it's mostly about having the knowledge -- and that's what this video gives.

[@elfakyn]

Also fun fact the correct combination is usually 5 positions away (exact opposite) from where you feel the divet if you need to go FAST try positions 4 5 and 6 from the divet first. The reason for that is because the divet interacts with the locking mechanism and usually that interaction happens on the bottom exactly opposing the user facing side of the wheels.

[@araduarte4933]

Thank you so much ... I’m putting to my refrigerator ..that was at garage with the house key inside and gave my husband the combination and when I back 2 months after that he never used opened and lost the combination ... but know I opened it... thank so so much

[@andrewhaines8603]

Bicycle locks were great in the early eighties. We could break them just by pulling the wheel to one side and rotating until it clicked across to the other. We swapped everyone's locks in the bike sheds at school once. Hilarious fun!

[@ganzsichertobi]

OMG tried this with a cut energy drink can right now. This is working so amazingly well!

[@patrickmaguire9784]

You are a born teacher

[@cgicliniccom]

Out of the 5 videos I watched this one was the best one and helped me solve my lock

[@gradoisx2348]

As a mechanic i used a set of feeler gauges and shaped them for a makeshift decoder. I make all of my own picks and torsion bars and rakes out of carbon steel or the thicker sawzall blades. But i would love to invest in a kit like you have

[@slimpkns7864]

I like your videos, i just wish you would post a little more often. Its always great content and i KNOW you have a lot more tips and tricks in your pocket. Literally and figuratively.

[@eformance]

When you were decoding it, I was about to say "too bad the combo isn't 1337"!

[@LynxSnowCat]

I facepalmed when it was {n, n+2, n+2} but tried to fooled myself into thinking the last digit was not {n+6} because smaller locks don't have wheels large enough for ten positions. I looked up from facepressing when he had already started turning the wheels together, and my hopes that I was wrong was dashed by "8,0,0,4". TBH I have set the combination to key-cuts, so I can't really argue not being less of a smart-arse.

[@harryfillpot666]

why is the n, n+2 scheme of importance?? asking with zero understanding.

[@briansolorzano8693]

because Leet?

[@uyscuti5118]

Hahaha “had some hot suppers.” I’m taking that. Great video

[@forric23]

I've got a couple of your books Deviant. Keys to the kingdom and Practical Lock picking. I subscribe to your channel, Lock picking Lawyer and Bosnian Bill. I am a trading Locksmith in the UK. From the bottom of my heart thank you.

[@DeviantOllam]

Well, thank you. That is so nice of you to say. :-)

[@jttech44]

If you're that far in, make sure you catch all of his other talk videos on youtube, there's a bunch that he probably doesn't have rights to that are posted elsewhere, all of which are super good.

[@Freedom2x462]

Yeah it works! I used an X acto saw blade, I was able to change to a new number! Great instruction

[@joelhansen7373]

Easily the clearest demonstration of decoding a lock I’ve ever seen!

[@ricknykamp]

Awesome job!! I have had this old Vault Lock in my drawer that my son has been asking to play with and I couldn't remember the combo. This was perfect. I had to give myself a bonk on the head for not remembering the combo. Thanks a bunch

[@JoeEngineer]

Thanks for this video. I just bought a used truck with this lockbox on the trailer hitch. I used your method and recovered a missing extra key inside!!

[@TheMatthooks]

Great to see you posting this stuff again. The animation definitely comes from a Schyler video. It was from one of the cons.

[@DeviantOllam]

Cool cool... Glad I was right. Do you know who created the animation? Did Schuyler make it?

[@TheMatthooks]

@@DeviantOllam I can't speak to who made it originally, but I know Schuyler used it fairly regularly. Here's one of the times he used it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZnFqpSOd7CBj5o If you're ever in Scotland, drop me a line. It would be a pleasure to buy you a whiskey (just promise not to open any bank doors with it! )

[@IntricateMoon]

amazing way of expressing your thoughts on every step !!

[@dominiquejamart6819]

Finally! It worked for me. Thank you for the video. Helped me a lot.

[@connivingcactus539]

Great video. Can't wait for the next one.

[@LogicBob]

The KZbin side bar confirms your suspicion about the animation by suggesting a video titled "Defcon 19: DIY Non-Destructive-Entry" on Schuyler's channel that shows the same animation in the thumbnail.

[@aaronmccann3246]

Very well articulated. Good video.

[@kahwigulum]

i feel like 31337 or 1337 should be included in the combinations that everyone first tries, like 1234 and 80085.

[@knyshov]

Guaranteed to match many alarm codes. ;)

[@efnissien]

"It's almost like a Ouija board"... I keep telling people that locksport is a hobby just with a 'whiff of Sulphur'... maybe I was closer to the attraction than I thought! Soon we will release the dark god Cthulhu from his bonds!

[@roberthorwat6747]

You teach the best method so far. Apologies to Bosnian Bill and LPL, great vids but this explanation and tutorial may be the one that stops me smashing mine off the brickwork😉

[@arcsnsparks86]

Love the Door King and Linear keys inside 😂

[@Kanathil]

I watched this video and didn't even check the uploader... I just watched (listened to? I guess both) a talk from you from the hackin' fest! haha Thanks for your great explanations, hopefully I can learn and implement them into our red teaming assessments.

[@hateeternalmaver]

Man... this conclusion! JUst wonderful, beautiful... of cooooouuurse your friend set 13 3 7 as the combination and it was so nice to see it coming, haha^^

[@Ghost_Os]

"and no one's the 'Weiser' " ... *sigh* had to 😛 I remember Schuyler using that animation as well. Think he said it was something he made, but I can't be certain. Too bad he doesn't put content together anymore. Anyone else miss NDE Magazine?

[@Sethemiah]

heads up for people looking to make their own tools. in the carpet industry, we use a double sided carpet blade that is .017 inches thick. a standard box cutter razor blade is .025 inches. if you are quite careful, and have something akin to a jewelers saw, you can cut one of those blades down to make some pretty slick tools. making the handles for the things you make will take some practice, but with a small drill bit, and some patience, there's a whole world out there. these blades have a good bit more material to them than the disposable razors you use in an old school single blade double edged razor for stuff like your face. and they dont break as readily.

[@jtczrt]

Awesome video and a good explanation. Don't forget about false gates though... They can throw ya.

[@jmr]

I used the anti-theft piece out of a DVD case to do this on a similar lock a few months ago. The lock was a tight fit for anything else.

[@DeviantOllam]

Yep, that will also work sometimes! :) Nice job!

[@wobblysauce]

Icecream lid, or any soda bottle.

[@arcsnsparks86]

They make great emergency shims too.

[@milt1326]

Followed your lead but made a tool from aluminum soda can with scissors!

[@peas42]

worked for me with a red bull shim

[@macnutz4206]

Most useful, thank you.

[@DeviantOllam]

You're most welcome. :-)

[@nyvinchenz9430]

Thanks for the help friend just bought something and it has this lock on it so at least i can get in to it to get to the screws and removing it since it really has no real security. Since the whole world has youtube and learn how to decode the combination.

[@RubberBanned]

Your key extractor in this video looks like what became LPL’s notched decoder

[@francoissaleta]

Well explained

[@angleturner]

Excellent video and explanation....... and a new subscriber here

[@jaredwilson1938]

Are you going to post a video on your pick kit soon? The anticipation is killing me.

[@DeviantOllam]

I have a blog post about it, but I could do a video, sure. Setting myself a note now. deviating.net/words/?p=561 ^ that kit has changed a bit over time, but it's mostly accurate still

[@robhernandeath]

thanks it helped me

[@gza06955]

LEET!!! That takes me back

[@MrBradaz111]

slowly going thru vids of your presentations, really like your style, really easy to listen to. thanks for this vid, really makes it clear what your trying to achieve. do you have any showing bypassing a combi lock with the mini knife, I know it's in one of your slidshows, but it isn't really clear what your lifting inside, or how to feel for it

[@DeviantOllam]

Thanks so much for enjoying the videos and the content. :-) when you say "bypassing a combination lock with a mini knife" are you referring to the Master 175 bypass?

[@MrBradaz111]

@@DeviantOllam Aha! yes, that's the one. it's all about the right keywords!

[@sirwalterkissmecrack]

Shout out to all the left handed lockpickers out there.

[@southernguy35]

i saw another video about a similar lock that I have on my door because the contractor is cheap. it's not like hanging the key on a nail for a thief to see. It's like hanging a sign up that says "here's the key" and pointing to the key on a nail. Without the expensive shims, simply take a soda can, cheaper the better as it's probably thinner. Cut yourself a strip and then continue to cut it until it's narrow enough to fit in the space. Probably takes about six minutes to open, including cutting up an empty soda can.

[@alpacatwoniner2370]

So I tried use a key box as a ouija board and had a lovely conversation with a 14th century basket weaver named Henri.

[@imfastlane8014]

Hi! You keep referring to your students, I am guessing you teach classes. Can I get some information or a website for that? Thanks

[@devin1735]

Appreciate the content.

[@DonzLockz]

Nice video, great animation. ✌😎

[@ISometimesFixComputers]

Great explanation man! Do you see this being the same on some smart systems as well?

[@DeviantOllam]

If a system is susceptible to simple decoding like this, is it really all that smart? :-)

[@pilotgeorge5618]

I did this the other day on a lockbox with a literal piece of trash. I used a metal strip found inside one of those sticky security tags found in electronics.

[@charlesgmcd]

Great explaination!

[@dazpdazp1672]

It worked perfectly for me, but I used a different tool slightly 13 blade feeler gauge set. 0.05 - 1.0mm

[@RustyNail5856]

Great video.

[@paulsolfelt8452]

I just did one if these locks and that decoding crap doesn't work anymore, I took the thing apart to see how they changed it and it was pretty impressive! That must be a old piece of junk you got!

[@miroslawfirlej712]

Thanks so much !!!! it worked!!!!

[@SaxonCerchio]

Sesame lock animation was from Defcon 19

[@kenshiassasin]

Awesome vid! where did you get the organizer pouch? it looks awesome

[@DeviantOllam]

Ah, I've had that for many many years... It was a gift from an old locksmith friend named Ed. It's modeled off an old HPC model case. The closest thing to it nowadays is something by Hard Case / Southern Specialties... www.lockpicktools.com/large-leather-pouch/

[@donarnold8268]

Thank you!

[@davidschmidt6013]

Your talk of 'thin tools' made me wonder...would old-school 'feeler gauge' blades make good tools? with a little grinding of the tips to create hooks or points, etc? Are you familiar with 'feeler-gauge' tools? old dinosaurs like me used to use them to set things called "points" in car-engines. they usually came in a 'pocket-knife' configuration with about 10 - 12 in each. Thin but very good steel.

[@grayeaglej]

What about trying to use the little strip of metal from the tattle tape inside a cd/dvd case?

[@surajghelot3018]

Really helpful thank you love for india

[@Willam_J]

1-2-3-4 I’ve got the same combination on my luggage!

[@janX9]

Spaceballs?

[@sonialavina8602]

Great video. Are there any combination locks that are 100% safe? What are owners of airbnb using?

[@RileyGein]

At the end of the day, a thief will just smash a window if they really wanna get in

[@tonyfourpaws4511]

Great vid, thank you. also, what is that leather pouch and where do i find something similar?

[@tonyfourpaws4511]

edit. found it.

[@Yorspick]

Genio saludos desde España

[@DeviantOllam]

gracias por saludar y gracias por mirar!

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks

[@pespsisipper]

i just decoded two 3 digit locks in less than a minute each x)

[@DeviantOllam]

Nicely done!

[@jttech44]

Really makes you think twice about using any kind of combo lock. They don't seem to hold up well.

[@gilessparkes2699]

Great explanation, nice little vid, what tools do you have in your pick kit?

[@kansasvmax94]

Only the best!!!

[@pb_zep3838]

Some people will pay attention to the number on the lock after they lock it, that way they can tell if someone has tampered with the lock. I would write it down.

[@johnniecameron8829]

I used a breadtie wire

[@Bostonaholic]

When you said "our students" do you teach picking and/or entry classes? Coming to Colorado sometime?

[@DeviantOllam]

Yes, indeed... We're one of the most popular training options in this industry. We teach covert entry and physical penetration at SANS events, at Black Hat, and regularly at our facilities in Virginia and Phoenix. See redteamalliance.com

[@chloejackson-reynolds418]

You can use the thin strip of metal inside a dvd security tag

[@DeviantOllam]

Yes, that can work sometimes for this. More often, we use those anti theft strips to rear shim locks open.

[@LogicBob]

Can you recommend a padlock for a Pelican case that is harder for the blue gloved tyrants to cut, but doesn't cost twice as much as my average Southwest Airlines flight? Thanks Deviant! I ♥ YOU!

[@Anonymouspock]

He has some content on this: his strategy is to fly with a lower receiver in the box and then put Abloy padlocks on the cases.

[@iyeetsecurity922]

_It's free real estate!_

[@mick19421]

How about an unlocked combiNation lock that I have forgotten the code . That will not let me even push in the hook.

[@tunafish3216]

This is old school.

[@DeviantOllam]

Well, I'm a pretty old guy. ;-)

[@Supaginge0]

can you recommend good but cheep starter tools for picking

[@DeviantOllam]

Why yes, I can... redteamtools.com/twelve-piece-lock-pick-set :-)

[@burtbiggum499]

Cannot for the life of me get this to work. Am trying to decode one of those master locks and cant get it

[@SLAMTRON]

First question that comes to mind is, "Why would YOU need a KEY?" lol

[@technosasquatchfilms]

All of the Master ones are sight decodeable with only a flashlight.

[@jttech44]

It's a little more subtle if you can use a tool though. Giver the old mean lean and decode it behind your back.

[@dmm985]

Cracked one yesterday for the boss in work. Used sight only. Pick tools were too thick! Amazed at how easy this was. Thanks guys

[@kimbrown797]

I am worried this is a plate form for bunglers !!

[@whatabouttheearth]

Do you mean burglars? They just use bolt cutters and a hammer to snap it off and beat it open. Takes a few seconds, but generally only empty buildings have lock boxes. Thats what squatters do, but they are very dofferent than home invaders/burglars who arent seeking shelter from the elements they are seeking property to steal.

[@EpicBigfoot]

Thanks Deviant, you're so 1337.

[@janX9]

1337 Free Kevin!

[@khandarwilliam5439]

Students?

[@DeviantOllam]

Yes... We regularly run training courses... deviating.net/lockpicking/training.html

[@3rdalbum]

Hell, you can cut a tool out of a soft drink can too... :)

[@sim2160]

air BnB owners sweating.

[@buckweat420]

1337 tech

[@GottSegneDich]

A 3/8s hole in a certain spot gets them right open. Guaranteed to be faster.

[@jwillkens]

Ha, that was leet. Hilarious.

[@sarge727]

leet af

[@josuemelendez5406]

Ahora en español porque entendí nada. 🖓🖓🖓

[@MatthewElliott]

Necesitas aprender ingles muchacho

[@chadleppanen3173]

1337 h4x0ring

[@norxcontacts]

l33t

[@DaObvious1]

1337 LoL

[@johnniecameron8829]

I figured this out when i was about eight yeard old

[@nunyabiz2016]

Woketard sjw