![]() ![]() The varied width is crucial for varied keyhole sizes and then having additional short tension ends comes in handy when dealing in small locks. The tension wrenches mostly vary by sizing, but 3 are twisted for comfort while the other 3 are double sided to offer more length options. For an additional personal observation I wish the Triple-Peak had a lower profile tip since I have a little trouble lifting pins smoothly with the current very rounded tip. Personally I like the Best-Buster a lot since it has a nice angle tip to sneak under small lock pins and a little wiggle to offer both precise and rake tool features. This pick does a fantastic job of emulating the key bitings found among most common commercial and residential locks such as Kwickset, Weiser and master. "City Rake" is a standard rake that has proven to be indispensable over the years. This pick is good for a wide range of keyway types, and pinning arrangements. When the pick is used in a raking type technique it is also possible to work several pins at the same time. It is designed to let the picker feel of the intricacies of the lock and manipulate pins individually. This Pick is more versatile and is used more often than any other pick. ![]() "Standard short hook" or lifter is the first "go-to" pick in the arsenal. With the pick acting as a centered fulcrum you will find that this pick has extremely smooth and controlled lifts. The wedge-like point and specially rounded bottom edge slides through the keyway. "Offset Hybrid" is a combination of a shallow hook, and a rounded half diamond. The half diamond wedges itself under, and sometimes past the pins that are set too low to get a traditional hook under. "Small half Diamond" acts like a wedge while manipulating pins in keyways that are arranged in a manner that disallows a hook-type pick. Similar to the double peak with different spacing. It differs from a traditional rake in the way it functions by using a "ramping" effect similar to bumping. "Triple-Peak" is used on the withdrawal stroke of the making it one of the most effective rakes available. This rake is effective on many lock types, but is specifically designed for shallow, sweeping key bitings like those found in Best, Arrow, and Falcon locks. ![]() "Best-Buster" is an altered profile similar to the traditional "snake rake". The tool variety offers multiple lock picking methods to allow appropriate matching of problem solving different lock types. ![]() Despite generally being rough with them I have not seen any bending or breaking issues at all. This Sparrows set has taken a good beating from all my practice and applications which seems to be a great durability test. Just a dash of flexibility helps wiggle in tight spaces, while not being overly flexible which would result in decreased feedback and manual control. So what makes a lock tool a quality tool? Generally they need to be slim to fit in those tiny keyholes while still being thick enough to have long term durability of all that raking and tension. Lock sizes from smaller padlocks to common house locks can vary greatly so having the right size tool speeds up the process quite a bit and in tough cases it makes picking possible at all. Although most pickers will have favored tools, the benefit of having a some sort of set becomes very apparent when working with lock variety. I still have plenty to learn, but from what I know so far, lock picking is quite the interesting skill set combining technical knowledge with hand finesse dexterity. This "Tuxedo" set includes 6 tools and 6 tension wrenches with a bonus little case. Thanks to ITS tactical I was able to get a crash course on basic lock picking and Sparrows was nice enough to get a starter set my way to play with. ![]()
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