ABUS 41

Difficulty Notes

The lock is described as an 'orange belt' level lock. It requires serious consideration in tension and pick selection due to the tight keyway. Users transitioning from Master/Brinks locks found it harder because hard tension was insufficient; precise tension was required. One user noted it took longer than hoped to realize they were oversetting the first pin.

Sources (r/lockpicking):
- u/sgra8 (5pts): 'The Abus 41/40 is an orange belt'
- u/nivek_c (3pts): 'its such a small keyway that it required some serious consideration in the tension and pick selection process'
- u/rjthemxguy (1pts): 'With the Abus, I really had to pay attention to tension.'
- u/MichaelBrock (2pts): 'It took me longer than I would have hoped to realize that I was oversetting the first pin every single time I tried to pick it.'
[confidence: high]

Picking Notes

Techniques include TOK (Tension On Keyway) with a prybar or tension wrench, and SPP (Single Pin Picking) with hooks (medium or deep). Some users note difficulty with BOK (Bottom Of Keyway) tension due to the small keyway. Raking is mentioned as an alternative if CCW picking fails.

Sources (r/lockpicking):
- u/flashingflamez (7pts): 'usually use a .40 prybar at the TOK, and a sparrows Medusa to pick the pins'
- u/nivek_c (3pts): 'some locks you just cant get a pick into comfortably with BOK, and some locks just dont respond as well with TOK. Abus 41/40 comes to mind for me... if I were to use BOK tension I would have an absolute hell of a time'
- u/hbk101274 (1pts): 'If you can pick it ccw you should be able to do it cw. Vary your tension. Very little, medium, hard, try it all.'
- u/rjthemxguy (1pts): 'I was used to picking the Master and Brinks locks using hard tension. In all honesty, that is all I used... With the Abus, I really had to pay attention to tension. I used just enough tens'
[confidence: high]

Tension Tips

Use just enough tension; avoid hard tension. Vary tension levels (very little, medium, hard). If CCW picking fails, try CW. If BOK tension is uncomfortable, switch to TOK. Use a tension wrench or a rubber band to flick the wrench.

Sources (r/lockpicking):
- u/rjthemxguy (1pts): 'I used just enough tens'
- u/hbk101274 (1pts): 'Vary your tension. Very little, medium, hard, try it all. Put tension on top if you need more room for'
- u/nivek_c (3pts): 'if I were to use BOK tension I would have an absolute hell of a time'
- u/hbk101274 (1pts): 'Do that or use a rubber band to flick at the tension wrench.'
- u/fittytuckz (3pts): 'I bought the lock used and didn't realize it was only 3cm long so I had a little trouble with the tension tool on such a small lock'
[confidence: high]

Bitting Variance

The Abus 41/40 is a rebranded Brady LOTO lock with a tight keyway, similar to an American 1100 but with security pins. The 41/45 and 41/50 share the same keyway. The lock is small (approx 3cm long), which can make tension tool application difficult. It is part of the 'belt' system progression (Orange belt).

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