Metal Metal

Difficulty Notes

The lock is described as having 'wards on the more difficult locks'. One user mentions the binding is 'very mushy' and 'tougher to feel' compared to acrylic. Another user notes the metal profiles are 'pulled out their ass' and the flashing is 'murder on your hands', implying poor manufacturing quality that affects handling.

Sources (r/lockpicking):
- u/draukan (2pts): '...to get past warding on the more difficult locks...'
- u/Firewall33 (5pts): 'the binding is very mushy, tougher to feel...'
- u/Nemo_Griff (2pts): '...the metal & plastic flashing is murder on your hands.'
- u/Nemo_Griff (2pts): 'They don't care that they bend & break easily.'
[confidence: medium]

Picking Notes

SPP (Set the Pins) is used for most locks; raking was attempted but decided against for some. A short hook pick was used. One user notes that 'Master no 3's' allow you to 'feel and stop seeing' (stop relying on sight), whereas acrylic picks feel 'mushy' and don't set up well on metal locks. Another user notes the need for a pick shaft under 2mm diameter for difficult wards.

Sources (r/lockpicking):
- u/GoodOrwell (1pts): 'I could have easily raked every lock open, but I decided to SPP most of them with the short hook.'
- u/Firewall33 (5pts): '...they do get you to feel and stop seeing... acrylic... didn't set up moving to metal locks as well as I hoped.'
- u/draukan (2pts): '...you'll need the pick shaft to be a hair under 2mm diameter.'
[confidence: medium]

Tension Tips

No specific tension tips were provided in the comments.
[confidence: low]

Bitting Variance

The lock mechanism is confirmed to be a wafer lock containing 'thin metal wafers with a gate in the middle' and 'two small nubs that actually ride the key', rather than standard pins. The metal used is heated and quenched to make it flexible. The pins are stamped from an unknown material, and the dies are not replaced when worn. Unused parts of the plug are often cut out by the manufacturer to reclaim metal and reduce costs. The metal components are prone to bending and breaking easily. Some users found long metal objects (possibly related to the locks or picks) in the street since the early 80s.

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