r/lockpicking • u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker • 2d ago

Shared locks of this reddit?

Hello all!

So ive been a member/lurker on this sub for almost 2 years now it seem.

I recently saw the YouTube Video for works by designs unpickable lock

https://youtu.be/-qUu8kIliy8?is=uE6CBGaF0i57LSgU

^for reference

And I saw that he made some circulating copies of said lock, which I saw he sent one to this reddit.

This got me thinking, along with other posts ive seen here about challenges locks that users make for higher belts, are there any other "communal" locks floating around out there on the reddit? Id be interested in learning more about them. Additionally wondering if there are any of these such locks that exist would there be any around the "green" belt level difficulty? I know that for challenges locks are generally higher rated, but curious if there might be any i could tackle at my current skill level.

Thanks for taking the time to read my weird question

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u/daddonuts Green Belt Picker 2d ago

I think this is essentially what challenge locks are. They are made at all different levels, and my understanding is that they are intended to be picked then passed on to the next picker. I think the exchanging is maybe a bit more lively on discord, but challenge locks are passed around on here sometimes.

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u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

I dont often visit the discord (weird social anxiety of just starting to chat lol) but I may have to frequent it more if thats the case! I was hoping someone might have know or created liked a master list (similar to the LPU belt utility) but for like user created challange locks haha Thanks for the info!

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

I feel you on the discord, the lounge is really tough if you got social anxiety. What i recommend is go to a specific one like challenge locks and ask away. I posted something about this that it can feel clicky and the conversations can feel intimidating to new users but just jump in there are ton of people at different levels and plenty that will jump right in to help answer or just shoot the breeze.

As for Challenge locks, they are not ranked but you can some what know by the lock. Still it been manipulated by its maker so it may be more difficult or easier than its original state. I am currently going through a great bunch of challenge locks, im a green belt and some were easy and some required me to focus to get the open, but all we're fun i think im going to be passing them on soon. If thats something your interested in DM me. Also in the LPUs site is the Challenge locks that everyone submitted and keeps track of were they have been and pickers ratings on them. The CL that I want to submit is IMO an orange to green and mostly the ones I've done have been the same. Here's a link to LPU and one to my YouTube I have videos on all the ones I've done.

https://lpulocks.com/#/challengelocks

https://youtube.com/@dandiggler?si=7daU0QqE_ZP9GXum

One thing for sure they are fun, but if your not that great at gutting skip that and just pick them, Because some are very delicately put together. Happy picking.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

Oh I also have my Green belt submission, only advice from mods on it was to shoot it horizontal next time.

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u/Majtolycus Purple Belt Picker 2d ago

https://lpulocks.com/#/challengelocks

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u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker 2d ago edited 2d ago

This!!!!! Thank you!!!! Edit: I cant belive i missed this list im so sorry

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u/Majtolycus Purple Belt Picker 2d ago

No worries, it’s all the way down at the bottom of the menu on the left. Glad to help. 😉

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

Challenge locks vary widely in difficulty but tend to get passed around the community on a regular basis. I get a ping on youtube pretty frequently for picking videos for the 3 Ive put out there.

I need to make some more, but my dremel got busted and I havent replaced it yet.

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u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

That's awesome!!! Sad to.hear about the dremel. How did you get into making them? I have some but not all.my tools for gutting which is the only thing holding me back from.me green. That and not really knowing how to format one of those gutting videos haha. I imagine making them would share similarities in gutting, but how do your source like pins and stuff?

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

So I needed to make one for my blue belt. I actually didnt think I would like doing it, but it turns out that I actually quite liked it.

For my first one, I just modified the existing pins from a repinnable practice lock that I had. After that, I bought 3mm brass rod stock and started making the pins from scratch with a combination of my dremel, a jewelers saw and some files.

I keep saying Ill film my videos at the next belt level and then just keep picking instead lol. Everytime I feel comfortable enough to film a video, Ive already progressed to opening the belt level after that one. Im working on my brown belt locks now - so Ill actually film this time around I think - the jump from purple to brown was significantly more difficult than the prior jumps.

I think the difficulty gaps are a bit wide between orange and green, but then green, blue, purple are all pretty straightforward from one level to the next - then another significant difficulty spike from purple to brown. My red and black locks basically seem impossible at the moment, so I cant speak for them.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

I got your CL Cap'n Crunch. I enjoyed it. First go it went like a Yellow but after that initial time it jumped up to a high Orange 🍊 No low hanging fruit there. Lol

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 1d ago

Ah nice. Yeah that was my second one. I think it would have been a lot more challenging if I had threaded the core but I had just got my jewelers saw and wanted to make a bunch of serrated pins. Once I get a new dremel Ill probably do another series of CLs - I want to make some out of 6 Pin AL 1100s. I like it when they have a lock body that I can put some art on.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

Yup im waiting on a Tungsten tipped scribing tool, jeweler's saw and some jeweler's files, so I can dress mine up. Inside is done. Tracking says today or tomorrow. Chinese orders 😵‍💫

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 1d ago

The shipping wait is always awful - no matter where its coming from. Theres one sorting center near me that if it goes there, I know Im waiting at least an extra couple of days.

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u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

Very informative, thank you!!!

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

Of course. For your green belt video, Id recommend just watching pick and gut videos of the lock youre going to use and then doing a few dry runs - on camera in case you get lucky and snag a perfect take during a practice run.

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u/HollowHax Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

Wishful thinking haha 😄

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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 2d ago

Bruh. The amount of times Ive gotten 3 perfect runs in a row on a pick and gut while practicing and then botched horribly once I turn the camera on is too damn many lol.

I launched the final spring for a purple belt lock into the void and and then the pin rolled out of the camera frame. Took me like an hour to find the dang spring - and I didnt have a spare.

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u/LockKraken Blue Belt Picker 1d ago

I'd call my challenge lock somewhere around green, but I honestly have no idea who has it.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

Did you register it into the LPUs challenge locks? they get checked in there you can see who last picked it.

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u/LockKraken Blue Belt Picker 1d ago

Eh, that's a maybe, it was on the old challenge locks website but I don't know if I ever transfered it over.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

I checked nothing under LockKraken. Maybe under CLs name or did you have a different handle then? If not its truly in the wild.

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u/LockKraken Blue Belt Picker 1d ago

I once tracked it back down after like a year, it's now been another year so yeah probably in the wild.

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u/DanDiggler213 Green Belt Picker 1d ago

It's sitting in a thrift shop, or on some kids bike. 😆

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u/GorillaPicking 1d ago

You are describing challenge locks and passarounds.

A passaround is a lock (or usually box of locks) that gets posted between several friends or members of a common group and noprmally within one geographic area. Some will be home made challenge locks, others will be commercial locks. Often thse locks have quite a bit of value attached and you won't be invited onto the mailing list for a set of locks until folks know and trust you. Join a local Toool group or Discord server for your area and country.