Mastodawn

🅰🅻🅸🅲🅴 (🌈🦄)

Since I get asked a lot about how I got into lockpicking, I figured I'd make a big ol' post about it.

Well, I have the nerdiest backstory for this skill.
So without further ado...

First, the setup:

I helped make 5th Ed. D&D.
I regularly played in a campaign with friends.
I often played some sort of lovable rogue.
I also roll natural 1s *way* too often.
This became a running joke in-game.

Next, the inciting event:

One day, after rolling a natural 1 and failing to pick a lock on a chest, setting off a trap, and then getting taken to death's door by said trap, I decided I was going to figure out how hard it would be to do IRL (with modern locks and homemade tools, which I figured would be *way* more difficult than medieval locks).

So, after game, I drove home, grabbed my kid, and said we're going to the hardware store for SCIENCE!

Now, somewhere in the back of my head was the notion that street sweeper bristles were suitable for making lockpicks (probably from reading the Anarchist's Cookbook, Poor Man's James Bond, or something like that as a little kid). So we looked in the gutters along our walk to the hardware store and managed to find two bristles by the time we got there. I bought like $50 worth of assorted locks, and we walked home.

Once home, I watched a YouTube video just to see what the tools they were using looked like, and then found a small file and some pliers, and made a simple lockpick and turning tool. Then I set to figuring out what the heck I was doing through trial and error.

By the end of the night, I'd opened all of the locks I bought (at least once), and I had my answer—a professional rogue with decent tools should succeed at picking most common medieval locks about as often as they succeed at tying their shoes.

Unbeknownst to me, I'd rolled my own natural 1 on my save vs. falling down the rabbit hole. So now, a decade later, I've taught at conferences, placed in tournaments, been sponsored by a security company, created (and eventually deleted) my own locksport YouTube channel, and have hundreds of locks in my bedroom. Over the years, I branched out to all sorts of locksport-adjacent skills, but picking is still my favorite, and I regularly teach new folx how to pick locks and improvise tools.

So that's it. That's how being a total nerd led me to discover what turned out to be one of my biggest passions in life—defeating other folx' security for fun.

Pictured: (left) my first turning tool, (right) my first lockpick.

#DnD #DIY #Locksport #OriginStory

🅰🅻🅸🅲🅴 (🌈🦄)Oct 9, 2025

The next most common question I get is "how do I get started?"

So...

https://www.redteamtools.com/learn-about-lockpicking-kit/

At about $125, it's a solid kit with everything you need to go from absolute beginner to moderately skilled picker (you'll want to acquire more locks eventually, but those'll cover you for a while).

The book, written by my friend, and all around great guy, @deviantollam is really good. There are a few typos in the foreword, but all the info, diagrams, explanations, and topics covered are excellent. Highly recommend.

Also, if you happen to be in or around the Seattle area and want hands-on with me, I'd be happy to teach you. Just reach out to me on Signal and we'll find a time 😊

#LearnLockpicking

Learn About Lockpicking Kit

Red Team Tools

Max M.Oct 9, 2025

@alice
Is the knowledge gained with this kit and the book also applicable to european locks? Or is there much difference?
@deviantollam

Daniel A Johansson Oct 9, 2025

@alice @deviantollam i have looked at that kit a couple of times but one thing has stopped me so far and I thought now that I could ask here if anybody can help me with it.

I live in Sweden, does anyone know if there are big differences between locks in the US and locks in Europe/Sweden?

I want to be relatively sure that what I learn can be used in my area as well and not only if I go to the US.

Martin Marconcini Nov 11

@Daj @alice @deviantollam

I bought it last month.

Costs (For Europeans):

Kit/Book: €156,02 (incl. Shipping to the Netherlands via UPS -the default option-)
Tax: €40,59

Total: €196,61

Twotired Oct 10, 2025

@alice @deviantollam
Can I assume you know about Steve Hamilton’s novel The Lock Artist?

Deviant Ollam Oct 10, 2025

@Twotired @alice I do not believe that I do

@alice @deviantollam Would you know of anyone in the EU or nearby who sells similar kits/tools? With shipping costs, import duties/tariffs and the possibility of customs looking askance at one’s hobby, ordering a $125 kit from the US sounds like it might not be the easiest way in.

Jonathan Lamothe Oct 17

@acb @deviantollam I do not have anywhere near @alice's experience, but I started off with this kit. It's not in the EU, but it does ship from Canada, so you at least wouldn't need to deal with US customs.

Note: we're having rotating postal strikes here, so maybe don't go with the Canada Post shipping option.

Sparrows Kick Start

Lock Pick Canada carries a wide range of Southord tools and Sparrows lock picks. We have lock pick sets, snap guns, tubular picks, Bump Keys and lock pick how to learn sets. Lock Pick Canada is your one stop lock pick shop. We also sell Tuff Writer pens in Canada

Lock Pick Canada

Yawni 🏳️‍🌈▲Oct 17

@acb @alice @deviantollam Multipick if you are willing to order in germany. My basic set is from there.

Evan Prodromou 4d ago

@alice @deviantollam my question is, "Where do I buy a lock that can't be picked by someone on their very first day of lock-picking?"

🅰🅻🅸🅲🅴 (🌈🦄)4d ago

@evan most lever locks, basically any disc-detainer lock, any high-security lock.

The problem is that Master has a near monopoly on easy to buy locks in the US, and the other store brands only worry about competing with them.

pJoske (Jørgen Asmussen)3d ago

@alice
I don't remember the first lock I picked but it was most likely a wafer lock on either a pc or a diskette case... Later in life it was padlocks and most recently again a wafer lock on a toolbox I bought for a project but didn't come with the key... And the latest padlock I had to deal with for an emergency just yielded for an angle grinder, which was also a first.... The photo is the recent wafer lock I picked on two attempts for maybe a total of 2 minutes with not having done any lockpicking since defcon 2018
@deviantollam

pJoske (Jørgen Asmussen)3d ago

@alice
oh and I picked it using an allen key as the tensioner and a tiny screwdriver from one of those cheapo watchmakers screwdriver kits
@deviantollam

Deviant Ollam 3d ago

@pjokse @alice of my gosh, wow... It's always remarkable when improvisational tools like that work, and work so quickly!

pJoske (Jørgen Asmussen)3d ago

@deviantollam
yeah, it was what we had on hand... The case was perfect for the project, but they were not in stock at the chain store other than where I bought it, so returning it was not an option and drilling it out would have been a pain and maybe have damaged the box as we didn't know what the locking mechanism looked like inside
@alice

Eemon Oct 9, 2025

@alice What's your favorite 5e class? Personally I like druids.

Editing to say I realize you answered my question in your post. I should learn to read.

TobyBartels Oct 9, 2025

So did your DM agree that your rogue could just automatically pick any non-magical lock without requiring a roll then?

minor!Oct 9, 2025

I helped make 5th Ed. D&D.woag
like
waoowag

Sarah Sammis Oct 9, 2025

@alice thank you for sharing.

Chris Mills Oct 9, 2025

@alice I recall finding the most impressive goldmine of sweeper bristles ever back in Somerville, MA - an entire sweeper head had come off and was lying in the gutter. Hundreds of potential tools lying amongst the autumn leaves.

It was too big and pokey to try and haul home, but it looks like it would be very useful for making lots of fun things.

David P Oct 9, 2025

Thanks, that's really interesting. An inspiring origin story.

𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight"Oct 9, 2025

@alice today I learned the word "locksport" and I am embiggened by the discovery

Alex von Kitchen Oct 9, 2025

@alice Locks always seemed like the sort of problem that could be solved with a hammer
(/bladesmith that likes playing fighters)

Eternal, Majesty Oct 9, 2025

@alice I knew I was saving those bristles in my scrap metal stash for something, and now I know what! Thanks!

Longspeak Oct 9, 2025

@alice "I helped make 5th Ed. D&D."

I love you. You've helped make life fun for the last seven years.

Jonathan Lamothe Oct 9, 2025

@alice Yeah, the first time I picked a lock, my immediate thought was: "wait, that was it!?"

Flipper 🐬🏳️‍🌈Oct 9, 2025

@alice take that, Gary Gygax!

Sarah Sammis Oct 9, 2025

@alice When I was in 5th grade I wore a headgear. I discovered that the back end of the headgear (not the side that went into my mouth, rather the side that hooked to the strap that went around my head) was perfect for lock picking any door at my elementary school. That is the extent of my lock picking.

cliffordheath Oct 9, 2025

@pussreboots @alice I still have the spot welder and a stock of the wire that my father used to make these face-bows for headgear. After welding they were silver-soldered and I have his flux&solder too. I suspect that you have no way to use this information :)

Justin Macleod Oct 9, 2025

@alice That was a very interesting story. Thanks for sharing. Why did you delete your channel?

Evan Prodromou 4d ago

@JustinMac84 @alice I wondered this too!

D Willobeck Oct 9, 2025

@alice Inspiring post, thanks!

Momo Oct 9, 2025

@alice
This story is beautiful, thank you for sharing with us. And yes, as someone who played pen&paper rpgs for like 30 years now I can absolutely relate to that thought process. Now I have two things left to so.

1) I need to share this with some buddys of mine who play rpgs with me. They will love it, too!

2) I think I need a few locks, a spanner and some picks...

Jennifer 88 - ME🏳️‍⚧️Oct 9, 2025

@alice That is such an awesomely cool backstory for your skill!

Somehow I already had the feeling that DnD was most probably involved at some point. 😆

arclight Oct 9, 2025

@alice Thank you for a very fun and interesting story of falling down a nerd rabbit hole.

I got locked out of my apartment, it cost me many hours, several hundred dollars, and I barely avoided having the "locksmith" drill the lock. The money was the least offensive part - the guy represented himself as a professional locksmith, charged that kind of money, and couldn't bypass a straightforward residential lock without a drill? I vowed never to be in a position like that again or at least learn enough to change my mind that this guy wasn't as incompetent as I believed. I still suck at picking locks and I put it down to just not practicing (and not cheating well enough). :)

Sashin Oct 9, 2025

@alice question! Has having the skill ever saved you any trouble? For example have you been locked out of the house and because you had the skills you were able to get in?

lina isidora | HOLY FUCK ARTEMIS II Oct 9, 2025

@alice the post isn't about that, sure, but you helped make dnd 5e??

𝓐𝓷𝓭𝔂𝓣𝓲𝓮𝓭𝔂𝓮 𓀤 Oct 9, 2025

Fun fact: Those locks on steamer trunks can be easily opened using the fish-scaler on a Swiss Army knife.

The end of the fish-scaler is shaped just like the key for those. You aren't even picking the lock, it's just like using the key.

derptron Oct 9, 2025

@alice I'm still stuck on apprentice. Can't quite get the timing down I guess and keep breaking the damn lockpick and running out. If the lock says anything above Novice I figure I'm screwed. I'm probably never getting into that pointy fortress on the mountain.

dominic Oct 9, 2025

@alice so did you ever try any medieval locks?

dereisenhofer Oct 9, 2025

@alice Awesome story and great to hear you are successful!
With regards to rolling 1s (or not making the roll in general), I too was irritated by the consequences the result had for the narrative (see The Gamers).
My solution was this: A bad roll either means that the lock is too jammed, rusted etc. (establishing the fact forever), or that the character just needs a longer time than usual. So no more "you failed", instead "it wasn't possible anyway, the dice just said so".

the gripe ibis Oct 9, 2025

@alice the sweeper blade thing is the push i needed.

spara Oct 9, 2025

@alice I have a similar story. Way back, when war driving was just getting started, someone posted pictures of lock picks on a forum. Lock picks were pricey and not readily available to buy. I found an old windshield wiper blade and used the metal strip inside to make a tension bar and snake based on those pictures.

Scarlet Phoenix Collective Oct 9, 2025

@alice Dudee, that's awesome. :d

Every Other Dracula Oct 9, 2025

@alice I got curious about how it actually worked from playing Elder Scrolls and Fallout, made my own picks out of hairpins.

Jonathan Lamothe Oct 9, 2025

@alice What did you make the handles out of? Those look more comfortable than my professionally made set.

johne Oct 9, 2025

@alice any tips for not oversetting pins? at least I think that’s my problem. sometime I give up and when i let tension off I hear four pins. It’s this same brass Master padlock I mentioned the other day. What else could it be?

johne Oct 9, 2025

@alice oh, I get counter rotation on the first pin. I’m guessing thats a spool pin. Maybe that one’s only getting partially set.

Dan Ports 4d ago

@alice this is an amazing origin story!

I also remember wandering the streets hunting for street sweeper bristles many years ago. I think I saw that suggestion in the MIT Guide to Lockpicking.

Jason Schwarz 3d ago

@alice Awesome story!

Full Metal Archaeopteryx 3d ago

@alice
Hrm... we have no street sweepers out here, AFAIK

Would a windshield wiper stiffener do?

🅰🅻🅸🅲🅴 (🌈🦄)3d ago

@DelilahTech yup, and you can get 'em for free from auto places.

Full Metal Archaeopteryx 3d ago

@alice
Nice! I might still have a couple in the garage