-------------------------------------------------------------------- TC PUBLICATIONS -- APRIL 29, 1991 -- "Master Combination Locks" -------------------------------------------------------------------- MASTER COMBINATION LOCKS Almost all combination locks, including safe locks, operate on the same basic principle. The dial is turned to a preselected series of numbers that line up the unlocking mechanism and allow the lock to open. People always lose the combinations for these locks. If you have a thorough knowledge of the construction of this type of lock you can usually open them quite easily and determine the combination. There are four methods commonly used to open combination locks, I will briefly discuss all four. The first method is called manipulation, which is a highly skilled field of locksmithng that ver few are able to master. Safe -- more -- and combination lock manipulation is a specialized field of the locksmith trade. The type of locks that you will usually run into are the cheap inexpensive ones which aren't worth the time to manipulate. Generally manipulation is not even a last resort; generally manipulation is always ignored. A common method of opening is to drill a small hole in the case to trip the locking mechanism, or read the combination. Some locks can be opened by rapping the case with a soft face hammer or wooden mallet. Others can be opened by codes, but only if you have a code book. I highly suggest buying a master padlock and peeling the back cover off of it to reveal the internal mechanisms. You should be able to identify: the shackle, locking pawl, locking dog, and three tumbler gates. Each manufacturer will have some variation of the actual construction, however, they all operate in almost the same manner. DRILLING Drill a hole approximately 1/16" in diameter. To find out approximately where to drill, draw a line for the 'M' in Master on the back of the lock. A straight line for the edge, through the 'M', and just missing the '.' in WIS on the other side. Now once you have the holw drilled, take a pen light, and look in and read -- more -- the tumblers. Through the hole you should be able to see the locking pawl and the tumbler gates. Line the tumbler gates up with the locking pawl. Do this by first clearing the lock by turning the dial knob at least two turns to the right, or clockwise as you face the front side. Holding the lock in your left hand, continue turning the dial clockwise slowly, and look through the hole you drilled in the back. Now stop turning the dial when the gate of the first tumbler lines up with the pawl. Now slowly turn the dial in the opposite direction, notice the #2 or middle tumbler, does not move at first. After one revolution, it will begin to turn. Continue turning slowly until the gate of the #2 tumbler lines up perfectly with the gate of the first tumbler. Next, reverse the dial rotation and slowly turn it clockwise until the gate of the #3 tumbler lines up with the gates of the #1 and #2 tumblers. Now pull out on the shackle and the lock will open if you line up the three MASTER COMBINATION LOCKS Page 1 -- more -- TC PUBLICATIONS tumblers properly. RAPPING Sometimes you can open these locks by rapping them open by hitting them with a soft face hammer or wooden mallet. A sudden blow on the opposite side of the locking dog will sometimes depress the locking spring and release the dog, allowing the shackle to come out. DRILLING METHOD #2 (MASTER) On the back right hand side of the lock, draw a 3/8" line down from where the shackle meets the lock case(inside of loop, not outside!), then draw and 3/8" line at a 90 degree angle to that one. Now, if you have drawn your lines right, you should be able to drill right next to your pin-point created by the lines. NOTE: This will destroy the lock, but it is a fail safe method of opening and opening it fast. -- more -- CLOSING I have seen many small files on the Master combination lock, but all of them usually talked about the manipulation method. Hopefully some of you out there will read this file and realize that these methods really work. This file may be destributed freely, but please don't re-write it and take credit for it when you don't have any solid facts to back up the fact that you wrote it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TC PUBLICATIONS -- APRIL 29, 1991 -- "Master Combination Locks" -------------------------------------------------------------------- -- more -- MASTER COMBINATION LOCKS Page 2 [ANARCHY] Command: Type [ANARCHY] Command: Type