1. Locksports and the law
Let's cut to the chase: Yes, locksport is technically legal in most US states. Mostly.
Locksport as a hobby is perfectly legal and acceptable to do. However, there are gray areas when it comes to the possession of a lockpicking kit. Who's to know you're a hobbyist if you're found wandering the street with picks in your pocket?
For most states, it comes down to a question of intent -- what is your purpose?
If law enforcement believes you're in possession of a lockpicking kit with the intent to commit crime, that's where you'll wind up in trouble. For hobbyists like Rory, it wasn't until co-workers expressed an interest in his hobby that he even looked into the legality.
"In my state, Georgia, there's no law against owning, carrying or using lockpicks as long as the use isn't criminal," he said.
"The state would have to prove that I intended to commit a crime with them if I did get arrested for having them." "The look on someone's face the first time they pop a lock open is priceless every time." 2BDCy4D
It does however raise concerns about the impact of criminal profiling. Some states have higher stop-and-frisk rates than others, and African American and Latin men are statistically more likely to be assumed guilty than others.
Online, the r/lockpicking subreddit has laid the groundwork to ensure legislation is followed to a T, establishing strict rules: Nobody can pick an active lock, or help anyone attempting to. The community is united on that front, with mods receiving reports of any violations almost immediately.
"We are extremely strict about not assisting anyone with picking a lock in use, regardless of whether they own the lock, or whether they have permission to do so," said Sell.
"One reason is because they might very well break that lock, but another reason is that we want to discourage the idea that we are here to help pick locks for a purpose other than fun."
But the murky waters of intent do leave many hobbyists anxious. As a result, many chose to practice exclusively at home, with extra precautions taken if travelling.
"I do look at the laws when I travel," said Reddit user and locksport devotee 2BDCy4D. "If having [the tools] on me is going to cause more issues, I can pick them back up when I get home. Countries, states and territories can have very different laws, and it's really not worth the hassle for something that's supposed to be fun sometimes."
Perhaps luckily, whenever he's flown with picks on hand, he hasn't had any issues yet. If anything, it's been a hell of a conversation starter.
"I'll usually have some easier locks to open with me in case someone else wants to try," he said. "The look on someone's face the first time they pop a lock open is priceless every time."
1.1. Mechanical intricacies
Once you've researched the legality of practicing locksport, it's time to pick your tools. Fortunately, easy accessibility to practice materials is one of the biggest appeals of locksport.
Countless videos on YouTube detail the best methods of beating locks of varying levels. Anyone can purchase a beginner set of picks online and get started. You can even give it a go with pieces of metal from the back shed, if you're determined enough.
"I've made tools from feeler gauge, steel tubing, keys, wire, bobby pins, paper clips (surprisingly useful even for high security sometimes), broken picks, shaped epoxy and more," said Sell.
These makeshift tools may remain the same for much of your locksport career, should you choose it. That is, until you reach high-security locks.
These take more time, skill and patience -- and a large amount of it at that, because these are the locks that might take weeks to pick. It's at this point you might need to seek out a specific tool or tutorial to give you better understanding and access.
"The first high-security lock I picked was an old 6-pin Medeco Original padlock without a key," said Sell. "I wasn't aware at the time, but for something like that, it's heavily encouraged to take most of the pins out and learn how to interpret almost imperceptible sounds by gradually reintroducing them to the lock. That wasn't an option in this case, so the lock more or less destroyed my life for two to three weeks.".
"I took it to the lab with me and would pick it for hours every day until my grip gave out. Opening that lock was probably one of the most satisfying experiences of my life."
For user 2BDCy4D, his rapid progression and engagement in the sport led to the desire to make his own custom tools -- and he's recognized in the community for having some of the best.
"It wasn't a necessity at the time, but more out of curiosity," he said. "I liked the picks that I had been using and wanted to try making my own, experimenting with different shapes. I found even little modifications to a pick profile can make a huge difference in how they interact with a lock, and that made me want to make more." custom-pins
Custom picks serve a practical purpose, but they also add an element of personality and style. Reddit user 2BDCy4D
1.2. Lock it in
With the coronavirus pandemic upending life as we know it, now's the perfect time to get into lockpicking. People don't commute as often. Plans have changed. Going out to socialize isn't the best idea. So online communities like the r/lockpicking group have naturally grown, with hundreds of new members spurred on by the need for a productive distraction.
David Sell is sure the future of locksports is bright. "There will always be new locks to focus on, but I think that that has never really been the bread and butter of this community," he said. "I think the future of the community is more in the hands of the people who decide to jump into it and less a matter of what those at the top are up to."
And for those that are just starting to dip their toes into the lockpicking world, the community is ready and waiting to help. From videos to custom tools to the ever-present advice on Discord, all you need is a lock itself -- and the willingness to look past lockpicking's checkered past.
"Remember that locks are puzzles -- just as brain teasers or 1,000-piece pictures -- and pickers are looking to solve them without breaking them," said 2BDCy4D.
"We just can't see most of what we're doing."
First published on July 30, 2020 at 5:00 a.m. PT.