Comments for Blackbag, Barry's weblog

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Escher7

Escher7 — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:39:55 +0000

Sorry for the double post.

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Escher7

Escher7 — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:38:26 +0000

I just made an excellent electric pick from a cordless razor and a standard replacement snap gun pick inserted in a cut-off hobby knife. Looks professional and has lots of power, but it only opens a few locks. ( I will post a picture shortly on Keypicking.com.) Not sure whether my design is flawed or if my technique sucks. I wonder if even the high-end picks have a 50% success rate. If so, I am glad I didn\’t spring for one of the big buck machines. I use batteries, but may be able to vary the rate with either a lower power adapter or a light dimmer switch. I am also going to look for a write-up on electric pick technique to see what I\’m doing wrong.

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Escher7

Escher7 — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:38:02 +0000

I just made an excellent electric pick from a cordless razor and a standard replacement snap gun pick inserted in a cut-off hobby knife. Looks professional and has lots of power, but it only opens a few locks. ( I will post a picture shortly on Keypicking.com.) Not sure whether my design is flawed or if my technique sucks. I wonder if even the high-end picks have a 50% success rate. If so, I am glad I didn’t spring for one of the big buck machines. I use batteries, but may be able to vary the rate with either a lower power adapter or a light dimmer switch. I am also going to look for a write-up on electric pick technique to see what I’m doing wrong.

Comment on Cracking safes on demand (Part 2) by Donald Dibley

Donald Dibley — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:46:44 +0000

Dear BlackBag,
I read with interest your 2006 article on ‘Cracking safes on Demand’, especially about the manipulation aid. The video looked really interesting. I’m looking for manipulation aids and is how I found your article. I also enjoy reading your articles on Bumping and picktools, a great site!

I thought therefore that you may be interested to know the following…
The sad thing is that the device seems to have been discontinued from Chris Belcher, but on a plus there is a similar device available from Wendt (http://www.zieh-fix.com/shop/contents/en-us/d85_Manipulation_Dialer.html) which I found through a couple of BELTEQ youtube videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwMX47WFDOk). There was a video also about an Android App for manipulation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf6FClpTmWc) but I haven’t been able to find it in any store.

I’ve tried to contact BELTEQ, but it seems to be either closed or under construction. If you’ve know where I can find out more info on the App I’d be very interested.

Once again, Great Site!

All the best
Don

Comment on Ed Tickle: a true blackbag veteran … by W Lou Campbell

W Lou Campbell — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 04:56:53 +0000

I knew Ed along with Bob Wingfield from the Agency – Russ Waller from State Department Intelligence back in the late 1960′s. Ed was one of the finiest lock /safe men in the world. He could open anything or impression a lock from a key blank faster than any master locksmith I have ever met..and I have met a good deal of them. He could also dial any safe S&G ever manufactured much to the sagrin of several fellow intelligence types.

He lived life to the fullest. I call guys like us…friendly sociopaths, adrenaline junkies – born without an off button. Unformtunately, we become the victims of our own genius and it sometimes has its way with us…but he was and is a good man…a loving father/husband and “pirate” of old. JSRP

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by bembel

bembel — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:54:00 +0000

@Escher7: The “Multipick-Control” comes with an electronic control device where you can change the frequency. You can even store frequencies which work best to open a specific lock.
However, this tool is even more expensive than the MHP II and meant for professionals.

I was able to test the MHP II and I really liked it. Best tool I’ve seen so far.
Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of money, too.

Comment on intact-noodopening.nl logo contest (update) by Willenhall

Willenhall — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:06:41 +0000

Ronis have a VERY similar design to the vertical hands (no.1) logo, so i prob wouldn’t use that one.

http://www.ronis-schluessel.de/

Comment on Ed Tickle: a true blackbag veteran … by Zachary Tickel

Zachary Tickel — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:19:13 +0000

Today marks the 1 year since the death of my dad. I miss him very much and cannot go a minute without thinking about him. Since his passing we have heard many stories from close friends and family and love to hear them. Currently, my mom, sister and I are working together trying to get a TV show in honor of him, using true events and cases. It is coming along and hope it will be put together in the next year or so. We really want to make him proud. Also, I would like to thank my cousin Stacy Warren for all the stories, they really are great stories to hear especially cause i wasn’t around back then to know all the specifics that my dad may have left out or happened to forget. As for the movie stolen from my dad, it was Marked for Murder, which stacy had mentioned above. As for my dad, I miss him like crazy. He was always the happiest man no matter what the situation and the smartest guy i ever knew. He would try and teach me so much and I am taking those lessons trying to make myself as diverse as he was. He knew how to do anything. He loved restoring cars, building things, inventing anything that would be better than whats out there, and he never could leave anything alone, he always had to make it better. I am spoiled to have such an extraordinary man be the mentor of my life. He has taught me everything from working on cars to how to capture and treat animals. His love of wildlife and animals was always something that he never got old of, especially his large amounts of animals he always seemed to catch and bring home, whether it was a snake or a raccoon on the side of the road, he brought it home. But to be short, he was my dad and i am very proud to be his son. my email is ztickel@comcast.net if anyone would like to hear any stories, ask questions or share a story.

Comment on Dual safe cracking weekend … by Rick Ammazzini

Rick Ammazzini — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:59:01 +0000

How Does one get an invitation?

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Escher7

Escher7 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:22:03 +0000

Barry: To me $650 U.S. is more than a little over-priced, but then again if their market is professionals only I suppose that price is in line with Falle’s tools etc. For me, I will stick with the Chinese models ($39 delivered on DGate.)

I just had a thought that if one were to connect an electric pick to the power through a variable foot switch, it would be possible to vary the vibration rate either in stages or by inserting the pick simultaneously with applying the pedal. This might have the effect of finding that magic spot which opens the lock. Worth a try, but I don’t have an electric pick right now. Maybe someone out there can experiment and report back.

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Barry

Barry — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:29:41 +0000

Rick & Escher: I do agree the tool is somewhat expensive (overpriced?). I think this has to do with the fact some very clever people worked on it and all want their share.

I also know of a big company that put a lot of money (R&D, Patents) into designing a new electropick but it just does not work that well. No matter what they try.

To me it seems multipick found the right people for the job.

But this is all just my personal opinion. And I do not owe one both picks. Too expensive and I have enough skills to open locks otherwise :)

Comment on Electro picks, lockpick competition and back from Poland by Escher7

Escher7 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:53:15 +0000

Electric picks are nothing but a motor, a trigger and a pick – like the throw-away razors that sell for $10. The price of the Multi-pick is an insult to lock people everywhere.

Comment on Ed Tickle: a true blackbag veteran … by Stacy warren

Stacy warren — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:20:22 +0000

The anniversary of Ed’s passing is coming up and I still miss him very much…there have been so many times in the past year where I have wanted to call him up and ask him for advise, he had so many talents, but I really miss his big bear hugs!!
To Raimundo: Ed was called in to gain access to locked rooms, safes, etc… inside the Iranian embassy in the US after the diplomats were removed. He did not go into the US Embassy in Iran, that would have been a suicide mission!!
There has already been one TV movie based on some of his exploits (can’t remember the name of it). Ed and his family also discussed his life and interviewed with a 60 Minutes producer among others for a TV series and movies so they are interested in telling his story but they are very apprehensive since they were taken advantage of by the first group that basically stole his story from them and received ZERO compensation for his story. His exploits while incarcerated would be movie worthy (and very funny) as well!! I’m more than willing to discuss or answer any questions anyone has or get you in touch with the family to see if they are willing to speak with you. I don’t mind being a go between. Just email me (stacy@stacywarren.com) and I will pass your info along to the family.

Comment on intact-noodopening.nl logo contest (update) by PSS

PSS — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:02:54 +0000

Its a great way to create a good logo, do you have to pay to submit a design specification?

I prefer the hands above and below design

Comment on More problems for Abloy Protec? Decoding the pickproof lock?!? by Jean

Jean — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:13:21 +0000

Jean…

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