Number Combo Lock on brief Case.

[Shelnutt2]

Guys I need your help! I moved the numbers on my father briefcase that has a combination lock on it. He doesn't remember the combination! Does anyone know a shorter way to try and find the combo with out trying all 1k possibilities? With 0-9 and three sets of the numbers I would be here a long time!

If not I'll just start with 001 and end with 999.

[Kendan]

Have fun. You should check to see if he still has any documentation from the purchase of the briefcase as there might be something with the combination on it;)

[wa77ss]

I would personally just pry it open with something and buy a new one :)

[Kendan]

I would personally just pry it open with something and buy a new one :)

It is a cheap 3 number combo lock. It shouldn't take more than a few hours going thru the numbers. No need to destroy it.

[Shelnutt2]

Kendan, you're a funny man.;)

There is no documentation, my father acquired it(he found it in a closet) at work a few years back.

[b1029384756]

Start with 000 rather than 001...you'd feel like a real tool if you went through 1k combinations only to find you missed the first one.

[Seven]

1000 combinations for a POS briefcase?

http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/Samples/026.25/s12s.JPG

Welcome to the 20th century. Show that briefcase who's boss.
7

[Soichiro]

@Seven: Cool table :p

And what's the point in keeping a briefcase with a combo lock if you never lock it and can't remember the combination when you do? Just pry it open.

[Malpine Walis]

Guys, let's try to be helpful here. The fact is that this information is so easily googled that there is just no point in even worrying about it. Heck but howstuffworks.com has pretty pictures about the process (for a different kind of lock but even so…).

There are two ways to deal with the problem at hand. The longer way is to start at 000 and work your way up until you get a hit. Do it twice and you are good to go. And that really is not that hard to do. At one combo every two seconds, you are looking at a half hour per side **if you have to go all the way to 999**. More likely, you will be in the thing in something like 15 to 20 minutes.

The other way depends on the brand of the lock and takes some practice to get good at. But if you do get good, you can get into the briefcase in under a minute. When I was a kid, several of my friends had a similar type of lock for their bicycles and we used to switch locks on each other all the time. Honestly, given that you have never done this before, I would just bite the bullet and start at 000 and see how long it takes.

[deez]

How do we know this guy isn't really trying to break into a locked briefcase undetected?

[rainless]

How do we know this guy isn't really trying to break into a locked briefcase undetected?

I thought we had already moved past that and were on to "aiding and abbeding."

[Sleepy_Steve]

I thought we had already moved past that and were on to "aiding and abbeding."Besides, there are tons of times you'd need access to a brief case that may or may not be yours that you likley cant get the combo for. :beer:

[deez]

I thought we had already moved past that and were on to "aiding and abbeding."

Portable objects (like mini safes) with locks are pointless anyway b/c a real thief would just take the entire object. Anyway the briefcase locks are probably pretty cheaply made and can be picked with a small screwdriver, file, or similar object.

[JerkasaurusRex]

Portable objects (like mini safes) with locks are pointless anyway b/c a real thief would just take the entire object. Anyway the briefcase locks are probably pretty cheaply made and can be picked with a small screwdriver, file, or similar object.


Yeah, i was about to say some of them also have keyholes just incase you forget the combo it comes with a key so you could just pick the lock easily, probably even with a paper clip since it is probably a weak lock.

[Sleepy_Steve]

LOL gota love picking the single tumbler locks with a papperclip.

[shaking_ground]

in all likelyhood i have a suggestion that will work and probably save you time.

What you need to get your hands on is a very thin piece of metal with a very flat edge on it. Something similar to a razor would work well (but smaller and more holdable) Generally, cheap combination locks will have flat spots on the inner rotating cylinder that the number dial is attached to. the trick is to slowly rotate the dial and wait until you "feel" the flat spot with your probe. Having done this with all three dials, you then know the correct 3 number association. At this point you simply spin all the dials together one position at a time. Obviously you'll know when you get the right combination.

This technique is particularly useful with locks utilizing 4-5 dials.
High quality Brinks dial locks are highly guarded against this technique, so don't even try on one.

Never ever ever ever pick a lock that is not your own. It is immoral and will land you in jail with a major felony. No joking, illegal lockpicking, done under the right circumstances, will land you in the clink for a long time.

LOL gota love picking the single tumbler locks with a papperclip.
Although lockpicking (legal) is quite fun, i would discourage you from using a paperclip to attempt to defeat the lock. Generally it is prone to engaging and jamming the primary pin in a low quality tumbler lock such as a kwikset deadbolt. There are a variety of alternative methods which are more effective and less likely to damage your lock. Additionally, you flat out CANT use a paperclip to defeat any really fun configurations.

[Shelnutt2]

in all likelyhood i have a suggestion that will work and probably save you time.

What you need to get your hands on is a very thin piece of metal with a very flat edge on it. Something similar to a razor would work well (but smaller and more holdable) Generally, cheap combination locks will have flat spots on the inner rotating cylinder that the number dial is attached to. the trick is to slowly rotate the dial and wait until you "feel" the flat spot with your probe. Having done this with all three dials, you then know the correct 3 number association. At this point you simply spin all the dials together one position at a time. Obviously you'll know when you get the right combination.

This technique is particularly useful with locks utilizing 4-5 dials.
High quality Brinks dial locks are highly guarded against this technique, so don't even try on one.

Never ever ever ever pick a lock that is not your own. It is immoral and will land you in jail with a major felony. No joking, illegal lockpicking, done under the right circumstances, will land you in the clink for a long time.\

This (http://www.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/6/1/3/medium/316931.jpg) is a picture of what the lock looks like. Your suggestion sounds good but in order to do so I think I'd end up having to damage the briefcase.

I've been googling but so far I only find methods for regular spin the wheel combination locks..can't find anything on briefcases. I think I'll just have to start at 000.

[shaking_ground]

This is a picture of what the lock looks like. Your suggestion sounds good but in order to do so I think I'd end up having to damage the briefcase.

I've been googling but so far I only find methods for regular spin the wheel combination locks..can't find anything on briefcases. I think I'll just have to start at 000.

that's your prerogative, however, the method i described would almost certainly be effective against that design. the probe simply fits through the narrow slot between the wheel and the cover plate.

the whole point of picking a lock is to bypass it without inflicting damage upon it.

Sorry, i guess maybe i was ineffective in describing the technique, but i'm sure if you threw on some futurama and just started spinning the time would fly by. I just get a kick out of defeating locks. For a while i didn't even use my keys on my own door. happy times.

[Adragontattoo]

http://amazingrust.com/Experiments/how_to/Thermite.html

[Adragontattoo]

that's your prerogative, however, the method i described would almost certainly be effective against that design. the probe simply fits through the narrow slot between the wheel and the cover plate.

the whole point of picking a lock is to bypass it without inflicting damage upon it.

Sorry, i guess maybe i was ineffective in describing the technique, but i'm sure if you threw on some futurama and just started spinning the time would fly by. I just get a kick out of defeating locks. For a while i didn't even use my keys on my own door. happy times.

Bumpkey?

[sno.lcn]

I like seven's idea the best so far ;)

[Shelnutt2]

I like seven's idea the best so far ;)

lol


I found this:
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:-QPORHNBrl4J:hackbloc.org/forums/index.php%3Ftopic%3D378.0%3Bprev_next%3Dprev+crack +briefcase+combination+lock&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox-a

[Malpine Walis]

Yah, that is connected to the other way that I mentioned but it only works for certain locks. Even then, you can't be certain of the right order to run the dials in. As I say, you can do the equivalent of a "brute force" password attack on those things in short time.

[bobthemoo]

http://amazingrust.com/Experiments/how_to/Thermite.html



:D

[Malpine Walis]

Nice but it does not mention my favorite form of thermite. Yellowcake, better known as Uranium oxide.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/MalpineWalis/yellowcake1.jpg

[Frodo Baggins]

If the lock is well used, you can sometimes narrow the combo by looking for a band of numbers that are slightly 'looser' than the rest. So for example, if the combo is 469, sometimes areas around 2-6/4-8/7-1 feel a bit loose.

But for well made locks, this is less of an issue.

Anyways, with only 1000 numbers, you can probably spend 2-3 hours and get it.

[shaking_ground]

Bumpkey?

Ya know, i never really got into bump keys. i always found them to be a pretty interesting idea, but not terribly challenging, kinda like using a bona fide bogota rake, it's just cheating. Probably more useful in real world applications, but i mostly pick as a sort of challenging hobby. That being said, working really hard at traditional skills has allowed me to be extremely effective on the locks that i have picked as jobs.

Most jobs, however, end up being completely amateur grade. You know, like a filing cabinet, or a chemical locker. All a bunch of 10 second jobs.

ya know this thread could be a really bad thing for me. I'll probably visit the folks over break, i'm sure my old man will walk in on me picking his briefcase. "hold on dad, i almost have it."

[Sleepy_Steve]

Never ever ever ever pick a lock that is not your own.
Absolutley right, unless asked to do so by the owner, who can prove they own the lock and what its protecting.