Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Trevor Maclise. Trevor Maclise is a Locksmith and the Owner of Infinity Key Locksmith in San Diego, California. Trevor has over five years of experience in the industry. He specializes in working with residential doors, including door and frame replacements, door hardware installation, multi-point locks, and mortise locks.
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Sometimes, you have a master lock, and no combination. Here are several methods you can try to open a Master Lock. It is important, to know if you have a light duty, heavy duty or special duty lock. The methods of forcing open locks are obviously easier on the lighter locks. Of course, you can always pay a locksmith to open a lock, but that isn't the How.com.vn way!
Steps
Know that Bumping a Lock is the best method.- Procure or make a bump key. Procuring a bump key involves asking for a locksmith to make a 999 key (where all the valleys are cut to the maximum depth.)[1]
- Asking for a 999 key may cast you under suspicion, so be careful.
- Get your triangular file to go with it.
Advertisement - Follow the directions on the How.com.vn how article on bumping a lock.
- Note there are bump proof locks out there. It is unlikely that you have one.
- Know that most of these methods will not work. They will only work if you have a cheaper lock, or a very respectable tool set.
- Try a large hammer. Sometimes, a good jolt will knock the lock free. This won't work on all locks, but you may have some fun.[2]
- If the lock is on a wooden door, the odds are you will break the door before the lock.
- Try an electric drill. A drill should go right through the center of the lock where the mechanism is. This won't work on most master locks, and will likely disable the lock so it cannot even be opened with the proper key.
- Try a power saw. The right power saw cuts through the lock itself.
- The New York city fire department uses saws with an aluminum oxide blade. It is effective when you can access the lock with it.
- Wear eye protection and cut through the body of the lock (not the shackle.)[3]
- Try bolt cutters. You can use this tool on the shackle or on an attached cable.
- If the lock is attached to a cable, you may have better luck cutting the cable than the lock.
- If you want to try to cut open the lock itself, cut the shackle. This will not work on most master locks, as they are made of case hardened steel.
- Try using a pair of Channellock pliers. This only works if there is enough space to fit the pliers in. Similarly, for huge padlocks, a car jack may work to separate the lock.
- Naturally, these methods only work if there is enough space.
- Do not use a gun. You can actually open the lock with a high powered rifle, but you may be sprayed with metal fragments or ricocheting pieces.
- This was proven by the Mythbusters.
- The Mythbusters tried a 9mm, a 357 magnum, a shotgun, and a M1 Garand rifle. The handguns did not work at all. The shotgun loosened it up
- It is not safe to do this. Ricochets could kill you or someone else. The high-powered rifle created shrapnel. Don't try it.
- Buy a Shim. They are available at lock stores or online.
- A shim is a small and thin piece of metal that can slide between the gaps of a lock.
- You can also try making a shim with an aluminum can; this will be free. Slide the shim into the locking side of your Master lock and move the shim back and forth. Sometimes, your lock will pop open!
- You need to be pretty mechanical to try this, but if you do it you will have your lock intact.
- It may not work if you have a high-quality lock with strong springs, so better for a cheaper lock.
- 70% of wikihowians who tried making a shim told us it worked.
- Download a "Lost Combination Form" from Master Lock. This can be found here on the masterlock website here. Wait to fill out your form until you meet with a notary public.
- Take your form to a notary public, and ask to have the form notarized. You can usually find a notary at your local bank.
- Fill out the form in the presence of the notary public. Have the appropriate ID that you'll need to confirm your identity.
- Pay the notary's fee. Master Lock won't reimburse you for the charges.
- Photocopy your lock's serial number onto a piece of paper. The photocopy should show that your lock isn't attached to anything. Then, hand write the serial number beneath the picture of the lock.
- Mail your notarized form and photocopy to:
- Master Lock Warehouse
- 1600 W. La Quinta Rd.
- Suite/WHSE #1
- Nogales, AZ 85621
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow do I open a lock with a combination at the bottom?
Upnorth HereTop AnswererDial in the numbers required in the proper combination and pull open the shackle. If you do not know the combination, you will need to break the lock, try to "shim" it (as described in the article), or patiently try to determine the combination by trial-and-error. Because most such locks can be configured by the buyer, the company will have no idea what your combination might be. - QuestionI have a lock I haven't used in years and don't remember the combination. What should I do?
UniStar123Community AnswerIf it's a Masterlock with a combination code like in the article, you can try to switch things around and see which combination works. That sometimes works. However, if it's one of the three-digit-number ones, trying to cut it open might take less time than cracking it, unless you want to try as many as 99,999 times.
Video
Tips
Warnings
- Do not use a gun.Thanks
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for hammers, saws and the like.Thanks
- Do not open a lock if it is not yours.Thanks
References
About This Article
To open a Master lock without the combination, try hitting it with a large hammer to try to jolt the lock free. You can also use bolt cutters to cut the shackle on top of the lock. If you can’t break the lock, download the “Lost Combination Form” from the Master Lock website. Next, sign and notarize the form and make a copy of the serial number on the lock. Then, mail the form and serial number copy to the Master Lock Warehouse so they can give you the combination. For tips on how to open a Master lock using a bump key or a shim, read on!
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