American Survival Guide- Lockpicking- Black Scout Survival

Just wanted to let you guys know about the recent article I wrote for American Survival Guide Magazine. Check it out and let us know what you think. Please like, share, and subscribe.

American Survival Guide

Hey Guys,
Check out the latest issue of American Survival Guide Magazine Issue 8 (Spring 2014) on shelves now until 3/4/14.

We contributed an article titled Lockpicking 101: Consider This Valuable Urban Survival Skill. We go through some mindset, applications, and techniques in this article.

You will see photos of our Bogota Covert Entry Picks as well (can be purchased from our store).

Check it out and let us know what you think! We appreciate the support!

Take care,
Jack

Get your subscription here:

Bogota Titan Flats

Bogota Titan Flats in comparison to Bogota Mini's 

This is the Bogota Titan Flats and we've had it in our store for quite sometime. Like the Bogota Mini's, I realized we didn't have a proper article about this set of lock picking tools.

I won't spend too much time going over the Bogota design. If you want more information about that-check out the previous Bogota articles. Basically the Bogota's are some of the best picks on the market. They make for speedy picking, even for beginners. The Titan Flats offers the traditional single and triple hump Bogota picks as well as a shallow hook pick.

Unlike the Bogota Entry Toolset and Bogota Mini's, the Bogota Titan Flats are reminiscent of a traditional lock picking set. Making picking easier for those with larger hands or for those that appreciate the traditional picking "feel".

The Bogota Titan Flats are constructed of titanium, making them non-magnetic and extremely durable. They are called "flats" due to the flat design unlike the standard Bogota's. The tension wrench is also flat unlike any tension wrenches on the market. This makes packing or carrying them easier than traditional sets.

I enjoy using the Bogota Titan Flats as much as the standard Bogota's. I enjoy having both in my arsenal but the Bogota Titan Flats have become part of my EDC.

Check them out in our store.

Lockpick Guns

Lockpicking can be a difficult skill for some to learn. You may not have the time or patience to spend the dirt time gaining the technique needed to bypass locks. Others have also faced this problem and came up with a solution to defeat the learning curve.

I'm talking about Lockpick Guns. There are a ton of varieties on the market from traditional "snap guns" to high-tech motorized versions. Today we will be discussing the traditional snap gun style.

This particular model was developed to aid Law Enforcement Officers to bypass locks to do welfare checks or enter into buildings to serve high risk warrants covertly. Police Departments didn't have the time or resources to train every LEO in lockpicking techniques and the snap gun was used because it required little training.

I had known how to pick locks for years prior to ever using a snap gun. I honestly didn't believe they were effective. I was wrong! They work incredibly well and make quick work of most locks.

How it works
Unlike conventional picking where you pick or rake individual pins; a lockpick guns use a "snapping" action striking all the pins at once. When all the pins are struck it drives them into the shear line. It may take multiple snaps but is still relatively quick.

Striking speed of the gun is adjustable by rotating a wheel at the rear of the gun. You may or may not have to do this when bypassing locks. I usually just keep it at mid-range and it has worked flawlessly.

This model available through Shomer-Tec comes with a double sided tension wrench and three needle picks. Two of the needles are straight and one is curved. The curved style is for when you need to maneuver around a door knob or anything obstructing you from going straight in.

This is an excellent picking tool to beat the learning curve. Check out our video below showing it in action:

Lock Shims

We've shown how to shim handcuffs in the past with various commercial shims. This technique can also be applied to padlocks and combination locks. These shims are specifically designed to bypass the padlock mechanism. You can leave your picks in the case since this is an extremely fast technique.

These shims slip in between the locking mechanism and the shackle. You will first need to figure out if the padlock is single or double locked. Most all combination locks are single where key opening padlocks tend to be double locked. Single locked yo will use only one shim, whereas double locked will use two shims.

The shims will be inserted on the inside gap where the shackle inserts into the holes in the lock (as seen above).  Because the shims are made of such thin steel they will slide in between the locking mechanism and shackle. Once completely inserted you will push down on the shackle and the lock will be disengaged.

This is just another technique that can be added to your Urban Survival/Escape and Evasion tool box.

Get yours HERE.

Surreptitious Entry/Escape and Evasion Kit

We recently uploaded a video on our YouTube channel displaying my Surreptitious Entry/Escape and Evasion kit. There were a few questions about the kit contents and methodology behind the kit. I decided to do an article to answer those questions and show you guys that may be interested in building one of your own.

I designed this kit to act somewhat as a personal survival kit (PSK) for lockpicking/escape and evasion gear. The reasoning is that this is a self contained grab-and-go kit; just like a PSK. When I'm out of the country I layer this type of gear on my person. Concealing it in places that I feel would go undetected in a search. Stateside in my day to day life I don't usually perceive a threat of capture. I do carry minimal gear but usually nothing this expansive. As I said being a grab and go kit. In a rush I can grab this kit and start layering the elements on my person when a threat is imminent.

Being that this is a Surreptitious Entry kit it doesn't include tools such as: Lockpick Guns, Bolt Cutters, Pry bars, Screwdrivers, etc...

I decided on a pouch that would keep the components quiet as well as organized. I also wanted it to be small and modular. With the ability to attach to my Go-Bag if need be. I will post a link to purchase below.

Black Scout Survival - Surreptitious Entry/Escape and Evasion Kit

In this episode we break down what is in our escape and evasion kit that contains lock picking elements as well as urban survival elements.  Check it out and hopefully ti help you  gain ideas for creating one for yourself.  Please subscribe and thanks for watching!

Black Scout Survival - Lockpicking for Urban Survival

In this episode, we demonstrate most of what you need to know in the world of picking locks.  We go over the mechanics of locks, single pin picking, and rake picking.  This tutorial will have you picking locks in no time.  Get your tools at our store below and check out our articles as well on our site.  Thanks for watching and please subscribe!

Store: http://blackscoutsurvival.bigcartel.com

Auto Jigglers

You may or may not be familiar with "Jigglers". They are essentially lock picks for motor vehicles. Used extensively by towing companies and repo-men. Also known as "try out keys" because the technique not only requires skill but luck doesn't hurt either.

They look like a cross between a motor vehicle key and a lock pick rake.

Jigglers come in a variety of styles and models, some are manufacturer dedicated. If you go that route you will need hundreds of jiggler picks for every different vehicle manufacturer. If our interested in getting into using jigglers; I would suggest a universal set (seen above) from Shomer-Tec. This set includes 10 of the most universal style of jiggler keys. I've tucked this one away inside my surreptitious entry kit.

I'm still fairly new to using jigglers. But I was able to pop open a friends older model vehicle recently. I have read that they do not work on newer model vehicles, where the key has a chip embedded into it. In research I've seen videos of people not only opening vehicles but also starting them. Eliminating the need to know how to hot-wire a vehicle in a grid-down situation.

How to use:
You will insert the jiggler into the key hole and use a "jiggling" action. Basically a shaky-up/down-in/out type motion. While slightly turning as you would with a normal key to open the vehicle. You may have to go through multiple try-out keys to you find the right one (hence why they call them try-out keys).

I feel this is another good skill set to have. Just like lockpicking, this will help you acquire needed resources in a grid down situation.

Check out Shomer-Tec for this set.

Bogota Titan Flats 7 piece

Here is a product new to our store. The Bogota Titan Flats 7 piece set. It's similar to the Bogota Titan Flats but has a more extensive range of pics and a double sided tension wrench. This set is made from titanium just like our other sets. Price: $74.50

Here is the list of included picks:

• Bogota Single
• Bogota Double 
• Bogota Triple
• Sabana 
• Monserrate 
• Double-end tensioner perfect for "Top of Keyway" tension

This can be found at our store HERE

Bogota Mini's Review

We have been selling the Bogota Mini's for quite awhile now and I realized we didn't have a proper review. So here it is. Black Scout is a huge advocate of lockpicking as a survival skill set. You never know when you may need to get inside of a locked door to save your bacon. To us, lock bypassing is just as a critical skill set as starting a sparked based fire.

For years prior to learning of the Bogota's- I carried a full size lock pick set. The problem with this was the bulk of the set, I carried picks that I rarely needed, and I would look very sketchy to say the least. The standard Bogota's are also small and the single and triple rake's is all one really needs to handle most locks. They can also be carried easily in your EDC. However, the Mini's takes it to a whole new level.

Top: Standard Bogota's
Bottom: Bogota Mini's

The standard Bogota's measure just at 3 inches, whereas the Bogota Mini's come in at 2 inches. Without compromising the lockpicking capabilities but making them more covert/discreet. Being just as functional with a smaller footprint-the Mini's are constructed of the same aircraft grade titanium material as its larger counterpart. This titanium is not only non-magnetic its also highly corrosion resistant. They will stand up to daily lockpicking with a smile.

The Bogota's come with a Single and Triple peak design. The triple peak can be used with a standard raking motion (almost a jittery/tickling the pins motion). Even a beginner will have a success with this motion. The single peak is just as effective with this same motion or it can be inverted and used similar to a "hook pick" for single pin picking (eliminating the need to carry extra picks). The most ingenious part of the Bogota's are the added tension wrench to the handles of each pick. This also keeps one from having to carry a tension wrench separate from the picks. The Mini's have a sharper bend on the tensioners than the standard Bogota's- aiding in size savings.

Most locks can be bypassed with just these two tools. They can be carried in your wallet or discreetly on your person. Making them the smallest, most functional lock bypass set on the market.

Purchase your set from our store here

550 Cord Sheath for Bogota Entry Toolset

This may be one of the simplest ways to carry your Bogota Entry Toolset. A 550 cord sheath will keep them secure and hold them together, whether in your wallet or pocket. It's a little more discreet way of making sure you always have them with you.

Just gut a standard piece of 550 cord and trim cord to cover the Bogota's.

Bogota Entry Toolset Titanium Mini's

We now have the Bogota Titanium Mini's in the Black Scout Survival Store. These are even more discreet and covert than the standard Bogota's. This is the set that you want as part of your EDC. It has the same awesome design as the originals.


Just select Minis (Titanium) from the drop down box in our store. 
Buy here: http://blackscoutsurvival.bigcartel.com/product/bogota-entry-toolset

Bogota Entry Toolset Video

Here's a short video demonstrating the Bogota Entry Toolset we have in our store. One of the toughest and most covert lock pick sets on the market; and the preferred entry toolset of Operators worldwide. I show just how quick you can defeat a lock with the Bogota's.

We have both the Stainless ($30.00) and Titanium ($35.00) models available.
Buy here http://blackscoutsurvival.bigcartel.com/product/bogota-entry-toolset

Also if you haven't, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks

Shomer-Tec Access Card

Release the inner Bond with this Shomer-Tec Access Card. I recently came across Shomer-Tec and have quickly became a fan. From surveillance to urban survival to military/LEO products, they have some one-of-kind items. I'll be reviewing a few other products from Shomer-Tec in the following weeks.

This has to be one of the most discreet lock pick sets on the market. It slides in your wallet and you don't even notice its there. It's .016" thick; and thinner than my license, credit, and debit cards.  The other dimensions are the same as a standard credit card.

Its good to have a lock pick set on your person in an Urban Survival situation, but hard to justify carrying a set around all the time. This set solves that problem. It may also be a good idea to add the Access Card to your survival tin, personal survival kit, or in a hidden cache.

Lets get to the specifics, it comes with four picks and a tension wrench.

• Feeler pick
• Ball pick
• Hybrid feeler/diamond pick
• Diamond pick
• Tension wrench that has a handcuff shim/pick 

I was initially skeptical of its durability but its very strong for its size. Its made from stainless steel and each pick feels like my standard lock pick set. After the picks are removed from the card they cannot be reattached. You'll notice the large holes and the 6 small holes on the handle of the picks. The large holes are for attaching to a lanyard or key chain after being removed from the card. If the card itself was cool enough, the 6 small holes are designed for the picks to be sewn into clothing or bags. 

Holes for sewing into clothing

This is an excellent addition to your Urban Survival kit. If you don't own a lock pick set, I suggest buying one and using this for emergencies. Coming in at $24 its a good buy to feel the void of always needing an emergency lock pick set on you.

The Access Card can be purchased here http://www.shomer-tec.com/product/access-card-1522.cfm

Bogota Entry Toolset

Bogota Entry toolset....Best lock pick set on the market

Another pretty sick item is the Bogota Entry Toolset. We offer a few different versions Stainless and a Titanium Version. The Stainless version is obviously corrosion resistant and the Titanium version being nearly weightless.

The niche about these picks is that each pick has a tension wrench on the handle side. So this eliminates carrying an extra tension wrench. Ergonomically they feel great in your hand. They measure 3 1/4"-3 1/2" which makes them easily concealable.

Size in comparison to house key

I'll go over lock picking techniques in future articles, but using a jiggling motion with the rake produces awesome results. These won't make you an instant professional but once you know the basics of lock picking; I feel that I pick faster and have a better "feel" for the pins in the tumblers.

In comparison to a standard pick set. The Bogota Entry toolset
 is smaller than a standard tension wrench

We all but threw my old pick sets away. If your in the market for a pick set I highly recommend the Bogota Entry toolset!

Available here at our store: http://blackscoutsurvival.bigcartel.com/products