The Open-Source Lock

Over at LP101 at the moment is a curious little project. Dubbed the 'Open Source Lock', it is a collaboration of all the members on the forums. The 'Open Source' part meaning that anyone can freely find out any specifications of the lock, as well as exactly what goes on within it. Any member with an idea they think could be incorporated into the lock can show their idea to the other board members and discuss the pros and cons of the idea. It truly is an 'Open-Source Lock'.

If you want to find out more about the project, or think you could help/have some suggestions, head on over to LP101 at this link: The Open Source Lock.

Another interesting thing to note is that it is still only in it's first few weeks, yet is already bustling with information, most of which is truly remarkable. An example is on the electronic cryptography section, posted by SFGOON, that truly shows the ingenuity of some members:

There's a kind of natural crystal - I think it's germanium, that is used by a certain western superpower to put seals on things they don't want tampered with. When a current is put through it, it distributes the electric signal all wonky.

So, they seal whatever they want to seal with it, then they use a special device to electronically measure the seal, essentially taking a snapshot of the orientation of the crystal inside the seal.

I guess microscopic differences in the crystal could change the exit signal so it's almost impossible to replicate. Cheap as hell to implement, but excruciatingly expensive (if at all possible,) to reproduce.

Of course, you only get the one key...

ABUS No. 72/40 Picked

This morning I picked the ABUS No. 72/40, the lock that arrived with the GEGE AP3000.
It felt great, hearing the shackle pop open, and It was an annoying lock too. The pins just kept un-setting. I ended up using tonnes to much pressure to keep the pins there, but still, it did open in the end.

If anyone who reads this has picked this lock, comment down below and tell us how you did it.
-Archive

GEGE AP3000

Well, my GEGE AP3000 arrived today, and boy was I happy!
I bought it from member Squelchtone from LockPicking101
It was a very reasonable price, $49US for the lock and shipping to Australia, and he even threw in another lock for me, an ABUS No. 72/40 padlock (one with an extra-long shackle and a SFIC).

I still haven't picked the GEGE yet, but I'm hoping to accomplish this soon, and once I've done that, I'll have a shot at the ABUS padlock. Just to give you an idea of the complexity of the GEGE Ap3000, here's a picture of the internal workings of the lock:

It has 5 pins, 4 of which are serrated, some of those serrated pins have floating pins within them, and the other pin appears to be a normal pin. But I'm betting it isn't. Then there's a ball-bearing which slides along a groove in the key for no apparent reason, and there's also a little cog-wheel in there that slots into holes in the key. Oh, and it has a paracentric keyway. So yeah, shouldn't be too hard to pick [/sarcasm].

Pics time!:
First, the GEGE AP3000:


And the ABUS No. 72/40:



-Archive

Pegboard

I got a pegboard today, for me to hang my padlocks on, its about 1.7m x 1m.
It fits perfectly where my pinboard used to be, and I already have some padlocks hanging on it.

I'm saving up for a few more hooks, and some el~cheapo padlocks to hang on it.

It's pretty exciting for me, as I can imagine looking up and seeing a wall of padlocks for me to pick.
But I'm sure it isn't for you. I just thought I'd tell you.

EDIT (21/8/08): Pictures!