Oklahoma Locksmith Practice Exam

Which type of pick is designed to pick one pin at a time?

1. Tension wrench

2. Hook

3. Rake

4. Diamond

The correct answer is: Hook

A hook pick is specifically designed to manipulate one pin at a time during the lock-picking process. Its tapered design allows the locksmith to engage with individual pins, pushing them up to the shear line one at a time. This precision is essential for successfully picking locks that require careful attention to each pin's position, especially in locks with multiple pins in different configurations. The hook's shape offers the advantage of being able to reach deeper into a lock's cylinder and target individual pins more effectively than broader picks. This makes it a valuable tool for locksmiths who need to tackle more complex locks or when a delicate touch is necessary. In contrast, other tools such as the tension wrench are used to apply rotational force to the lock but do not pick pins themselves. Rakes, rather than focusing on individual pins, are designed for rapid action to move multiple pins at once, relying on a "scrubbing" motion that may loosen pins without targeting them individually. Similarly, diamond picks, while versatile, are also not specifically intended for picking one pin at a time, as they are generally used to manipulate multiple pins through a broader approach.