Posted: 10/8/2005 12:42:57 AM EDT
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OK..My son is 21. He now lives with his girlfriend. When he lived with his psycho mother, he wanted to go hunting with one of his buddies and asked for his .22 rifle and shotgun he got when he and I used to go hunting together. So, I gave them to him with locks on them so his mother couldn't mess with them since he didn't have a safe and had to keep them in his closet. So, he now has a problem.. He has lost the keys! One is a cable lock and one is a trigger lock. The cable lock can be taken care of with bolt cutters. He asked me if he could take the one with the trigger lock to a locksmith. I told him that might be a bad idea since he doesn't have any proof he owns the gun other than it being in his possession. I purchased it for him years ago at k-mart, but I doubt they still have the 4473.. Is there a way to get trigger locks off easily without going to a gunsmith? |
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You wouldn't believe how easy those locks are to get off. Is the trigger lock a keyed lock or combo? If it's a combo you can cut out a small piece of tin from a pop can and slip it between the wheels and spin the wheel slowly until you feel the piece of tin move. Repeat until you've done all three. The lock should open, but if it doesn't turn each wheel one at a time in either direction, and only one number. The possible combos are really few now that you have the main numbers. If it's keyed just use a pin or a paper clip and bend a slight (soft - rounded) "L" at the tip. That's your pick, you also need a tension wrench... Something small and strong enough to turn the cylinder. Stick your wrench in the bottom of the keyway and start with light tension and slightly increase the tension as you pick. To pick it (in pretty simple terms), just stick your "L" paper clip into the lock about 1/2-3/4" with the point facing the pins and move it up and down like a teeter-totter. You're trying to push each pin upward just enough so that it meats the sheer line. It's really very simple and easy to do (especially with the real tools), just give it a half hour since it's your first lock. If you don't want to try that, get a drill with a tungsten drill bit and drill straight in, above the pins... To know exactly where to drill it would be best to remove any rubber/plastic coating that's on the lock, and then drill on the top of the circle you see. These locks are cheap so you sure wont feel bad about breaking it off. You could shim the lock, underneath the rubber that is against the trigger guard too... pretty easy, but depends on how tight the lock is on there. If you've got a dremel, that's always an option too 
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I almost forgot, if you want a locksmith to do it they'll just pick them both open in about 20 seconds. Call around and see which ones will do it... Some will and some wont. If you were there with him and/or he told the locksmith about the move from his mothers house to his new house and the loss of keys in-between you could get a hesitent locksmith to give it a try. (If you are able to bring the locks to the locksmiths home/shop he would likely do it for much less money) |
