Here is a list of the best Lockpicking books, some I have read myself, some that I did research on, and all have great reviews!
- Visual Guide to Lock Picking (2007)
- Practical Lock Picking: A Training Guide (2012)
- 100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation (2015)
- CIA Lock Picking Manual (2018)
- The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, Seventh Edition (2016)
- Visual Guide to Lock Picking (2nd Edition) (2002)
- Keys to the Kingdom: Impressioning, Privilege Escalation, Bumping, and Other Key-Based Attacks Against Physical Locks (2012)
- Locksmithing, Lock Picking & Lock Opening: Professional Training Manual (2010)
- 100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Surviving in the Wild and Being Prepared for Any Disaster (2016)
- How to Pick Locks (2017)
- Lock Picking Basics (2004)
- How To Open Locks With Improvised Tools: Practical, Non-Destructive Ways Of Getting Back Into Just About Everything When You Lose Your Keys (formerly published as Lock Bypass Methods) (2001)
- How to Hack Handcuffs Like Houdini: For Magicians, Law Enforcement & Urban Survivalist (2013)
- How To Open Locks Without Keys Or Picks (Locksmithing) (1994)
Visual Guide to Lock Picking (2007)
The Visual Guide to Lock Picking has been the definitive guide for learning the art of lock picking. The Third Edition updates all of the illustrations with new, high quality, computer graphics. Over 100 new pages have been added. Inside, you will find interesting material and lock picking how-to for pin tumblers, warded locks, wafer locks, tubular locks, combination padlocks, and lever locks.
Practical Lock Picking: A Training Guide (2012)
Practical Lock Picking, Second Edition, is an instructional manual that covers everything from straightforward lockpicking to quick entry techniques such as shimming, bumping, and bypassing. Written by Deviant Ollam, one of the security industry’s best known lockpicking teachers, and winner of the Best Book Bejtlich Read in 2010 award, this book contains detailed photos that make learning as easy as picking a lock.
100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation (2015)
A hands-on, practical survival guide from retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson—adapted for civilians from actual special forces operations—to eluding pursuers, evading capture, and surviving any dangerous situation.In today’s increasingly dangerous world, threats to your personal safety are everywhere. From acts of terror to mass shootings, and from the unseen (and sometimes virtual) matrix of everyday crime, danger is no longer confined to dark alleys or unstable regions.
CIA Lock Picking Manual (2018)
Contained here in this volume is a reproduction of the United States Central Intelligence Agency’s Field Operative Training Manual on lock picking. This book will provide a basic primer on the many facets of lock picking. The introduction of this little volume has the following to say on the subject: “There has been much opinion and little fact written on the subject of lock picking.
The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, Seventh Edition (2016)
The most current and comprehensive resource available on locksmithing – fully updated to reflect the latest technologiesThe Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, Seventh Edition, offers complete, up-to-date information on locks and keys―from old-fashioned designs to modern electromagnetic locks.
Visual Guide to Lock Picking (2nd Edition) (2002)
This is the definitive guide for learning the art of lock picking. Inside you will discover the secrets of the trade. By reading this book, practicing, and applying the methods introduced, you can successfully master picking most modern locks. This book makes it easy and gives you the edge to quickly learn and start picking locks today.
Keys to the Kingdom: Impressioning, Privilege Escalation, Bumping, and Other Key-Based Attacks Against Physical Locks (2012)
Lockpicking has become a popular topic with many in the security community. While many have chosen to learn the fine art of opening locks without keys, few people explore the fascinating methods of attack that are possible WITH keys. Keys to the Kingdom addresses the topics of impressioning, master key escalation, skeleton keys, and bumping attacks that go well beyond any treatment of these topics in the author’s previous book, Practical Lock Picking.
Locksmithing, Lock Picking & Lock Opening: Professional Training Manual (2010)
For the beginning and intermediate locksmith, this detailed manual explains how locks work, how to open them when the keys have gone missing, and how to mount locks, make master keys and much more. There are many different lock types, and many different tools used to open and service them. The book covers all of the major locks, showing with lots of illustrations how to carry out servicing, lock- out procedures, upgrades and replacements.
100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Surviving in the Wild and Being Prepared for Any Disaster (2016)
From national bestselling author and retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson comes the essential guide for surviving today’s emergencies—from navigating in the wild to staying alive in any disaster.These 100 skills, adapted for civilians from actual field experiences of special forces operations, offer a complete hands-on and practical guide to help you survive in the wild no matter the climate or terrai…
How to Pick Locks (2017)
Believe it or not, having the skill to pick locks may be the one thing that saves you when faced with a life or death situation. Most people think of survival as an apocalyptic situation that adversely affects the entire planet and all the people on it. Very few people realize that each day on this planet incorporates a struggle to survive. Survival can encompass any number of situations.
Lock Picking Basics (2004)
This book makes learning the art of lock picking fun and easy. You don’t have to waste your time guessing how it’s done, reading some amateur’s theories, or trying to learn from the movies (they always get it wrong). Now, you can get accurate information that the professionals use. Their secrets have finally been revealed. Now you can understand the technology that has kept thieves at bay for centuries.
How To Open Locks With Improvised Tools: Practical, Non-Destructive Ways Of Getting Back Into Just About Everything When You Lose Your Keys (formerly published as Lock Bypass Methods) (2001)
Practical, real-world solutions to lockouts. Learn to open doorknobs, deadbolts, car doors, padlocks, handcuffs, et cetera. This book sold out as “Lock Bypass Methods,” and has proven to be the best manual on keyless entry available. Since your resources are usually on the other side of the door when you’re locked out, it shows how to improvise tools from garbage and common, everday items. Multiple entrance options are provided in case of stubborn doors or limited materials.
How to Hack Handcuffs Like Houdini: For Magicians, Law Enforcement & Urban Survivalist (2013)
As a performer, do you know how to get out of any pair of handcuffs manufactured — past, present or future models? As an urban survivalist, do you know how to open standard handcuffs with a common drinking straw and other very innovative, real-world applications?
How To Open Locks Without Keys Or Picks (Locksmithing) (1994)
This easy-to-understand, fully illustrated manual is a fine primer on the art of locksmithing without specialized tools. It discusses using jimmie and “shove knives,” screwdrivers, drills, door frame spreaders, hacksaw blades, thumb tacks, elastic bands, and other common tools and items to open doors, windows, desks, and cabinets. This classic booklet is fascinating reading for professional locksmiths or anyone interested in this useful skill.
Best Lockpicking Books to Read
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some lockpicking books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Little Black Book of Lockpicking: Lock Opening and Bypass Techniques for Security Professionals
Author(s): Alexandre FrenchKey Triffault
ID: 3074787, Publisher: Independently published, Year: 2021, Size: 64 Mb, Format: pdf
Little Black Book of Lockpicking: Lock opening and Bypass techniques for Security Professionals
Author(s): Alexandre Triffault
ID: 3165755, Publisher: , Year: 2021, Size: 39 Mb, Format: epub
The Lock Picking Starter Guide
Author(s): Art of Lockpicking
ID: 3496636, Publisher: Art of Lockpicking, Year: 2020, Size: 14 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not absolute. Some books are really best-sellers according to The New York Times, others are drafted by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.