Comb Picks: Lifting Every Pin at Once
A comb pick is a lockpicking tool designed to pick pin-tumbler locks by moving all pin stacks completely above the shear line.
Francis Buday's 1934 patent entitled MEANS FOR UNLOCKING LOCKS describes the use of a comb pick.
How Comb Picks Work
The comb's teeth align under all pin stacks and push pins and drivers fully into the bible, clearing the shear line across every chamber. Light tension then turns the plug. Some combs compress springs; aggressive tools can dislodge poorly retained chamber caps.
History and Patents
Buday's 1934 U.S. patent 2,064,818 outlines inserting an auxiliary element to hold plungers above the cylinder, then turning with the main key. Modern combs are sold in five-, six-, and seven-pin widths for standard residential cylinders.
Manufacturer Defenses
Balanced pin stacks — equal driver lengths above the shear line — deny combs room to clear every stack. Riveted or screwed chamber caps resist forced removal that would expose extra pin travel.
Forensic and Security Notes
Comb openings can look like normal key use if skillful, but damaged caps and compressed springs may appear on inspection. Facilities should pair pinning discipline with pick-resistant cylinders.
Relation to Other Attacks
Comb picking is fast but narrow — it fails on quality commercial pinning. See lockpicking, high-security locks, and security pins for layered defenses.