How to Break a Lock with a Hammer (4 Steps)

Have you lost or misplaced the key to the lock and don't know how to pick it? Don't worry, I can help.

I have used this trick many times as a jack-of-all-trades and I will teach you how to do the same in this guide. You might even be able to reuse the lock if everything goes well. Applying the right amount of force when tapping can make the lock reusable by minimizing damage to the pins under the lock body.

In general, you need to follow these steps to break the lock with a hammer:

• Take a jackhammer, mallet or ball hammer.
• Wear protective gear/gloves
• Pull the shackle of the hammer, inserting your fingers, avoiding the body of the lock.
• Tap the side of the lock several times with a hammer to release the pins under the lock.
• Click on the lock until it opens

I will go into more detail in my guide below. Let's start.

What do you need

1. Jackhammer

Get a jackhammer for this job. Jackhammers are designed to break locks. They consist of a high density polymer with a rubber grip.

Ordinary hammers can damage the lock, not a jackhammer, which applies proportional pressure to the lock. In addition, they have a sharp impact, which is the key to picking a lock. If you can't find a jackhammer, use a hammer.

2. Hammer (second option)

A mallet is a special hammer used to pound objects without causing them unwanted damage - they have a soft head. Hammers also allow for easier and more strategic aiming when hitting a castle. Hammer hammers are made from wood, rubber, soft metals, plastic, or rawhide.

3. Ball head hammer

If you do not have a mallet or a jackhammer, then stop at a hammer with a ballpoint pen. They have two hammerheads; hammers of regular and round shape. They come in different sizes; according to the size of your lock, select the appropriate one. For a small castle, choose the fourth size.

4. Protective gloves

Purchase protective gloves made of thick fabric (impact-resistant gloves) to protect your hand from accidental hammer blows. They are reinforced with a layer of thermoplastic that absorbs the pressure of an accidental impact. But be especially careful, because only fingers are safe; hand is vulnerable.

There are varieties of impact resistant gloves, leather and Kevlar gloves. I prefer leather gloves over Kevlar because they have a more secure grip. On the other hand, Kevlar gloves are thicker and can prevent abrasions and cuts. Most importantly, make sure your hands fit into gloves.

How to pick a lock with a hammer - steps

We will only focus on how to use the hammer to break the lock. However, you can use other tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers to achieve the same.

Follow the instructions below to pick a lock with a hammer without any fuss.

Step 1. Preparation

Collect the necessary tools for the task - a hammer and protective equipment.

There are two possible injuries that you can get in this activity; the impact of flying objects on the eyes and an accidental hammer on the hand. So, put on your protective gear before you start.

Step 2: Pull the shackle with a hammer.

Insert any two fingers you are comfortable with into the loop of the shackle and remove the shackle from the top of the lock. This way, the locking pins (inside the lock) will align well, which will make picking work easy.

Alternatively, you can place a crowbar on top of the lock and brute force the crowbar with a hammer until the lock opens. (1)

Tips

Eliminate any slack or play in the bracket. Otherwise, the lock will not break, no matter how hard you knock it.

Try not to grasp part of the body of the lock to get room for a blow with a hammer.

Step 3: Touch the side of the lock several times

Now aim at the side with the fixed end of the brace. That's where the pin is on the inside.

With quick and short blows, hit the lock several times. This action releases enough pins to open the lock.

Tips

Resist the temptation to swing over fences. The pins need to be constantly moving or disengaging to bypass blockage, not brute pressure. T-up can only hurt you.

Step 4: Repurposing the lock

Depending on the status of the castle, you can repurpose or reuse it. You can reuse the lock if it is still usable - this is when the pins inside the lock are still intact; however, secure it well first. Otherwise, throw it into the cleanup collection; maybe you'll get a few dollars. (2)

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to swing a sledgehammer
• How to drill out the ignition lock cylinder
• Rope sling with durability

Recommendations

(1) brute force - https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/brute-force-attack

(2) dollars – https://www.investopedia.com/terms/forex/u/usd-united-states-dollar.asp

Video links

(732) Double Tapping a Master Lock Open

[96] How To Learn To Rapidly Open Locks With A Bump Key! (How Lock Bumping Works)