The Ultimate Guide to Lock Picking from the Central Intelligence Agency

Zoom In: Really thin book -- doesn't have much you can't find in 30 seconds of Googling online.

United States on Jul 20, 2023

Jocke: Väldigt basic teori

Sweden on Jun 09, 2022

Nancy Mulkey: great for beginners like myself and the texture of the outer cover and back feels so pleasing for some reason, lol. my only issue is that it took them three weeks just to ship it, why? overall it took five weeks to receive it. I sent them a message asking how it could take so long just to ship something but never got a response.

United States on Apr 21, 2021

Michael R Field: As advertised

Canada on Sep 25, 2019

Shane Watt: I really got into this book because there is more to lock picking than meets the eye. This book identifies where people struggle

Canada on May 03, 2019

Gadget-Guy: Details, details, details...

I doubt that the CIA actually uses (or, ever used) this manual... (unless CIA stands for Cosmetology Institute of Afghanistan)
Still, it covers the basics of picking a lock.
no.... no... no... - they way they do it on TV isn't right.
Some of the tools are real - the technique - not so much.

In order to pick a lock (which is a machine), you need to know sumthun about the innards of the machine.
There are more ways to build a lock - than is covered in this literature.

Ya gotta start somewhere.

United States on Oct 31, 2017

babyDaddybabyDaddy: I was provided with a PDF extract of this with another product, but nothing beats having a book in your hand.

Covers a lot of techniques and methodology - the book is more powerful when combined with YouTube videos on the subject, as you can see the methods in practice, then refer back to the book for the background that can't so easily be explained off-print.

The pages look like they've been scanned in after being photocopied several times from a 1920's document - not sure if this is for effect, or just down to the quality of production. Either way, the content is valuable, so don't be put off by the appearance.

Almost every page has a diagram to explain the practices it describes, which is very useful.

United Kingdom on Nov 13, 2016

The Paratrooper: I am by far no CIA Agent so I won't be using this to break into someone's home but I do enjoy picking locks as a hobby. I am in my 60's and needed something to keep my hands and mind working together. The book has been a great help and a little fun to think at one time they really did use this kind of info. If you want this book to up your skill level a little it will do the trick and it does have valuable info for the beginner. Well worth the price. So if you're young or an "Old Timer" like me I think the book will help but 007 you will never be.

United States on Jul 06, 2016

Alex: Well I decided to buy this book along with the "Lock Picking Set PXS-14 14 Piece Lock Pick Set" product to give myself a spark of interest in to this little hobby I've decided to jump into.

I got it and suddenly felt the urge to go to the toilet, so I thought I would read away to my hearts content, and it was a great little read. There's only 45 pages and I managed to read it all before I needed to sort myself out.

It gives you an overview to lock picking and it should be noted that I personally do not think this could be called a manual, it just doesn't go into enough detail, I'm sure others may say differently but when I see something with the author being a secret spy agency as the author, I expected a lot more detail, and a lot more effort going into the book....

This book looks like someone has taken scans from an old book written with a typewriter and added some retro looking diagrams to make it the part.

I can't fault it because it does talk about lock picking, although not in enough detail that I would call it a 'manual', typical CIA, being so secretive, although MI6 (now SIS) is better...

Still, for the price you've paid you could just...

United Kingdom on May 07, 2014

King Kizzle: This lock-picking book is more like a brochure than a guide. Yes, it shows you in print and illustration the very basic concepts of picking some very basic locks, and does a very bare-bones job of explaining the form and function of a lock in general. For a $10 guide, it is adequate.

But, when I see "CIA" in the title of a book, I expect something more extensive, more engaging, and more detailed. Maybe my years of James Bond-esque fiction has jaded me, but I have a hard time seeing covert operatives sitting in a classroom being "trained" from this manual.

If you're wanting to play with picking cheap locks, this book is fine. If you're interested in the craft, in understanding the mechanics of security devices, and learning theories backed up with practical application that will allow you to manipulate a wide variety of mechanisms, shell out an extra $20 and buy "Practical Lock Picking" Second Edition.

As a side note, don't go cheap on the picks, either. Higher quality lock pick sets will provide more stability, and often are made of better material, allowing them to be both smaller and stronger.

United States on Oct 04, 2012