The simple version of the manual lock pick gun, also known as the snap gun, is easy to make yourself. You’ll need a long, thin, and flat piece of metal to craft the snap gun.

Street sweeper brushes are often used for this purpose (they’re also great for making lockpicks). However, these brushes aren’t always easy to spot. You can sometimes find them on the street, as they’re used by sweeping machines to keep roads clean.

Another option is a thin metal strip found in windshield wipers, or flat metal hangers with flattened ends that fit into locks. Bicycle spokes, also with flattened ends, are another alternative.

A solid foundation

Before you start building your lock pick gun, it’s recommended to straighten the metal strip. The first step in making the lock pick gun is forming the suspension. This is done by wrapping the metal strip around a round object of approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. A thick marker or pen would be a good option.
Using a flat iron, you can create a loop to wrap around a marker or another round object.

Bend the long end over the short end, leaving about 5 cm extending to go into the lock.

Bend it back again, making sure it’s secure and firm enough to create the necessary tension.

How to use this lock pick gun

The method of using a homemade or store-bought lock pick gun is quite similar. Insert the end into the lock, apply rotational pressure with a tension wrench, and start using the lock pick gun.
It’s important that the tip touches all the pins. Often, multiple attempts are required to unlock the lock. Experiment with the rotational pressure on the tension wrench. Using a snap gun usually requires less rotational pressure than manual lockpicking.

The importance of correct tension is often overlooked. For snap guns, this is a key factor in successfully opening the lock. The homemade snap gun works as follows:

Press the lever while holding the straight end in the lock. When the lever is released, it strikes against the straight end, transferring force to the pins.