There was a request in another forum to get pictures of breaking padlocks.  It was a test I'd been planning on for a while, shooting some video of it, but hadn't gotten to that point yet.  I decided to go ahead and test it out with shooting photos and get the video at a future date.

 

I tried padlock breaking for the first time with one of my Wreckers that I was hanging onto for myself to shoot some demonstration videos later.  I wasn't as quick or graceful about it as Ryan Johnson, but I was successful.  My spike doesn't fit as well in the shackle of the padlock as the RMJ does.  Don't know if that will lead to changing the design down the road or not as busting padlocks is not the only design consideration with them.

 

Prior to starting on the lock, a standard Master Lock:

 

 

After the shackle broke:

 

 

Hard to tell from that pic.  Let's take a closer look:

 

 

You can see that I struck at the body of the lock with the point of the spike.  I honestly don't know if it was prying or striking that broke the shackle.  It wasn't a dramatic event and I didn't see it was broken at first.

 

I decided to try it with a lock with a shorter shackle.  It was even more difficult to fit the spike in with the heavy chain links.  I ended up striking with the spike until the lock popped open.  You could not re-lock it afterwards due to the damage.

 

 

Here's a close look at the longer-shackeld lock:

 

 

And the various places on the shorter one that got hit:

 

 

 

 

It was hard to get my camera to focus on the end of the spike's point, but you can see that while the steel wasn't untouched, it almost was exactly like it started out.

 

 

I still plan on shooting video of lock breaking sometime down the road.

Why attack the lock when the chain is much easier to conquer? 

Much like trying to gain entry to a building by breaking down a wooden door instead of the large glass window beside the door. 

 

If your intent was to break the lock, then you did a fine job of it with little damage to the tool.

If you break the lock there will be a delay before another lock replaces it. Frequently a cheaper lock, lol, until the people realize they need to up the quality. Then if they do up the quality the chain is a viable next target. Lets you victimize the same place more times. If a chain is cut people seem more liable to replace it faster and upgrade everything faster.

I think y'all are taking it as being used by a burglar, but its intention is military and law enforcement "dynamic entry".  You're right, you want to attack the weakest point.  With a soft chain, it may stretch and be more difficult to snap than the hardened shackle on the padlock.  With a better lock, it may be smarter to attack what it's attached to, or the hinges or gate/door material itself.

 

Not as effective as a full breaching kit, but fast enough, a lot lighter and slimmer, and multi-functional.  Breaching-type activities are a major usage of a quality tactical 'hawk.

 

Like I said, this was my first time trying to take out a padlock with something other than a bolt cutter or a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder, and I wasn't sure how it'd do.  I'm happy with the result.  :)

Cool.   Those wreckers are made of 4140, yes ?  How much reverberation are you getting back in the handle from such a strike?   Just curious...

You should send your results to Master Lock and see what they say.  I would be interesting to see what they think about it.  Just my thoughts. 

 

As usual your product is durable and strong.  Well done.  Looking forward to seeing the video.

Not to be a bubble popper, but busting locks is pretty easy.  All you have to do is wedge the lock so it can't easily move, put a large adjustable wrench on it and give a hard sudden twist.  Locks come with harden steel to make them difficult to saw, but the hardening makes them brittle.  Things you can learn in the army :-)

I have to agree,  I would say the lock is the weak link.  A good yank with a screwdriver and a fulcrum and it is amazing how quickly a padlock fails.

Stormcrow; you have now established this on a public venue as a burglary tool.  Please check with your local law enforcement about the legality of carrying one around with you if you are not one of the "allowed classes of people". (Yes I am serious about checking!)

Bruno - Yep, 4140.  Not really getting an appreciable amount of reverberation.

 

Fellows, I know the padlock is the weak point.  That's the reason to attack it!  :)  When breaching, you go for the weakest link (literally).

Rashelle sounds like you might have an interesting past. ;)

I think the point was to prove toughness of the tool. This indeed proves it's worthy and tough. High fives for putting your work to the proving ground! Not many would!

Actually trying stuff out seems rather common for weapons smiths. At least all the ones I know take a secret glee doing so...

If I have crafted it I call it a tool....after I hand it you ...call it whatever you want, I don't make "weapons". Still a cool thread!

Stormcrow I like the axe and the versatility of being able to use as a tool and as a weapon. I like functional multipurpose tools. Even though I don't normally comment much I do usually enjoy your contributions to this site.

 

Bikecop I am former military LE dog handler, and also formerly civilian alarm response. So I sunk 11 or so years of my life into working for the criminal justice system. I very easily see why to go abut doing entries in the way people choose to do them. I personally got an adrenalin rush from doing hostile  and possible hostile entries. If I was on duty I did the entry. In fact in one situation I was actually picked up from walking along the road, when the responder who would be scene commander recognized me, and put me on duty, as he was responding, so I could go in with an entry into a credit union. I found it very amusing to find myself in that situation. Especially as this was years before cell phones and I had a several more miles walk to go. Needless to say I got a ride to my destination afterwards.  :D As for my younger years that was also interesting, lol.