Works by Design

Engineering a mechanical fortress Designing a lock that defies the collective expertise of the Lockpicking community is an exercise in iterative failure. Riley Kolbow of Works by Design recently showcased his third attempt at this monumental task, demonstrating how a background in industrial design can provide a fresh perspective on mechanical security. Unlike professional locksmiths who often rely on established standards, Kolbow approaches lock design as a visual, mechanical puzzle. This tactile philosophy led to the creation of a lock that doesn't just resist picking—it fundamentally changes the interaction between the key and the internal mechanism. Closing the door on traditional picking Most lockpicking exploits the inherent imperfections in manufacturing. By applying tension to a lock's core, a picker can feel the minute misalignments and set pins one by one. Kolbow's third iteration tackles this by "closing the door" on the picker. In a standard padlock, the keyway remains open, providing a direct path for picking tools. Kolbow’s design features a mechanism that completely seals the keyway once the key is inserted and tested. When Adam Savage peered down the lock chamber, he found only a blank, empty void. By burying the cylinder set deep within the body, Kolbow removes the physical access required for traditional manipulation. The disappearing magnetic key Central to the lock's security is a unique, multi-part key system. The key utilizes a disc magnet that is magnetic through its diameter. When the user inserts the key and rotates it, the magnetic force is lessened, allowing the lock to "eat" the key. The key’s bitting—the specific cuts that move the pins—is then physically transported by a drive gear to a secondary, internal location. This separation of the key handle from the bitting ensures that even if a tool is inserted into the initial opening, it cannot reach the actual locking pins. Kolbow even prototyped a switchblade-style key to protect the bitting from being photographed or measured while in a user's pocket. Defeated by a classic impressioning attack Despite the mechanical complexity, the lock was eventually defeated by Lock Noob using a technique called impressioning. This method involves inserting a soft metal blank into the lock and manipulating it until the pins leave tiny marks on the surface. By carefully filing the metal where these marks appear, a skilled practitioner can eventually craft a working key from scratch. Kolbow's inclusion of a plastic pin—originally intended to reduce friction and thwart impressioning—wasn't enough to stop the attack. However, this defeat is part of the process. In the world of Locksport, security is never absolute; it is a constant evolution of design versus ingenuity.