Electric Lock Pick Gun Views
A snap gun, also known as lock pick gun, pick gun, or electric lock pick, is a tool that can be used to force open a mechanical pin tumbler lock (a common type of cylinder lock) without using the key. A steel rod is inserted into the lock and the snap gun briefly fires the rod against all of the lock pins simultaneously, momentarily freeing the cylinder and enabling it to be turned using a tension wrench. The snap gun is an alternative to a conventional lockpick, which requires raking techniques to free the pins.
The same physical principles are involved in lock bumping, but the snap gun automates the transfer-of-energy process. A correctly-applied snap gun can open a lock very quickly compared to traditional lock picking, but the sharp impact is more likely to damage the lock mechanism than raking, which mimics normal key movements.
The first snap guns were developed to assist police officers in opening locks without the additional training required for traditional lockpicking techniques. Although lock picking is often associated with crime, snap guns are not commonly used by criminals because concealment is difficult and the device will tend to attract attention from law enforcement. Some legal jurisdictions may classify snap guns as burglary tools or otherwise limit their possession. A person may then be required to be a police officer or locksmith by trade, or to have some other legal sanction, to be in possession of a snap gun.