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When I cannot go out and about I enjoy reading and research. I have all of the books I can find on urban exploration, but last year I discovered two books that piqued my curiosity: A Burglar's Guide to the City and Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet.
I spotted A Burglar's Guide to the City while waiting on a friend in a local library. After reading a few pages I decided to buy my own copy. Don't let the title fool you, it's an entertaining history and study of how people hack architecture. It was published in 2016, and is a decent selection for the urban explorer. Don't worry, it's not a how-to manual.
Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet, published in 2018, is for anyone who loves being in subterranean places from caves, tunnels, subways, et cetera.
Both both books are interesting reads. Hope you enjoy!
Front covers
Back covers
[last edit 1/23/2020 12:42 AM by Howie Dunnet - edited 1 times]
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I've had my eye on the burglars guide for a while. I saw it on Amazon again last week when I bought Access All Areas (which i'm sure I don't have to tell most members here is fantastic.) I need to pick up a copy.
Another great read, regardless of your stance on it's usefulness in urbex, is The Complete Guide to Lockpicking by Eddie the Wire.
One thing I like about it that sets it apart from other books on locksmithing is it's to the point and easy to understand for a novice, as well as going over more than just the most widespread pin tumbler lock set up. While being rather dated (published in 1981 I believe) It has most the common types of locks currently in use today and how to defeat them.
This along with the MIT's guide to lockpicking were my primers into lock manipulation when I first started 10 years ago.
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AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME!!!! |
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Posted by AdventureDan
I've had my eye on the burglars guide for a while. I saw it on Amazon again last week when I bought Access All Areas (which i'm sure I don't have to tell most members here is fantastic.) I need to pick up a copy.
Another great read, regardless of your stance on it's usefulness in urbex, is The Complete Guide to Lockpicking by Eddie the Wire.
One thing I like about it that sets it apart from other books on locksmithing is it's to the point and easy to understand for a novice, as well as going over more than just the most widespread pin tumbler lock set up. While being rather dated (published in 1981 I believe) It has most the common types of locks currently in use today and how to defeat them.
This along with the MIT's guide to lockpicking were my primers into lock manipulation when I first started 10 years ago.
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If you are interested in the hobby of Locksport, I would recommend a YouTube search of Deviant Ollam. His videos are very informative. He also has a great guide on the subject.
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Posted by Howie Dunnet
If you are interested in the hobby of Locksport, I would recommend a YouTube search of Deviant Ollam. His videos are very informative. He also has a great guide on the subject.
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I love Deviant Ollam. I've watched all of his decon keynotes and read his book. My favorite one is his talk "this key is my key this key is your key."
That one includes a key set that you could potentially obtain that would get you into damn near just about anything. especially useful for infiltration.
I already own a few keys from that set.
Also Schuyler Towne has an amazing talk on the history of locks.
AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME!!!! |
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Posted by AdventureDan
I love Deviant Ollam. I've watched all of his decon keynotes and read his book. My favorite one is his talk "this key is my key this key is your key."
That one includes a key set that you could potentially obtain that would get you into damn near just about anything. especially useful for infiltration.
I already own a few keys from that set.
Also Schuyler Towne has an amazing talk on the history of locks.
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I've watched that video a couple of times. It's a favorite. I also have 90 percent of those keys.
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Posted by Howie Dunnet
I've watched that video a couple of times. It's a favorite. I also have 90 percent of those keys.
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That's awesome. Have you had a chance to use such keys in an urbex situation? Feel free to ignore this question if you would rather not say. just curious.
Cool to see a fellow locksport enthusiast here.
I just recently got into high security and have popped a few primus, medeco biaxial and m3, and mul-t-lock. This hardly comes in usefulness in urbex as the amount of time it takes to pick such locks would not be a viable means of entry.
AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME!!!! |
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Posted by AdventureDan
That's awesome. Have you had a chance to use such keys in an urbex situation? Feel free to ignore this question if you would rather not say. just curious.
Cool to see a fellow locksport enthusiast here.
I just recently got into high security and have popped a few primus, medeco biaxial and m3, and mul-t-lock. This hardly comes in usefulness in urbex as the amount of time it takes to pick such locks would not be a viable means of entry.
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I have used some of the standard keys, which I won't name here. I have gotten into the habit of always checking doors to see if they are locked. I found that one of the keys I was issued at work opens another office unconnected with where I am employed.
Sounds like you might be more experienced than me, especially if you have popped a Medeco. I like tinkering around with picks, but I prefer to bypass if possible since picks take longer.
PM me and I can share some PDFs. I have acquired quite a few items from Sparrows as well.
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Posted by Howie Dunnet
I like tinkering around with picks, but I prefer to bypass if possible since picks take longer.
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Yes, I learned pretty early on that bypass works faster and easier in probably 80% or more situations. Exceptions to this would be padlocked hatches and doors that are actually installed properly lol. However there is something to be said for unlocking a door for the sake of plausible deniability. I once had security come up on a roof and ask how i got up and i told them the door was unlocked and that someone in the lobby had told me i could just walk up to take pictures. They were confused but simply just believed it to be a mistake and escorted me downstairs.
I'll definitely hit you up in PM.
AAAAAAAAAAAADVENTURE TIME!!!! |
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Posted by AdventureDan
I once had security come up on a roof and ask how i got up and i told them the door was unlocked and that someone in the lobby had told me i could just walk up to take pictures. They were confused but simply just believed it to be a mistake and escorted me downstairs.
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Great tactic. I've done something similar.
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Oh, these both sound good. I just grabbed the e-book of Burglar's Guide from my library. Thanks for the tip!
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Posted by Vic
Oh, these both sound good. I just grabbed the e-book of Burglar's Guide from my library. Thanks for the tip!
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Enjoy!
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Posted by AdventureDan
I love Deviant Ollam. I've watched all of his decon keynotes and read his book. My favorite one is his talk "this key is my key this key is your key."
That one includes a key set that you could potentially obtain that would get you into damn near just about anything. especially useful for infiltration.
I already own a few keys from that set.
Also Schuyler Towne has an amazing talk on the history of locks.
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I almost forgot, in Chapter 4 "Tools of the Trade" A Burglar's GUide to the City The author talks with Deviant Ollam and Schuyler Towne.
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I'm the same way, if I can't travel or explore then I read voraciously. I'll definitely be checking out or buying those two, as well as Access All Areas.
[last edit 2/3/2020 5:22 AM by XenobitPendragon - edited 1 times]
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Just got both those books from the library. They're both very well-written, especially Underground! Reminds me of a lot of adventures I'd go on as a kid.
Also have Access All Areas arriving in the mail, for some more practical info.
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Posted by XenobitPendragon
Just got both those books from the library. They're both very well-written, especially Underground! Reminds me of a lot of adventures I'd go on as a kid.
Also have Access All Areas arriving in the mail, for some more practical info.
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Yeah, Access All Areas is a great resource. Enjoy!
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In this hobby of ours, running afoul of the law is occupational hazard.
This is worth reading.
https://archive.or.../page/n13/mode/2up
Gott Mit Uns |
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Man oh man, I remember ordering books like these from Paladin Press and Loompanics back in the day. I think Eden Press is the only publisher left.
Thanks for the memories and the tip.
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I'll definitely search out a copy of Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet. If you haven't already, check out The World Without Us by Alan Weisman ... also made into a documentary film.
https://en.wikiped...e_World_Without_Us
RAYGUN
https://soundcloud.com/raygun-8 |
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