News

BUMPING system: have a look inside

Since I have been introduced in the word of locks and padlocks, over forty years ago, I remember with pleasure that period of my life, because it has been a train of events, all very nostalgic and unforgettable, pregnant of interest and precious experience. Between them I well remeber the visit I payed to Pat O’Genik , about 1971 close to Geneva. The main reason of this trip it is to meet this able locksmith, french origins, that became so clever in the art of manipulation of locks and cylinders.
I have in memory the scenario of his workshop, overflowing of tools, irons, implements; he waked up myself when he start to show the picks, several and different, each one made for a specific lock or cylinder; he took from his workbag a mechanical gun-pick, then I beg Pat to show me how it works:
Immediately Pat took a classic cylinders rotor-stator-pin tumbler, he introduced the proper small sword in the keyway and at the third stroke made “BUMPING”; later to satisfy my requests he granted several bis.
I met Pat several years later, opening cylinders by electropick, at that time, be sure, he performed easely planty of cylinders, different brands and typologies.
The described preamble only to let you inform that when twelve or more years ago, the news about a devastating system to manupulate cylinder spread all over of one european country, focalized under the pompous title “BUMPING system”, personally I was well informed of what the individuals are introducing in that market, the type of cylinders could be open easely , the level of expertise of the operator, his subjective skilful.
The persons who promoted the recent reintroduction of bum-open system tried to describe it as an easy-to-use action, to make in a very short time, with any kind of cylinders: give a look to his internet site, or a glance to DVD spreaded around the most important market of Europe without care and control of final addressees. They disclosed to have no backbone, or better to achieve only trade object, sake of money for themself.
They obtained, as immediate effects, to procure a general sudden apprehension: the users – unjustified panic because it certainly has not been a method used in burglar actions in Italy; the lockmakers – some of them immediately projected to design new line of cylinders, resistent to the bump-keys, because afraid to be excluded of the market – some other were very proud boasting they have available anti-bumping cylinders. All theese lockmakers did not improve in the last six-seven month theyr turnover, selling more anti-bump style of cylinder not only, they are obliged to go on producing the standard lines of cylinder like in the past.
Theese style of propaganda, mixed to attention-seeking used by nederland organization, created an unwary allarmism to the users in all european Countriesand especially in United States. Similar panic action woke up locksmith organizations, they addressed inquiries to local police or public authorities and also in court, because in some states are pending laws, regulations or locksmith licensing.
Certainly this article will appear on printed paper some month later then now, but time is gentleman, when you’ll read it you could discover how this timorous worry, procured by bumping system, has been reshuffled, assuming the correct sense and dimension.
In the meantime ERSI programmed to develop a project of tests in order to ascertaine how easy, how it’s possible, how much time take, which kind and tipology of cylinder, who can do it.
Operators is obliged to observe some fundamental rules and situations:
1. cylinders installed on the door (or fix pannel) – simulating robbery scenario;
2. five different operators locksmith-members of ERSI
3. each one operate a serial of five different brands of cylinder, without coded key, same serial but keyed different for every single operator;
4. everyone must prepare himself the bump-keys he ‘ll use.
Other factors are complementary, but also important, like
a. how much time before the technicien has available the cylinders
b. how many “bumps” he has brought
c. how much time he engaged
From the three medium performances of the five operators it’s possible detemine an average result, we can define pondered index of the test.
Reflexions upon subject:
Why the european committee CEN 33 WG5/TG Burglar resistance, encharged to amend or to modify the Euro Norm 1303:2005, he doesn’t study to trace commun rules to establish a firm certification also for the “bumping preventions”, because recently a lot of misunderstandings appear on several european markets, issued by official certification istitutes, like documents of conformity, classification, or testifying proof has been made “anti-bumping”, BUT NOTHING IT’S VALID LIKE THE RELIABLE TRUE CERTIFICATION, issued granted and signed by named European Istitutes and recognized in the area of E.F.S.G.