What is Abtasten / Dekodieren (decoding), and how does it differ from picking?
Decoding measures the heights of the lock's tumblers so a working duplicate key can be cut afterward. Unlike picking (which opens the lock once), decoding gives you a key that opens it forever and that the owner can't tell apart from theirs.
Definition:
Abtasten ist ein Ermitteln der Öffnungsposition der eingesetzten Zuhaltungen mit Hilfsmitteln, um nach den festgestellten Werten einen Nachschlüssel anzufertigen.
Picking vs. decoding:
| Aspect | Picking | Decoding |
|---|---|---|
| End state | Lock open this time | Have a working key |
| Repeatability | Have to pick again next time | Open whenever |
| Forensic trace | Scratches on pins | Subtler — key blade insertion only |
| Tools | Pick + tension wrench | Decoder (Sputnik, Lishi, foil key) |
| Time | Seconds–minutes | Minutes for read, then minutes to cut key |
The Sputnik decoder:
The wild-looking tool with multiple feeler probes radiating outward (looks like a satellite, hence the name). Used on disc-detainer locks (Abloy-style):
- Each probe measures one disc's gate position.
- Connected dials show the bitting code.
- Read once → cut a key matching that code → walk in any time.
Originally developed in Eastern Europe in the 1990s for car-key replacement. Now sold openly for some lock families and grey-market for others.
The Lishi 2-in-1:
Combines decoding and picking on one tool. A white scale on the tool body shows pin/wafer heights as you manipulate them. After opening, you read the bitting code directly off the scale. One pass = key code + lock open.
This is why locksmiths can roll up to your locked-out car and have you driving in 5 minutes for $80 — they're not hot-wiring; they're decoding, picking, then leaving you with a key cut on the spot.
Tip: If your threat model includes someone walking up to your front door with 5 minutes of unsupervised access, mechanical-only locks are not enough. You need either anti-decode designs (sidebars, dual-axis pins) or electronic logging.
Go deeper:
Disc tumbler lock — the Abloy-style rotating-detainer design that the Sputnik decoder targets, and why it has no springs to bump.