Reading time: 4 minutes / Lars Buchwald / 19 Nov 2025
The royal class of locks
Table of Contents
→ The fascination of the royal class
→ Why there is no absolutely secure lock
→ What truly defines security – environment, usage, experience
→ Multi-mechanism locks – where precision meets magic
→ Magnet-based high security – the invisible guardian
→ Multi-sidebar systems – the triple challenge
→ Swiss precision: Mul-T-Lock MT5+ in detail
→ Why these systems belong to the absolute elite
→ No lock is unbeatable – but some come very close
→ Multipick: engineering with responsibility and respect for the craft
→ Conclusion: Unpickable? Only until someone does it
There are locks that make even experienced lockpickers smile at first and then fall completely silent. Systems that hide their secrets so well that you almost wonder whether the designer was an engineer or a modern-day Houdini. Whether in training sessions or by email, we keep hearing the same question: Which lock is actually secure? And the answer is always the same: none. However, we immediately add a “but,” because — as so often — it depends on the circumstances.
Why some cylinders are almost unpickable
So what exactly is a lock?
A lock is a precisely engineered security module that controls access through a clearly defined mechanical or electronic authorization — and blocks any deviation from it without compromise.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t be tricked. And this brings us back to the circumstances — because, as so often, the real assessment depends heavily on the specific situation.
A lock is only as secure as the environment allows. A cylinder may be excellent on a technical level, but if it sits in a poorly fitted door, without protective hardware or with exposed screws, much of its theoretical strength is lost. Conversely, a solid mid-range lock can suddenly feel surprisingly robust when installed in a stable, well-built door.
Humans play a role as well. A beginner will fail on many systems where an experienced lockpicker immediately recognizes and interprets the subtle signals. And even professionals from the locksmithing world know: certain locks behave completely differently depending on installation, temperature, wear, or manufacturing tolerances. Some models are easy to analyze under “laboratory conditions,” yet nearly unreadable once installed.
Then there’s the intended use. A lock that seems absolutely secure for everyday life may be assessed very differently by a professional security agency. Risks also vary enormously between a remote garden gate and an apartment door in a city center.
In short: the question about “the secure lock” can’t be answered in general terms, because security is always the result of construction, environment, usage, and the skill of the attacker. That’s why, in conversations like these, we never start with the product — we start with the situation.
To give you a sense of what this royal class of top-tier locks looks like, I’ll introduce four types of systems that are considered extremely demanding worldwide. These models are technical masterpieces, and from a Multipick perspective, each of them is something very special — systems that have caused quite a stir.
Multi-mechanism locks – clockwork or lock cylinder?
Example: EVVA MCS (Magnet Code System) from Austria
The EVVA MCS is considered one of the most fascinating multi-mechanism systems because it combines three independent security layers:
– passively coded magnets
– mechanical pins
– rotating disc elements
The key itself looks like a small piece of engineering art: multiple magnetic chips that control precisely positioned magnetic axes inside the cylinder.
Why is it unpickable?
Because picking it would require manipulating a system that demands both mechanical and magnetic conditions at the same time — and the magnetic layer provides zero feedback. But feedback is essential for reading pin codes. Without it, opening the cylinder by picking becomes almost impossible.
EVVA MCS (Magnet Code System) – manufacturer page: MCS – Das technisch exzellente Schließsystem
Magnet-based high-security locks – the invisible guardian
Example: KESO 8000 Ω² from Switzerland
This system uses a combination of magnetic and mechanical checks. Striking features include multiple magnetic capsules in the key that interact with precisely aligned magnetic modules inside the cylinder.
Why is it unpickable?
Because magnetic modules behave in a binary way:
Either the polarity is exactly right — or nothing happens.
If a lock provides no information, even the best tool can’t “read” anything. The lockpicker is left completely alone without feedback — ouch.
KESO 8000 Ω² – manufacturer page: KESO 8000Ω² Schliesssystem | ASSA ABLOY
Multi-sidebar systems – the three-headed beast
Example: ASSA Abloy Twin Maximum / Twin Combi 2 from Sweden
This system uses two independent mechanisms:
– a classic pin-tumbler channel
– a second, rotationally coded system
Both control their own sidebars, which retract only when every element is positioned perfectly. In high-end versions, a third security check may even be added.
Why is it so demanding?
Because you would need to pick two or three locks at the same time — without any of them telling you when something is correctly set. A tiny error blocks everything. A misalignment of just 1–2 degrees is enough to keep the cylinder as uncooperative as your date after prom night.
ASSA Twin Maximum / Twin Combi – manufacturer page: ASSA Twin Maximum – ASSA Lock
The ultimate precision cylinder – Swiss watchmakers building locks
Example: Mul-T-Lock MT5+ from Israel
The MT5+ combines classic pins, interactive elements, and a movable milled blade (“Alpha”). This small moving component must engage a groove with absolute precision — a query that cannot be manipulated. Added to this are extremely tight manufacturing tolerances that provide almost no feedback.
Why so difficult?
Because even the most skilled lockpicker receives virtually no tactile information. The cylinder feels like picking inside a tunnel made of solid metal — zero feedback.
Mul-T-Lock MT5+ – platform page: MTL™800 (MT5®+) | MUL-T-LOCK
Why these locks belong to the royal class of security cylinders
The construction of these systems achieves several goals at once:
– little to no feedback
– multiple mechanisms acting simultaneously
– magnetic queries without any perceptible signal
– additional sidebars
– movable key components
– tolerances in the hundredth-millimeter range
In this combination, they create a barrier far beyond traditional lockpicking. It takes true masters to outsmart such a complex interplay of mechanisms. These locks are not meant to be defeated — they are meant to be understood.
The truth?
There are no unbreakable locks. But there are locks that come so close to that ideal that an entire community struggles with them for years. As a manufacturer of lockpicking tools, we try to understand every detail in order to develop solutions for the challenges we encounter. Not to prove that nothing is impossible, but to continuously raise security and technical standards.
Our tools are made to help people regain access to their property. They are meant to diffuse dangerous situations and free people safely from emergencies. That is our motivation — and our responsibility. Multipick – engineering with purpose.
And in the end, the truth remains, a phrase often heard in the lockpicking world: “A lock is unpickable — until someone picks it.”
FAQ – everything you need to know
1. What does “royal class of locks” actually mean?
This term symbolizes locking systems so technically refined that even experienced lockpickers and locksmiths reach their limits. Here, maximum precision, complex mechanics, and extremely tight manufacturing tolerances come together — engineered specifically to resist manipulation.
2. Why can’t any lock truly be called “unpickable”?
Because every lock is created by humans — and wherever something is built, a potential weakness can exist. However, high-end systems can raise the required skill and effort so drastically that they are considered practically unbeatable in real-world scenarios. “Unpickable” is therefore more of a compliment than a technical fact.
3. What makes the EVVA MCS so special?
The Austrian MCS system combines magnetic, pin, and disc mechanisms — three interconnected security layers. The tricky part: the magnetic coding provides absolutely no feedback, making it nearly impossible to “read” with tools. The lock is widely regarded as a showcase of modern multi-mechanism engineering.
4. How does the KESO 8000 Ω² work, and why is it so difficult to overcome?
This system uses multiple magnetic capsules precisely matched to magnetic modules inside the cylinder. Since these modules react only to the correct polarity, there is zero tactile feedback for the lockpicker. The lock stays completely “silent” — and that silence is its greatest strength.
5. What sets multi-sidebar systems like the ASSA Twin Maximum apart from standard cylinders?
They combine two or more fully independent mechanisms, each controlling its own sidebar. Only when every element is perfectly aligned will the cylinder open. This means: minimal tolerance for error and maximum precision. Even the slightest misalignment can block the entire system — a true nightmare for any lockpicker.
6. Why is the Mul-T-Lock MT5+ considered a prime example of precision?
Because this Israeli cylinder unites multiple security layers — pins, interactive components, and the renowned “Alpha” element, a mechanically moving blade that only functions when positioned with absolute accuracy. Combined with manufacturing tolerances in the hundredth-millimeter range, it offers almost no feedback. For many, it is a masterpiece of fine engineering.
7. What do all royal-class locks have in common?
They combine different security principles: magnetic, mechanical, and rotational queries, often without providing any noticeable feedback. Add to that sidebars, movable key components, and extremely precise machining. The interplay of these elements creates a level of resistance far beyond that of standard cylinders.
8. Does “almost unpickable” automatically mean “absolutely secure”?
No. A lock is only as secure as its environment. Poor installation, missing protective hardware, or exposed screws can render even the best cylinder ineffective. True security is always a combination of technology, installation, and usage — never the lock alone.
9. Can professionals open these locks?
In theory, yes — in practice, rarely. Some systems have been analyzed worldwide for years without any reproducible method being found. Even specialized security labs often admit: these cylinders are more research subjects than realistic attack targets.
10. Why does Multipick deal with such systems at all?
Because understanding these high-end locks forms the basis for better, safer tools and training solutions. Multipick studies these systems not to defeat them, but to advance technology, precision, and security — always with responsibility and respect for the craft.
About the Author
Lars Buchwald has been an integral part of the Multipick team since 2006, where he dedicates his passion and expertise to marketing and graphics. As a trained graphic designer and copywriter, he brings a wealth of experience and creativity to his work, which enables him to convey the messages of the ingenious tools in an appealing and convincing way. With a keen sense for the needs of the target group, he steers Multipick's marketing fortunes. His commitment is characterized by a high degree of sensitivity and the right richer at the right time.
As a native of Bonn, Lars not only has close ties to the region, but has also firmly integrated his passion for marketing spear tools into his professional work. His attachment to the city is reflected in his work and gives his marketing campaigns an authentic, Bonn touch.
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About Multipick
Multipick was established here in Bonn in 1997 and has had its headquarters and production facilities here on the Rhine ever since.
Why should we leave here? Anyone who has been here before will agree that it is a very beautiful place and that the people are ‘typically Rhineland’, open-minded and friendly. From an early stage, we began to occupy ourselves with a wide variety of entry tools. We tried out lock snappers and core extractors such as the Bell and gathered a wealth of experience with a wide variety of tools. Whether it was a lock pick set or special tools for fire brigades and locksmiths, in the end the door or window had to be opened. In line with the motto, you got the problem and we got the solution.
Many tools, irrespective of hobby or professional, are dispatched from our warehouse to destinations throughout the world.
Opening tool kits for caretakers and locksmiths, pick sets and lock picking accessories for Locksport enthusiasts and Hobbs hooks for specialists to unlock locked safes. There are thousands of different ways to deploy our specialised tools. Our TFG latch plates and key turners allow a closed door to be reopened. QA Pro 2 and our V-Pro core pulling screws can be used to open a locked door. We also offer milling burrs and drill bits for those situations where there really is no other way. Many useful aids such as MICA opening cards, wedges, door latch spatulas, door handle catches and spiral openers, which are all useful tools to help you get the job done. But even if things get a bit complicated, you are in good hands with us. Products such as the Kronos and Artemis electric picks are our top highlights. Anyone who likes to open dimple locks or disc locks will be delighted with the ARES system. For opening windows, we offer you a range of top products from Kipp-Blitz. Favoured by emergency services such as the fire brigade, THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) and police. Many of our tools are manufactured in-house. This gives us the liberty to manufacture quickly and in a customer-orientated manner. No lengthy supply chains and subcontractor dependencies. This has a number of advantages both for you and, of course, for our environment. One big advantage is that you get everything from a single source, enabling us to offer you consistent quality. This is also our promise to you, all from a single source, Made in Germany, Made in Bonn - promised.
