Combination Lock

We like to think of a Combination Lock as a little mechanical puzzle that only you know the solution to. Inside the casing, there are several discs with small notches in them. When you spin the dial to the right numbers, those discs line up just right so the locking bar can drop into the grooves and let the shackle open. It is a clever system that has been around for ages because it works without needing a physical key that most of us would probably lose in the tall grass anyway. These Combination Lock units are built to be sturdy, relying on simple physics rather than batteries or electronics that might fail you when you’re in a hurry.

We find that the trick is all in the reset and the direction of the turns. First, you give the dial a few full rotations to the right to make sure the Combination Lock is ready to go. You stop on your first number, then spin it left, passing your second number once before landing on it. Then, you turn it right again to your final number and give the shackle a firm tug. If the Combination Lock stays stubborn, you probably just overshot a number by a hair. Just take a breath, clear it out again, and try one more time without rushing the dial.