I remember that feeling of having the “keys to the kingdom” when I was taught how to pick locks and surreptitiously enter… well, places that didn’t expect me to be entering. It was awesome, but it took a lot of work and now years past I realize that it’s what’s called a “Perishable Skill” which means if you don’t use it you lose it.

Having spent over a decade as a tactical trainer and operator I realized it’s not about how good or capable you are when you finish a course that matters, but it matters how good or capable you are 9 months later when you’re downrange. It’s not about what you obtain, it’s about what you retain.

A sure thing

Lock shims are what I call a sure thing. If you need to get into a padlock you can skip all of the perishable picking skills and skip right to the bypass methods. Of course, these shims don’t work on all padlocks, but now having carried them for several years I can tell you that they get into most and on several occasions, they’ve got me out of a bind.

Always be ready

You all know I’m a huge 5.11 fan, Tom Davin (CEO) has turned them into an amazing company, and I’ve been rocking their goods around the world. The bag in the background is their COVRT Z.A.P. 6. I was turned on to it by a badass bodyguard who works overseas protecting various O.G.A’s.

The reason I bring it up here is that a lot of their bags have a “secret” compartment in the back which I use to keep my entry tools as well as other nefarious items. I pulled my shims out of the “First Aid” kit that resides in the back of this small action bag. Maybe because I was a Boy Scout, but it’s all about “Always Being Ready” and these shims and bags like this one help me with just that.