that looks really fake.
seriously.
is that even real???
i don't get it.

help????

hmmm...why do you suppose they don't show the top of the lock. I wonder...

As a former locksmith, I can tell you this, the broken key does not match the key on the shackle. As to which key unlocks the lock is anyone's guess.

Lock's probably open. Just can't see it.

As 3 said, the broken part doesn't match the key on the shackle, so - it's possible that the broken part of the original key is in the lock and all you need is the top of the broken key to open the lock.

you will never see a key on a lock like that,the holes in keys are smaller then most lock shanks. it would be around the key ring then on shank, keys are soft brass and can be easily cut at weakest point here hole is ,no need to puchase a key or use broken key at all. brian

This is a puzzle, so cutting the key or buying a new padlock would be like not doing a jigsaw puzzle but simply showing off the box art.

Thats not the point of it.

As the third poster noted, the long part of the broken key does not match the whole key, so you do have to ask, "Is there another piece already in the lock"?

On a side note, I have seen a padlock with it's own (only) key locked on it in this manner.

the way it looks, the broken key looks like it is not even cut out for any kind of lock. It is not the same key from looking at the pic of it. I would have to be able to have it in front of me to tell more about it. Thats all i got for ya..

Why does the broken key look more like a saw blade?

Simple. Hire an ex-con to pick the lock.

Thinking out of the box, what if the lock was not
not locked. Nearly every picure of the lock covers your ability to see that one tiny detail. It is quite
possible that the key is readily available by just turning the loop and removing it. I don't believe that any thing was ever said if the lock was locked.

We may think of making a duplicate to the key attached to the lock, then open the lock with the duplicate.

How about this....
break or cut the key as close as possible to the shackle. then use it to unlock the lock.

Or is breaking it against the rules?

We are looking at opposite sides of the keys; try putting the broken tip of the key into the keyhole; if it does not go, perhaps the broken tip is there - then put the handle in to turn it & unlock the lock; if it does go, then use the handle part after putting it in, and open the lock. If the lock opens, remove the intact key, then relock the lock - and see if you can remove all the broken key, then use the intact key. If it works, get some new keys made.

hanan's idea was brilliant. that has the be the only way that lock can open.

Take the "locked key" to a locksmith and have a copy-cut. lateral thinking?

Its a puzzle. Stop thinking of it like a lock. Didn;t you ever have one of those puzzles where you had to get the ring off of the chain that was connected to two horseshoes or something like that. This ois the same kind of puzzle. It just looks like a lock. Search google for "puzzle locks" and you will find all sorts of these. This one, however, is by far the most inventive and difficult I have ever had the pleasure of handling.

I am a locksmith and i don't get why this is an illusion. it seems like more of a puzzle i guess. Yes the keys don't match, but the section from the stop leading to the first pin is the same. the best guess is that the rest of the key is in the lock. but how is this fun or solvable in just a picture? this is what i see at work.

The lock is just open!
But you can't see this, because of the angel the pic is taken!

First off, you can always just go out and buy a new lock :P

But obviously, the broken key is a decoy. You can try it, by sliding the broke piece with the teeth in, and using the big end to turn it. However, if it is in fact a dead key, you can either get a mold of the one attached to the lock an try it, or saw the end off the attached key, and do the same as with the broken key.

I worked in a Canadian Tire, and I know how to cut keys, and it can done fairly easily, with a key attached to a lock.

I also doubt that the lock is open.

Lastly, you could also just use a solution that goes into the key whole, and fills up all open areas in the lock mechanism, attached with a handle, and let the solution harden to the form of a key.

I believe that you should view this puzzle with a lateral slant. Eg, maybe find someone else who has purchased the Danlock and then unlock each other's? A bit like those chinese finger torture devices - a puzzle with a moral.

Its pretty easy, assuming the broken key is the lock's key;

1) you push the broken 'tongue' part inside. It would probably go deep and leave room, maybe couple of mm for the key handle to slightly get inside too.
2) Push the key handle slightly in.
3) open the lock.

The only problem would be to take out the broken tongue later on, as this trick becomes disposable.

Its pretty easy, assuming the broken key is the lock's key;

1) you push the broken 'tongue' part inside. It would probably go deep and leave room, maybe couple of mm for the key head to slightly get inside too.
2) Push the key head slightly in.
3) Turn and open the lock.

The only problem would be to take out the broken tongue later on, as this trick becomes disposable.

So far the pictures show the key might be in some fixed position, but it is not: see another picture.

(by the way: the Captcha word verification picture does not show in Firefox on Mac OS X)

One way could be to make a duplicate of the key attached to the shackle, and open it whit this one...;-)...too simple?

(sorry if my english isn't perfect i'm italian ;-))

There is no point of having two pictures above. It is obvious both are photoshoped using the same three elements (lock, key head & broken part of key). See the shadows etc.

I think the only point is to stare at the made in israel thing ;)

Looks quite interesting... and even more challenging than the previous "lock puzzle".
The paramount principle is to avoid deception and find the solution where it is least expected. I think that the broken key is used here to lure us away.
Also, the locked key is on identical position with the previous puzzle. Coincidence?

The small broken part of the second key looks a bit awkward... could be a mini-saw? ;)

My solution: the principle used to attach the small ring to the broken key is what unlocks the locked key
...just twist it and it will come off. May this also explains why the locked key stands so unnaturally.

Unbend the key ring and pick the lock?

otherwise I'm so out of ideas ...

use the broken key as a saw to cut the other key loose.

Well, the key attached to the lock isn't really attached at all. The key doesn't have a hole in it, it is more like a hook, and it is simply resting on the the lock like a coat hanger rests on a rod. So since the key is not really attached to the lock you can just "take it off it's hanger, and open the lock.

That's what it looks like to me.

Umm if you look very closely I think the key attached to the lock is not complete the bottom part looks cut off and its just laying on the lock. It looks like that in both pics, unless its just the light

it's clear....da lok is already open in dis case.......

This is not an optical illusion. It is a trick. If you visit the website that sells them you will see that you actually need the lock in your hand to figure it out. The picture itself will not help.

http://www.geocities.com/danpuzzles/danlock/

How do you know he didnt just open the lock with the key put it on their, then close it?????

This is, of course, not a standard lock. So anything --or any combination, in a specific order-- from simply inserting and turning the broken key up to shaking it in some specific direction, could open or take apart the lock. In fact, it could also have been shaped to not look like a lock at all...?

If true, then we won't be able to figger it out without actually holding one.

Large photo here.


[In an earlier comment I stated that the Word Verification Captcha was not showing in Firefox on Apple OS X, but, it is right now]

How are you sure it's a puzzle that's meant to be solved and not an art piece? Whoever made it could just have drilled a hole in the key, unlocked the lock, slid the key onto the bar, and locked it. They then bought another key and broke it. There ya go, art.

Perhaps you could break off a piece of the shackled key, using the already broken piece as a gauge for the proper length, then insert the newly broken key piece into the lock. Then using the big piece of the old broken key, insert it into the lock as well (it should go in about an 1/8" or so... any small amount would work) and turn the lock open from there.

Based on what we have on the picture, there is only one way for the lock to open.

1. the real broken piece of the key is inside the cylinder. (The broken piece on the side is a fake.)
2. the remaining piece with the ring, has a small section, about 1/8" left that will fit into the cylinder, thus allowing you to turn the cylinder and open the lock.
3. the key that's attached to the lock is there just the broken piece, to thow you off.

If you look closely at the keyway (the zig-zag opening that the key must go into), the key locked on the shackle will not go in the lock, whereas the broken key appears that it will go in. I think you should just insert the broken piece of key into the lock and use the rest of the broken key to turn the lock open.

Three step solution:

1. Slide the key out of the open lock (because it is open...)

2. insert the key into the keyhole

3. Turn the key! ..

oh wait it's already open anyways.

i don't understand this. someone explain it to me please! its kind of dumb if you don,t understand it


someone explain

Every possible option has been said, but, what about sawing the arc, and leaving space enough to place it into the sawed space? I mean, if you take right now the lock with your hand, the key will simply fall on the table, and you will see a sawed, broken section where the key was.
Why not an illusion for moillusions?

1) take lock with key to locksmith
2) have locksmith make a copy of the key on the shackle
3) insert new key and turn

I notice that like the previous puzzle the lock and key are made by Nabob of Israel.
Firstly this is not a very good advert for Nabob do they always supply their padlocks like this?
Also the keys seem to be unusually thin - no wonder they keep breaking.
And how come the broken key is on a little ring. The hole in the the broken is no where near big enough to fit over the shackle.
If you look on both pictures you can see that there are less lines between the holes in the key on the lock and the top of the key compared to the loose keys. The holes have clearly been enlarged to fit over the shackle. Now, why ?

I've seen something similar to this in a science museum and I think that the broken key is in fact a magnet, and both halves of the broken key must be placed in certain positions on (not in) the lock itself in order for it to work. The other two puzzles would be figuring out where exactly to put them in order to make it work. Or it could be the other way round, the magnets being inside the lock and the keys made of a magnetic material. And incase anyone was wondering, the museum I mentioned was Techniquest in Cardiff, where they have a treasure chest that works on a similar principal.

I installed this Google plugin about 2 weeks ago and I´ve seen only two optical illusions. Now therés a puzzle, las week there was a Jim Davis' Cartoon (Garfield on a fence).
I wonder if the responsible of this blog does quite understands what a Optical Illusion is, or if the title of the blog should change...

Simple

Assuming: any apparent problem with the key is the artist inperfection not a part of the puzzle.
Both keys do unlock this lock, the lock is locked, and you may not use anything outside the picture.

Calling the broken off bit with the keyring in it the "loop end" and the end with the majority of level pushing key-type bits the "key end".

Then: Take the key end of the broken key and push it into the lock, then push it the rest of the way with the loop end. A lock is always a perfect fit for a key, the lock would hold the two parts together. The turning part of the keyaction is all in the loop end, the rest follows round. The two broken parts being held together by the lock would act as one complete key and the lock would open.

Geting the key end back out.... that's a whole other debate!

I am agreeing with two of the theories that I already thought possible. One is the magnet theory sent in by Phantom, and Hanan's idea was the best, that the top half of the key's already in the lock, so you only need half the key. Maybe there is no top half. Maybe the lock is only as small as the top half of the key!!!!!!

It's like what #30 said... its like a coat hanger...we just don't see the open part of the key (it's blocked by the lock)

Everything else is a distraction

There is two sides to this...

First in both pictures they show an angle of the locked key that has a little indent (thinner part of the key) were maybe it can be sawed (as comment 9 said the other key looks more like a saw blade)

Second, could it be maybe a intellectual puzzle? the lock shows the word "NABOB" which is a derived title from the word "NAWAB" which means: "was originally the subedar (provincial governor) or viceroy of a subah (province) or region of the Mughal empire, but became a high title for Muslim nobles." (wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabob)
The creator is from Israel. Refer to the wikipedia article, it has some very interesting facts and information about it that I cannot even start to say.

I have the solution!!!

A stick of dynamite! Like my granpappy always said; ain't nothin' ya cain't fix with a stick o' dynamite. just ask my granny, if you c'n find her.

I dont think the key is attached to the lock, the back part of the key is shadowed so you cant see it clearly. So if the key isnt attached to the lock you could just open the lock with it......problem solved

philip

I think you guys are getting close. Whoever said it was a puzzle, not an optical illusion is pretty close, I think.

The picture is there to show it's not obvious and to buy this thing - and as with all puzzles (and some optical illusions) there is a bit of playing against your assumptions.

One assumption is that it is a normal lock - But what if the inside isn't? What if you don't need to activate a pin tumbler, you just need to turn it with the broken top ofthe key?

What if there is another way to open the lock (Phantom's magnetic idea is good - one wouldn't normally think to check if the key is really brass-coated magnetic material). But what if it's opened by pressure on the lock arm, or if it turns, but only if hte key top is in it, or....

I think we'd have to have it in our hands to actually figure it out.

Thanks for the higher quality pic, Arjan. After studying it, I noticed two things. First the "broken" key has actually been carefully cut in half, which allows the two pieces to fit together in the lock. Usually, when you break a key, the edges are bent so you can't do that easily.
Second, the "broken" key doesn't look like it would go to any lock. It looks like a bump key to me.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bump_key)
If it is, then that may be the first part of the puzzle. How you would get the key fragment back out is another question.

i have 2 theories:

the shoulders of both keys are the same and to open it you have to cut the bit of the key that is attached and use the shoulder of the broken key to do the method of putting the broken back together in the lock

the second is that broken key is a bump key (if you dont know what this is reserch it they are really cool) and you have to bump the lock open with broken key

I think that this is just a set ... because if it snapped while trying to open ... wouldnt it be twisted?

Silly Rabbit tricks are for kids.
This is simply a scam that made him rich off of people like you.

I have a theory that has not been mentioned. I stared at this for a long time and kept in mind optical illusion. Of course you could saw the lock and things like that but......to me it appears the second key that is attached to the lock could also in fact be broken at the base. The grooved part of the key you insert in the lock is seperated from the round base part of the key that is attached to the lock. The grooved part is laying down flat. If you insert the grooved part of the key into lock it looks long enough. I have two guesses to turn the key. If it is long enough you could use tweezers or maybe you could use the base to the other broken key as leverage (not the base attached to the lock) to turn it.

assuming the key locked on the lock is the one that opens it, break that end of the key off and used the top part of the other broken key to open the lock?

Looking at the key "attached" to the lock, it seems like instead of the lock part actually going through a hole in the key, the key is actually wedged between the two parts.

What I'm trying to say is that the lock is actually cut, with the key inserted between the two ends.

If the broken key and the attached key are supposed to be similar, you can see that on the broken key, the hole at the top is much to small for it to fit on the lock.

HOPE THIS HELPS =D

I have a theory no one else has mentioned. I stared at this but I noticed what I am about to say standing away from the computer and walking up to it from a distance. You could saw the lock and things like that but....... I tried to kept in mind OPTICAL ILLUSION. I believe the key that is supposed to be attached to the lock is also in fact broken. If you look it appears the jagged part of the key is seperated from the round base that is attached to the lock. The jagged part is laying down flat. I have two therioes on opening the lock. Since The jagged part of key appears to be seperated at the base it could be long enoungh to open. You could use tweezers or you could use the base to the other broken key (not the one attached to lock) as leverage.
THREE FACTORS ARE:
1. The key attached to lock is also broken.
2. The jagged part of key is lying flat.
3. The round part of key attached to lock standing upright.

First of all everyone this is a physical puzzle, not an illusion. What you see is exactly the puzzle, nothing is hidden in the photograph.

The solution is probably comparing the key on the shackle with the two broken halves. The broken part is clearly not identical to the real key. The broken key is saw shaped. I don't think you use it as a saw as a self destructing puzzle isn't much of a puzzle.

My guess is that you insert the broken part in the lock backwards or forwards little by little until the tumblers align and use the back end to both push in the broken part and to turn the tumbler.

The puzzle is difficult to reset because you need to remove the broken key afterwards.

The shackle is cut where the key is....the key is holding the shackle together...easy!

The second broken key with the ring attached( not the one that looks like the saw)looks like it has the exact same shape as the lock, so put in the end and just twist it!

this is easy use the broken keys end to saw the locked key

I THINK I GOT IT! wut if both keys don't unlock the lock, but if a combination of 2 would... put the first half of the broken key in and break off the otherhalf of the key locked onto the lock. put it in and, there u go. lock, unlocked.

Put key in.. turn key... open lock..hehe... i love keys!!!!!!!!!...Hehe... averyone eat pizza in america!!!!

if we assume the broken key opens the lock, then the other key must open something else, so simple pick up the lock and put the key into whatever its supposed to open.

Does anyone actually read the top part? It tells you this is a PUZZLE. If you go to the site where it is sold, it explains that there are at least 3 steps you need to solve to open the lock, get the key off, and put it back in its original state.

It is meant to be solved physically with creative thinking. Cutting the key off to open the lock is cheating. Get it straight.

Who's to say that the padlock IS a padlock? It looks, to me, like the box part of the lock is in fact, completely detached from the hook part of the lock and is simply lying on top of it. I would suggest that the three steps are as follows

1. pick up the box part of the lock

2. take the key off the hook

3. put them down

i think i GOT IT!!!!!!!
maybe the key to this all is that the locked key is connected to the lower shakle and that inside there is a little mecanism, so if you turn the locked key (rotating on the (fake) hole) you might unlock the lower part with the key still attached to that, and than you can use that to unlock the whole thing!!!!!!!

The part of the intact key that is hidden from view by the shackle is not intact. There is a piece missing and the key slips off. That's my best guess.

The solution is really simple. You are all over thinking it. Just buy two of the locks and use one attached to the lock to unlock the other lock and there you go, two unlocked locks and two keys.

I don't know the answer, but I have a couple of comments
Firstly, the homepage of the puzzle http://www.geocities.com/danpuzzles/danlock/ clearly says you have to restore it to its original state, which means cutting it is out, and also all the people who say push the broken bit in with the other broken bit - that may actually work, but it's only half the puzzle.

Also, I've been in Israel and Nabob is the standard padlock company, I've used Nabob padlocks myself, so in response to Anonymous I doubt there's anything in the name, it's probably a real but adapted Nabob padlock.

We have the puzzle in front of us (you can have more detailed pics if you wish). It's bloody hard! There seems to be a ball bearing or floating pin inside one of the pin chambers. It is correct that the key on the shackle and the key on the key ring are different, but the middle pin of the key matches. Help!!! :)

the Lock is actually not locked<<
so you can actually slide the key out of the lock .The Illution is you have been viewing the lock from a different angle. have fun

ok, I think that maybe it's like a box within a box. Maybe the outer shell is a decoy, and the real keyhole is INSIDE the lock!

I think the lock is broken and the key is in in the cutted lock, cose the lock can't pass into the lock the hole of the key is smaller than the lock.

The puzzle is supposed to be returned to its original state and you can only use the stuff that's pictured, so you can't cut anything or go make a copy of the key.

The "broken" key is able to be picked up and moved, so it is not in a fixed position. There are only two keys and one of them is indeed broken.

The caption of the image that Poster #24 linked to says that returning the lock to its original position was much more difficult than unlocking it, so the trapped key can't have an incomplete ring, because then you could just slip it back on the lock.

The fact that the second key is broken is evidently meant to distract you. The teeth of the broken key definitely don't match the teeth of the trapped one. It would totally make sense if they matched, because then you could shove the broken tip of the key into the lock and then turn it with the broken handle, which really would make it harder to put back in its original position, but that's not the case.

And there can't already be anything inside the lock...

I'm stumped.

Hey guys - why not contact Dan and buy the lock. I have, and it is fabulous. I ahve not solved it yet as I have only just received it. Quit the guessing and give it a go. Support Dan so that he is motivated to continue making more great puzzles like this one.

I'm not sure what it is, but I did see a trick much like it once. It was a small treasure chest, and the key was on a chain, about an inch too short to reach the lock. I worked it out pretty soon but my friends were stumped, tugging and pulling on the chain. The secret was to simply push the lock inwards and the chest popped open.

Hey to get a danlock email this guy theres a limited quantity so hurry!!!

feldman@bezeqint.net

To the poster who said there couldn't be anything on the lock...au contraire
On one of the sites linked on this page, one testimonial praises the 'amount of things you managed to fit into the lock' or something similar. So I'm thinking that you have to get an outer shell off of the lock, and then their is another mechanical puzzle inside to solve.

How to get the cover off, to me...it seems like the magnet idea someone posted could possibly be the first solution.

Oops


I meant IN the lock, and I meant THERE is another.

How embarrassing. I must have been really tired.

The broken key has a hole in the top end of both pieces. Before inserting the botom piece into the lock, thread a piece of floss through the hole. Proceed to use the top part of the key to insert the bottom part the rest of the way as well as turning the cilinder. Once the complete key is released from the clasp, lock the lock and turn the cilinder to origional position and use the floss to draw out the broken piece, and voila! Start to finish, a good method I propose. -SJ

This puzzle is getting to me and also have not been able to find the solution online. I suspect that every part is essential to this puzzle, including the curled wire of the broken key. Perhaps there is a way to unravel that in a way it fits in the lock with both the broken peices (look for a tiny gap that a wire could fit in alongside the key). This way the broken peices fit in to release the lock and possibly explain why it says getting the puzzle back to its original condition is the most difficult part. The wire may be essential in pulling the broken part out of the lock.

I have the solution! That is providing the broken key is what actually unlocks the lock.

View the picture at: http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/info_109.html

Note that the broken part has a hole near the broken end in the top grooved part of the key. If the kit comes with the coiled wire someone linked in the first 20 or so responses that wire can be used to pull the broken part right back out after inserting the handle to turn the lock open.

I'd actually have to have this lock in front of me to test this, but is the most logical thing I could come up with looking at pictures.

If I am wrong, there is definitely something with that hole to consider.

Many in the few responses I have read keep treating this as not a puzzle suggesting replicating the key. This is a puzzle. Every part is to be used in the puzzle for some purpose and only those parts. It is up to us to figure out how they work together.

found the answer after only a minute, think........ damn its easy!!!

ALERT ALERT ALERT! YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTS!

I got this off the website that sells these things- maybe it'll help.

"Most padlocks, once opened, are easy to close: not so the DanLock. In fact it is rather more difficult to get the lock back to the same state as it is delivered to you. Altogether it involves the solving of at least three quite distinct puzzles, which will keep even the ardent enthusiast occupied for some time. Well it kept me occupied . . . DanLock is the creation of Dan Feldman and is not to be confused with three other puzzle padlocks that he produced a year or so ago... Up to now the solution he sends out with the puzzle is incomplete, which has led to unnecessary correspondence, complaints, etc. However, Dan tells me that he is revising the solution, so this won?t happen again. It raises the question as to whether solutions should accompany puzzles or not. My own preference, as stated many times before, is that they should not, but that they should be available on request. I know it involves the manufacturer in more work, but nothing can be perfect."

the side of the key on the shackle is in shadow,but even then you should be able to see part of the side in the dark.you can't.it could be pictured so it seems that it is shrouded in darkness,but really is cut.the same thing is apparant in the previous lock/key puzzle.you might be able to just slip it off.

DanLock is a normal lock reform. It is can buy at Iserel call "NABOB" lock.
The keyhole is more deep. If you want return the broken key. How did you think in your life? You need notice any information about the lock apart. Little ring is not use for this game. It just protect for lose a little parts.

You can notice a small tab on the top of both keys. Can the tabs be inserted into the key hole to unlock? Feedback?

ok, I've thought more about it. Use the tab on top of the broken key to unscrew the lock cylinder. Once the lock cylinder is free from the lock body, it can then be inserted onto the shakled key and opened. I suspect that part of the puzzel is hidding in the lock cylinder. That would cover two of the three parts of the puzzel, without acutualy having the puzzel in my hand, the rest is just speculation. Feedback?

is you really want to know, you can buy it from http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/Puzzle_Lock.html

have fun...

I'm a locksmith & each key has it's own set of cuts. The broken one is the key that fits the lock. You insert the broken end into the lock, then insert the head of the key into the lock & turn to open. The key on the shackle is a key that won't open the lock & is there to confuse you.

hint: if they used the unbroken key to lock it then how did they get the unbroken key on it anyways?

plus the end part of the key that's broken doesn't match up with the other part or the key hole.