By Vurdlak on March 3, 2007, with 195 Comments
I usually don’t post follow-ups to ongoing discussions, but this one really took my attention. Having fun solving that lock, from the post below (Lock and Key puzzle)? I didn’t have any, but found out it is originally called Danlock, and was designed by Israeli craftsman, Dan Feldman. Also, I have more pictures and info, I didn’t provide last time. Apparently Danlock comes only with two keys – one attached to the shackle, and the other is broken (no trick there). I also found out, that it’s rather more difficult to get the lock back to the same state as it is delivered to you. It involves the solving of at least 3 quite distinct puzzles.
I searched the whole web to find the solution, and couldn’t find one. Maybe it’s better like this, since it’s much more fun. I believe it would be much easier if I actually had this item in my hands. For now, my best guess is that the lock is infact tricky, and that it can be opened with left part of the broken key itself, then maybe with other part (keyhole not as deep as the broken part), or maybe without key. Cool game! Does that little ring attached to broken key has any role in this? Are the numbers on the key some kind of combination? I emailed Dan Fieldman (the creator), and hopefully he will participate in our discussion. Also, solutions like: “Use the chainsaw“, “Photoshopped” etc… are invaluable.
(26 votes)
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.
I would put the broken botom in the lock, then twist it with the top, it might be a problem to get the broken piece out but you’ll manage to open the lock
A drop of super-glue on the broken key. Insert the key and open the padlock. Then, take out the key from the padlock. Last, break the key to restore the earlier state. Simple! :-)
i know 2 possible ways. either glue the pieces or use clay to make a new handle and use it. sorry if someone already said and hope this helps.
This is a fantastic puzzle. I actually ordered one several months ago and solved it. I will not give away the solution, but I will tell you this. It is more like three puzzles in one, and you need no extra tools besides what is given (even the small metal ring attached to the broken piece is not needed). If you enjoy puzzles I strongly suggest you contact Dan Feldman and give this one a go.
I’ve read about this before. The lock isn’t as simple as it seems (even if it seems difficult).
It comes with the key around the loop, like in the pictures. You must solve three different puzzles with the lock before you can open it. Then, once you open it, they say its even more difficult to put the key back where it was when you originally got the lock.
scarey…
one of the best puzzles ever!
it took me plenty of time and effort, each phase of the puzzle is more difficult and enjoyable.
I saw it on eBay for a decent price.
think outside the box
Ive just had my puzzle lock delivered today and it is amazing, no idea what to do but the lock and component parts are extremely well made and weighty! Great piece of puzzle kit!, Have given the solution to my girlfriend to keep under lock and key..no pun intended. This puzzle will take pride and place in my collection.
Right what you got to do is stick the teeth end of the broken key into the lock. insert the head and twist, that opens it, then the tricky part, how to get the teeth end out i hear you ask?
http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/Puzzle_Lock.html
If you cant work it out after seeing that you really are thick
I know,…. Melt it down and throw it at fast moving traffic. Problem solved
the broken part of the key has a hole in it. thread some cotton through and then put it in the lock. the key can easily be removed then and you can use the second key next time.
that eassy. they took 2 of the same keys, put one locked, and locked it with the other key and broke it.
The Mystery lock can be opened as follows. The small part of the broken key is long enough to insert and open the lock. The tumblers inside the lock do not run the full length of a key. Now, how hard was that??
ok the key not on the lock looks like a bump key and with one of those if u put it in most of the way and hit it with a hamer while putting some pressure on it to turn it the pins in side the lock may aligne and you will be able to turn the key. a person broke in to my house using this method
It’s very interesting, how some guys are trying to solve a puzzel: “saw it”, “take dynamite”, “just take this or that part and turn the lock, that’s all”, “it’s sooo easy” and so on …
Hey – it’s a puzzle – and you should use your brain and hands to solve it !
1.) The solution won’t be sooo easy, otherwise, it would be a waste of money – and it’s obvious NOT a waste of money.
2.) It’s sold for about 60 bucks, so it’s probably NOT complete out of this world (means: an alien type of work), but an altered regular lock – otherwise, it should asnd will go for more.
3.) There are easy/cheap ways to alter a lock to get a trick lock: f.e. add a gravity locking mechanism or a magnetic type of additional locking or just use only some (the first two ?) locking pins – so no need to push in the key all the way. But there are more possibilities …
Conclusion:
You can not solve this by just viewing it. You have to take it in your hand, turn it to that side, try to push it here or there, take the broken part or the other part an try to push in or twist the keyhole – and so on. So only “Try and Error” and some thinking will lead to the solution. And therefore, it’s pretty useless to get the answer here, as it makes no sense. All you will get is the loss of the chance to solve it by yourselve.
Just my two cents
Jogi, Germany
After reading some of the comments, and taking a second look at the 2 pictures it popped in my head.
There is a shadow covering part of the key that is in the lock… the same part in both pictures.
Could it be so easy as the key isnt really “locked” in at all?
this is suppose to be an illusion after all. And the brain loves to “fill in the blanks” when faced whith an unknown.
I have the DanLock, and highly recommend it.
To dispell some of the theories above:
- This is not an illusion, it is a puzzle. It is a semi-difficult puzzle (around 4 or 5 out of 6, to use the Hanayama scale). The goal is to take it completely apart, and then put it back into the same state – two separate puzzles.
- The puzzle is a modified lock – it’s not just a puzzle that looks like a lock.
- The lock is not open initially.
- The broken key is used as part of the puzzle. Everything you see in the photo is used in the puzzle, except for the ring, which is simply there as a convenient way to keep all the bits of the puzzle together.
- You don’t need anything else to solve this puzzle (e.g. hacksaws, lockpicks, etc.). Sure, you could used them, but that’s like using a texta to solve the Rubik’s Cube.
- The intact key is really trapped on the lock. You will have to unlock the lock before you have access to the key.
- The broken key will fit in the lock. But will that help you?
- Lateral thinking is needed to solve this puzzle.
Since I know Dan, and i have had the honer of working with him, and have opened the lock by myself (Dan brought it to work) I can tell you that the lock is real and working. So stop the speculations, IT IS REAL!!! you can also write dan himself, he doesn’t bite :-)
its easy
i think the solution is : you take the ring of the broken key, make it straight, and try to pick the lock with it. (i dont know if this has already been suggested and i am sorry if it has so)
Well I e-mailed Mr.Feldman, because now I want to buy one, and he said that it comes with a printed solution… so when I buy it I’ll share it with you guys lol
Glue the broken pieces together?
1. The broken key is NABOB, while the locked one is not…
2. The Locked One has a bigger ring hole…
so both keys are not identical… so u can use the broken key back up.
Easy, just take it to a lock-smith, and he can cut a copy of the non broken key. or, put the broken key tinto some soap, to make a template, and create a mold from that, on which to base the new key design on.
It’s a brilliant puzzle!!
It has an unpredictable elegant solution. Actually it contains 3 challenges in it.
You really need to think “out of the box” in order to solve it.
I don’t know why no-one has suggested it. The answer to this is the same as the answer to many of the world’s problems – throw money at it.
All you need to do is to buy two of them. Each will unlock and lock the other.
The above picture as it is stated is an illusion. An illusion is something which looks real but is not.
The curved locking bar is not in the locked psition. take any padlock and lock it and you will find that only the smallest amount possible is left, pretty much where the bar goes from the straight to the curve ie the curve prevents it from going any further they are designed like this to make the locked padlock stronger.
the broken key is a red hearing.
If you can’t see, there’s a hole in the teethed part of the broken key so thread it into the ring so it wont get lost then use the teethed end and unlock the lock and when your done put the ring in the lock bar thingee and now both keys are locked up so unthread the teeth end of the key and open the lock.
WOW. talk about run-on sentences.
the way to do this is to take the RING of the HEAD part of the key and put it in the little hole on the TEETH part of the key and put the TEETH part in the lock get the HEAD part of the key and put it in the key hole (it wont fit} just push hard on it and twist tadaa!!! it opens now pull the ring walaa!! and out comes the TEETH part of the key
What if you just make a copy of the good key, unlock the mechanism and take the original out?
my solution right away was make a copy of the key but you could also just tie a string or somethign to the hole and pull out the teeth later…
Well, I think you are not using lateral thinking… It’s soooo simple: just buy two puzzles and open one with the key from the other.
The key is really locked in the lock. Both keys fit the lock. The other key really is broken. It’s CHEATING to buy 2, take it to a locksmith, blow it up, cut another key.
There is a really easy solution to the puzzle and some-one has already given it.
Take a look at http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/Puzzle_Lock.html and although it doesn’t tell or show you the solution after seeing the larger picture you can easily tell how to do the puzzle. I’m suprised that those who have actually bought the puzzle have not discovered the soulution as easily.
Just put a piece of string into the whole of the Broken part of the key before you insert it. then insert the back part and twist, it will open…then pull the string back and get the broken piece out…
Just make another copy of the key, and open the lock with it :P
The broken key is working just as it was NOT broken:
put in the small part, push it completely in with the large part, and turn….
Oh, by the way, making it in the state it came to you is obvious…. it’s broken.
as a Locksmith, i extract broken keys from padlocks all the time.
The key is broken between the shoulder and the first cut.
Insert broken piece, push the remaining head of the key into the keyway, turn.
To get it out, simply hold the padlock upright and slam it onto a piece of wood, until the inertia forces the broken piece to come back out.
The two pictures are the same picture. Turn the top picture 90 degrees and you got the EXACT same picture. Look at the layout of the parts, the layout of the keys, the shadows, everything. All that is different between the two pictures is the background is changed out.
Now, to solve this puzzle, the key that is on the lock is different than the two parts of the key that is laying on the table or whatever it is. Look at the grooves, the way the key is… Just look at them. There is no key that is made like the broken one. It would be too easy to duplicate.
Now then, look at the “head” of the broken key. There is a part to the key still attached to it. It actually has an identifiable key part. Insert that into the key hole and I bet you it would work.
1. Go to the locksmith and get a new key made, using the one which is on the the lock
2. The keys are not identical.
the broken one is blank, so there has to be the other one.
3. ask a guy who can lock picking to open it for you/ look on youtube “how to pick a lock”
Just use super-glue and join up the broken parts. The rest is quite simple.
Use the wire on the broken key and bend to the required shape of the tumblers i.e. match to the broken key’s cut. use wire to open lock.
viola!
Well, I was able to feel that the key in the lock is just a random key as you can see the hole in both the keys differ in size.
First, look at the two keys – the teeth look different on each to me. I don’t have a solution because I don’t have the lock, but it’s a start. My bet is that the broken key won’t open the lock.
PLEEZ ITS EASY!!!! I SOLVED IT IN 5.4 SECONDS!!!
Google “Bump Key” – Follow directions.
just a designe LOL
to all those who say get another key cut, buy two locks, superglue the broken key, use the keyring…etc etc etc – sorry, but what a bunch of retarded fuckwits! The instructions with the puzzle (which ARE mentioned elsewhere) state that NO EXTERNAL TOOLS TO BE USED IN THE SOLVING OF THIS PUZZLE. I’ve bought it and have solved it, and the solution remains sealed. I’m pleased that I’ve conquered this puzzle in about 2 weeks, on and off, so to nakalavooki all I say is stop talking out your arse and get back to your homework. And rick? if you try to bump it, you’ll need to file a suitable key down (TOOL) and use a screwdriver or hammer to tap it ( you TOOL)
TaPe, YaY ThE WoRlD Is HaPpY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still havn’t figured this puzzle out yet, there is no thread and the key ring can not be used. I’m sure you could just slam the lock on a piece of wood and remove the key with gravity and elbow grease but that seems to easy to be the solution. I obviously see the hole in the broken key so it’s intended to be used but I am not sure how yet. I won’t put the key in till I understand how to remove it.
Are you joking, right?
Pins part has a small hole. Tie a thin thread thru it. Put the pins in. Open the lock with the rest of the key. Extract the pin pulling the thread.
Use a hair
Hi, insert the broken bit in, then the rest of the key should open the lock. When unlocked take the second key and cut it in the same place as the first one. Job done ;) you have a lock with two ”keys”.
OK,
Insert the broken bit of key and use the top bit of broken key to turn lock and open it.
The shackle comes off completley and inside the shackle is a long pin, revealed by gripping the shackle and turning the bottom section in the oppoiste direction.
Use the pin to push the broken bit of lock out.
Insert the now released, full key, in to the lock, the wrong way round and turn to leave the lock open.
Replace full key on shackle and shackle in to lock and use top part of broken key to relock.
Also the lock has to be facing correct way for the lock to open
C
Just think marketing……. You have to buy two of them.
Throw away the broken key. Give a key cutter the key on the lock and get a new spare key. =]
Well, i wish i had this puzzle. I know exactly how to do it though. It’s an easy concept that everyone is afraid to do. Stick the teeth into the lock, stick the base, or head, into the lock, and turn. The tricky part is to get the teeth out. Now here is where it gets interesting.
Stick a piece of string or twine through the hole in the teeth end so you can pull it out that way you can do it all over again. I suggest you give it a try. I believe that it should work too.
easy: go to shop, where they do key-copying, take the undamaged key (w/ the lock still on it) and make a function copy of it!!
it doesnt say you cant try n bend the key until it breaks off the lock..
i don’t think that will work karek.ummmmmm,let me see here….hotglue?hmmmmmm…..you will probably have to use some sort of binding solution.
retard of a person saying key cutting wont wotk
I’m not sure, but that ring on the on the broken key might be strong enough to serve as a lockpick…
lol just buy 2, use the intact key on each lock.
You take the broken and of the key and put it in the keyhole. Then you push the head of the broken key into the hole, the lock itself will hold the key together when you push in. So just push and turn, it shouls open if all the pins are aligned right?
Lol i would just use tape :P
I think the key is actually a two piece key and it is not a broken one, but detached one. The head push fits into the other part. Now simple, push fit the head and use.
you could try to use the top bit of the broken key to turn the lock :)
Assuming there’s nothing more to this than meets the eye and that you can only use what’s in that picture, put the broken half of the key in the hole, use the other half to twist the lock, and bang, it’s open. To get the broken half of the key out of the hole, use the key ring and try to hook it out.
This is in fact a way to safe-guard the lock and key.
For example, if you had given your key to a friend or ex-wife/husband, or the security office is too friendly and give out keys to people who claimed to know you, but you two broke up and now they became extremely annoying & is stalking you & intruding your home but you deemed it too expensive to change the lock.
You can do this to ANY key, cut part of the front,(need to be clean cut) and place it into the lock. Please be sure that the head of the key still have enough length to be inserted into the key hole and can hold enough force so the you can turn the key.
since the front part and the rear part are align(due to the clean cut), you can still use the key and as long as you don’t lose yours, no one will be able to use the same key on that lock, since a complete key will be blocked by the front bit of your key and there’s almost no easy way to find out the exact point of where you cut yours.
The story on top that started this discusion, forgot to mention one thing, the instructions that acompanying the loch when orderd.
The first short paragraph states the object of the puzzle, open the lock and bring the lock back in its original state, with the complete key on the shackle.
The second paragraph states and I quote:
Note that no external tools are allowed, just the lock and the two keys provided with it. Not even the small metal ring that holds the two broken parts of they, neither the bag that comes with DanLock.
I found “A” solution in wich I used something ordinary to get the thing done, but by using that ordinary thing I changed it into a tool, and using a tool is not alowed, so I have to rethink the whole lot.
But as a whise puzzle man one’s said: A puzzle is a puzzle until you know the solution.
This puzzle is also a proof of moral strenght, it comes with the solution in a closed cover.