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.
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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!!! :)
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.
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