This is an awesome puzzle. I just found it on the net, and apparently it’s very tough, but not unsolvable. You should find a way to get the lock unlocked, and take the key that is locked by it. Only solution I found, is to buy two of these, hoping that both locks can be unlocked with the same key. Other than that, I’m stuck. Can you help me solve this? This is the newest addition to our Toys category. Some of you asked, why is that category named like this: Well, even though it is consisted of puzzles, toys and DIY (do-it-yourself) articles, somehow I decided “Toys” name would suit it the best. You can check it out, and tell me your opinion, I have just updated all the links, and you should find dozen of more cool articles there. But first, let’s solve this puzzle below. Maybe this what we see is instead optical illusion, and maybe the solution is not as hard as we think. I really don’t know. Enjoy!
Update: This lock is called Danlock, and I just wrote second post about it. Check it here.









Post #23 looks good. click on image to get a bigger photo then zoom right in. Looks like there is indeed a key poking through a hole and there is a broken piece of key laid on top to make it look like the two halves of one broken key.
But how to get that good key key out of the bag through such a small hole…?????
Any ideas?
Poster #23 has the correct answer…the “broken” key is not broken…it is sticking out of the bag. Look carefully at the fold of cloth that appears to separate the two “pieces” of the “broken” key.
I think it’s post # 23. That makes sense. What’s the answer Vurdlak???
There is no way the hole in the key is big enough for the lock to fit through, therefore there’s a break in the lock and the key is sitting in the break. Maybe the broken key is what’s supposed to give us that clue.
Also, one can’t just assume the key on the lock is the key FOR the lock, therefore even though the key FOR the lock might be broken, you can still use the key on the lock (assuming the hole in the key really IS big enough for the lock to fit through like that)
i think that there is another key, the part that looks broke off is another key tucked in the fabric.
use a paper clip to open the lock. easy as that.
i think that there is another key, the part that looks broken is actually another key tucked into the fabric
FIRST:
If you’ll notice, the Broken key cannot possibly fit in the keyway of the lock. They don’t match.
SECOND:
The top of the key around the lock is cut and can be twisted off.
THIRD:
Take the number off of key and have one cut.
By the way, the broken key doesn’t have the same pattern as the attached key
The lock is made in Israel. Now we know that this cannot be true because everything they have of any value is made in the US. So my conclusion is that the lock doesn’t really exist and the whole thing is an illusion not meant to be thought about very much
duhhh you qould go to get a duplicat of it but MAKE SURE NOT TO MAKE A DUPLICATE OF THE BROKEN ONE! there not the same key broken one = triangle bumps….. locked kew = wiered bumps…..
There is a code on the broken key, which can be used to order a duplicate key.
Phil
The assumption is the broken key is used on this lock. Look closer, the teeth are different. The real (second) key is in the bag.
The broken key serial number starts with a D, while the key on the lock starts with an N. The real second key is still in the bag.
This is a puzzle, not just an ordiary lock. I have seen this one before. The keys dont have anything to do with openng the lock. It is very imaginative.
the best, quickest, and least expensive way by far is take pair side cutters (wire cutters ) cut the key were it goes threw lock at the narrowest point, snip once then bend tab over. there by opening lock without going to store at all and no broken key is left in lock .. was easyyyy
u could just put glue of the 3 key and put it in the lock keep it there for 3 days then take it out
The broken key has a code on it. A locksmoth can make a new key from that code
take wire cutters, and cut the lock. remove the key. melt useless junk in large fire.
well im cuban and dominican lol so since im ghetto, i wudd juszt like superglu the key togethr nnd open tha lock then throw it awayyyy my brain hurts just thinkin bout it………………………..
lol … i would say that if u put the broken bit in and use the other to turn will …
Render the Lock Useless.
Now you have a broken part of the key in the lock u cant get out.
y is every1 so ridiculously dense?
can u not tel that bcos the hooped part of the padlok is faced away 4rm us it is obvious that it isnt lokd and infact u can just slide the key off!
sorry 2 ruin it but i just had to
Hey,
just the put the long end of the broken key in the lock first, just as you would if it was not broken, then put the broken key handle (with the number code on it) and turn it, they should both turn together, then it should unlock.
23 is completely wrong and totally unimaginative. take a look at this site all about the puzzle. you can clearly see it is not three keys.Do you really think the puzzle would be as easy as just using a third key? thats not a puzzle, thats called, “not being and idiot”
http://www.abstractstrategy.com/2-danlock.html
I think the guy above who talked about the spirit of this puzzle had the best approach.
Yes there could be another intact key poking through a hole in the bag – I mean why is the bag there anyway?
The fact that it doesn’t match the other key doesn’t mean that this one won’t fit the lock.
Failing that perhaps if you pushed the broken end in to the lock followed by the top part of the key you could still turn the lock using the small part of the top half that is inside the lock.
If you stick the bottom portion of the key into the lock you can use a screwdriver or something else to turn it.
“Hole in The Bag” is a red herring solution.
!) Insert broken end into lock and then insert remaining end and open.
2) Remove large end of key.
3) Hold open the lock and slam bottom of lock on a flat, smooth surface. That will extend the inside keypart to the opening by inertia.
4) Snap the lock shut so that the cyliders are reset to locked position.
5) Smartly Snap the lock down again on the edge of table but this time so that the broken end and keyhole are not obstructed.
6) Out pops the broken tip!
first of all.. the whole key doesnt go in it, you could use the bottom of the broken key and put it in there, and turn it with the top of the broken half, it never says you have to be able to take the other half of the key out.
if you look at the keys you will see that they are not cut the same
provided the locked key is the correct key for the lock, simply remove i.e. break, cut, etc..the toothed end from the lock, slide it into the key hole and with the grip end of the original broken key, used to turn it open, however the puzzle can only be preformed once and some how i doubt this is the solution.
If you notice closely both of those keys are different since the one on the lock has a bigger hole and the broken has a smaller hole, then it only shows one view on the right side of the lock and key on the lock, i believe that the lock isnt locked at all and it is an “Optical Illusion”, but thats just me.
Some comments from DanLock designer follow.
- DanLock is indeed a mechanical puzzle, not just a visual trick or visual illusion as suggested by some people.
- It was designed to look as an impossible object but is it solvable.
- No external tools whatsoever should be used to solve the puzzle, not even the small metal ring provided with the lock, whose only purpose is to keep the small parts of the broken key from getting lost. The bag should not be used either (just in case you had it in mind). Only the lock and the two keys provided with it.
- I don’t want to spoil it out, so no solution hints are provided
- Some serious attempts were made by readers to solve DanLock just by thinking and by logical reasoning. It is virtually impossible to figure out the full and precise solution without playing with the puzzle itself and without actually trying it.
- You are invied to visit DanLock’s web site http://www.geocities.com/danpuzzles/danlock
i would take a small file or hack saw that is small and cut the key that is on the lock at the top of key head with with the file or saw and cut a gap wide enough to clear the lock shaft then take that key to the hardware store and make a new one that ay the key body is not hurt and can still be duplicated thats what i would do
Stick the broken key piece in backwards two notches and turn to unlock
That is Crazy hard and Stupid
the key thats attached to the lock is cut ever so slightly and placed on the key thtas how they did it!
Attention i have got it!!!!!
you take the broken key and put it into the lock, then you turn the lock until it opens. the key is likely to break, so you use a magnet to pull the part of the key that is stuck in the lock out.
smash it with an hammer, lol
throw away all the pieces and go buy a masterlock.
there is no broken key. it’s shoved out from the bag.
maybe if the material on the bag is thin enough and you put the broken key in the bag and hold it tight enough so that the key can keep its original form then it will unlock the padlock without leaving the broken piece inside
i think the question is: why to open this lock? if you get it opened, you you will be able to get the key… and with the key… ??? what to do with the key? the lock is opened^^
i think this picture is just to make you think about it, not to solve a puzzle or whatever…
what if the lock isnt actually locked, and its just an illusion?
Just buy another lock..
DanLock is an original puzzle lock designed by Dan Feldman, Israel. It comes with two keys: one key is attached to the shackle and the other one is broken… It is your job to open the lock, and then to get it back to its original state.
Hey guys, let’s be more creative:
What if all the locks & keys are the same ?
In that case the solution is to buy 2 pieces of the puzzle and there you are.
Hey, what’s wrong with having more than one key for a lock? most locks come with that…..the the key doesnt have to be broken, it could be two keys, one outside the bag sticking inside, the the other one vice versa. O.o
Guess what—- THE LOCK IS ALREADY OPEN -,- thats easy. Its just looks like it is shut, but it isnt properly locked.
Lol he cant get the look open!
The key isnt broken, there’s one key in the pouch and the end of it is sticking out, and the rest of the key on the outside is sticking into the inside of the pouch. Look really closely…. there’s 3 keys not just 2