Ask just about anybody what a locksmith is and what they do and 99.9% of the time you hear something to the effect of “they help you get into your car and/or home.” What many people are unaware of however is just how locksmithing began and why they are so effective at what they do. In the beginning locksmiths were actually blacksmiths. Blacksmiths would create locks and safes for people from all walks of life and out of necessity became the very first locksmiths. Shortly after blacksmiths became locksmiths they devised specific techniques for both cracking safes and entering the very locked doors and/or safes they created.
Possessing both the knowledge and tools of a professional criminal it makes perfect sense that such people became the earliest locksmiths. Even the locksmiths of today employ many of the same techniques that these ancient ones did though in today’s world a locksmith must not only deal with traditional locks and safes but electronic locks and security devices as well. Only through rigorous training and practice can a modern locksmith be as effective at his/her job as an older locksmith was at theirs.
When people think of the word locksmith their mind almost always automatically goes to the word lock as they both know what it means and are usually needed to handle circumvention, installation, and/or repair. Many individuals are unaware that the term “smith” actually refers to anyone who works in metal forgery. It is also applied to those who shape and mold metals into specific objects or forms. Locksmiths fall under this category because they often create keys, can breach locks, and even create custom locks and other security devices for their clients.
As previously mentioned those who practice modern locksmithing must also be security experts and be both familiar with and capable of not just getting around modern security devices but creating and implementing them as well. In fact so talented are modern locksmiths that they are often hired as security consultants by both home and business owners. Such locksmiths provide their clients with a whole lot more than just automobile and home or office entry. These locksmiths can assess security risks for homes and commercial structures then devise a custom security system for their clients. These security systems often include things like electric locks, keyless entries, biometric locks, and other types of systems that make unwanted entry nearly impossible.