As a locksmith, I’m always cautious when a new shinny tool gets hyped up too much. I’m sure all of us have bought something over the years that promised to be a game changer and has ended up living at bottom of a toolbox. After thoroughly testing the GJ MK4 electric pick gun on some old used cylinders and a couple of live jobs, I can confidently say it has earned a permanent place in my kit.
First impressions and build quality
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the MK4 was the weight! It feels unbelievably solid without being too bulky. It feels like a quality product that is built to last. Some nice knurling towards the bottom of the gun makes it feel very nice in the hand.
The power button is really responsive and doesn’t have the little bit of lag sometimes associated with the cheaper pick guns. The motor is very powerful, think Dino levels of power without that cheap tinny feeling. Adjusting the bounce rate is straight forward using the adjustment screw on the top, found on most pick guns.
Charging via USB‑C is a nice touch giving it the ability to charge quickly from a USB socket or plug. A charging cable is provided and as it doesn’t require a UK plug socket it can be charged in the van if needed.
How it actually performs on the job
Out in the field, the MK4 does exactly what you want an electric pick gun to do. It speeds up the opening of pin tumbler locks. I was quite surprised by the quality of locks I’ve managed to open with it so far. This powers through standard 5 and 6 pin cylinders as well as most anti pick cylinders with spool pins. I’ve managed to pick some of the notoriously more difficult locks as well, including Yale 1 star, Corbin, Gege and UAP 1 star.
The key thing as always is tension. Like all pick guns, the MK4 works best with light, controlled tension. Trying a mix of different tensions tools is always a good idea when using any electric pick gun. Trying both from the top and bottom of the keyway. Different cylinders will respond better to different tension tools.
What it’s not designed for?
It’s important to be realistic. The MK4 is not going to open every single lock you try it on, the same goes for every electric pick gun available today. However, the locksmith business is about having multiple options. With a little practice and patience this pick gun will allow you to open a fairly large percentage of euro cylinders and other pin tumbler locks much faster than picking manually. It’s the method I always go to first before as its usually the quickest and easiest technique.
On more complex locks, I still revert to manual picking, bumping or other non‑destructive methods depending on the situation. The MK4 is not a replacement for skill or experience, it simply complements it. Used as part of a wider toolkit, it makes perfect sense and will work on a number of types of door locks.
What’s in The Box?
The GJ MK4 Electric pick gun comes nicely packaged in a black carry case. Inside you will find a pick gun obviously! But there is some other bits in there too. You get USB-C charging cable, some straight pick blades, an allen key to remove and fit the blades and a power button cover. The cover for the power button is a nice touch and will stop the button from being accidently pressed if kept in a tool bag or box.
Battery life and reliability
Battery life seems solid. I’ve used it on a few jobs and quite a lot of old practice locks and so far, it’s still on its first charge. The battery must be a very high capacity as it’s showing no signs of slowing down yet.
It’s too soon to comment on reliability but with the reputation of GJ Lock Tools and the feel of the build quality im 99% sure this won’t be an issue. Also, GJ lock tools are well known for having the best customer service in the business, so I’m sure if an issue did arise it would be rectified no questions asked.
Is it worth the money?
This is always the big question with locksmith tools. As with all electric pick guns the GJ MK4 isn’t cheap, but it’s also in line with the price of all other electric pick guns. Given the price point is very similar to other options I would say its totally worth it. Based on the look, feel, build quality and effectiveness, this has to be right up there with the best of them. If you’re doing regular lockout work and care about non‑destructive entry, it will quickly pay for itself.
Final thoughts
The GJ Locks MK4 electric pick gun is a well‑designed, well made practical tool that does exactly what it’s supposed to do when used correctly. It’s earned its place in my toolbox already and will be my first choice of electric pick gun for the foreseeable future.
