Don’t Forget the Pike

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Captain Daniel Troxell from DCFD Truck Company 6 sent in a idea that one of his members brought up during some company training. The company was discussing alternate ways of defeating circular locks on roll down gates and Chris Rutter mentioned this idea. This method involves making two 45 degree cuts on the channel rail (above and below the lock and guard) to form a triangular section, with the narrow side towards the outside of the channel rail. After the cuts are made, this method uses the pike end of the halligan to bend the cut section away to defeat the locking mechanism.

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Simply take the pike end of the halligan and stick it between the lock and guard. Then use the halligan to bend the cut section back towards the channel to remove the locking pin from the gate. This method only works when the gates have circular locks that have some movement within the confines of the guard (like the one shown in these pictures.) This movement allows for the pike to grab a bight on the lock and guard assembly. The other more traditional method is to use the fork end of the halligan to achieve similar results as shown below. However, it’s nice to have options, you never know what you may be faced with out there! If you only know one way of doing things, you may be out of luck.

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10 thoughts on “Don’t Forget the Pike

  1. Matt says:

    Not that new of an idea. I was taught that over 15 years ago in Brooklyn New York as a young fireman

  2. acklan says:

    Question: Why would you not make a third cut on the vertical? Just curious if the third cut would remove it altogether, or not?
    We do not have locks like that in my district, that I am aware of.

  3. DMAN says:

    Well congratulations, Matt! I guess we all should be ashamed to be such a lower caliber of firefighter.

  4. champ says:

    You can see a short video clip of this on fire engineering’s training minutes. When your faced with hockey pucks that are back to back and you can’t bend the rail over, make the third cut. We usually don’t make the third cut because if its a minor fire or emergency, you can bend it back over and secure the store. In addition,they can repair your cuts with some metal plates or welds. Just use caution pushing up the gate, sometimes it might get hung up on the section cut out or buckle, raise it in a fluid motion to prevent this.

  5. acklan says:

    Thanks. Very simple, but effective technique.

  6. J.D. says:

    Good stuff Brother. Hard to find new stuff and some stuff thats been around for a while is new to some of us. Hang in there.

  7. Matt says:

    Relax “Dman” just pointing out that it has been around a while, not some new discovery. And dont be ashamed Dman….you do the best you can.

  8. DT says:

    Dman and others,

    I realize that the practice of cutting the channel rails has been around for a while. However, you can’t allways easily get the fork of the Halligan around the cut section to bend it out. The intent of this post was to show the use of the pike of the Halligan to bend the cut section out if it can fit between the lock and the guard. It does not always fit, and it can’t be used if the American 2000 (hockey puck) lock is the lock of choice in your area. In my area, the lock shown in the picture (Abus Discus or similar) is the lock of choice. and this method works very well.

  9. OnlyHuman says:

    Having someone keep a foot on the bottom cross piece of angle iron while the brothers are cutting then pulling may prevent the gate from putting upward pressure on the “pins” and also prevent the gate from whipping upward and out of controlonce they have been cleared. Having many options at our disposal makes us a more professional / efficient / well prepared firefighter.

    Matt, this isnt about your resume’ or mine. This is about passing on good info to the brothers who may or may not have the fortune of working in a busy area that exposes one to the things shown here. Share your knowledge and make a difference.

    RS FDNY

  10. Ryan Patrician says:

    This website is like a how to for criminals!

    I got to go call my cousin…talk to you guys lata!

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