The knowledge, skill, and expertise of any true professional often can be gauged by the library of literature that he or she keeps and has read. In the often mysterious, secretive, and intriguing world of locks and locksmithing, no true professional, aficionado, or curiosity seeker would be without The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, 6th edition. Just as the title states, this is by far the most complete, informative, and all-encompassing piece of literature ever assembled between two covers on this subject.

As a 21-year veteran of the locksmith trade, I can tell you that the scope of this book (covering one of the oldest trades known to humans) is much broader than one would think. The locksmith profession is also often one of the most challenging and rewarding. There are few things in life that are dearer to anyone than the security of their family and worldly possessions. Having the knowledge and ability to instill and incorporate security, eliminating the helpless sense of vulnerability, is what locksmithing is all about. However, to accomplish this task, knowledge of all the available security devices and an intimate knowledge of their operation and applications are necessary. Enveloping yourself within the pages of this book certainly will set you on the right path.

The test of any good source of information is that it is one that you refer to again and again. This is sure to be the case with The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing, 6th edition. This is so much more than a “book” on locks and locksmithing. It is an encyclopedia of locks and locksmithing. It is a reference manual from which anyone at any level of skill or experience can glean a wealth of information. It is an informative, well-studied, impeccably presented piece of work that required an exhaustive amount of research, cataloging, organizing, and writing to assemble and publish. This is a daunting task, demanding the talents of a skilled writer and locksmith, and Bill Phillips certainly possesses the necessary requirements to accomplish it.

Bill Phillips is a knowledgeable locksmith and talented writer. He is one of those individuals who possess the rare ability to make a wide variety of complicated topics enjoyable to read and easy to understand. This is a sure sign of a talented, versatile writer.

When Bill Phillips asked me to write this Foreword, I was honored and flattered. I am privileged to have Bill Phillips’ name included on my masthead of contributing writers. As editor of The National Locksmith magazine, I cherish his contributions on security-related topics. The National Locksmith is the oldest and most respected locksmith trade journal in the industry, serving locksmiths and security professionals since 1929. This monthly magazine has a group of the most experienced and well-respected writers in the field of locksmithing. In 2004, Bill Phillips became one of the distinguished elite to join The National Locksmith’s outstanding team of contributing writers, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him.