Lishi Picks Explained: 2-in-1 Pick/Decoders for Auto Locksmiths

By Daniel Shnader · Last updated: October 12, 2026

This guide focuses on automotive tools. For residential Kwikset work, see our KW1, KW5 and residential tool-set buying guide.

What Lishi picks are

Lishi tools are named after their designer, Mr. Li. The Original Lishi company calls them “Quality Tools Made by a Locksmith for Locksmiths” and sells three families: 2-in-1 pick/decoders, readers that decode without picking, and accessories (Original Lishi). The company runs an authenticity check and warns buyers about counterfeits.

A 2-in-1 has a thin blade shaped to one specific keyway, a lifter that sets individual wafers, a built-in tension arm, and a numbered scale that shows which wafer position is being worked and how deep it sits. After the lock opens, the technician reads the depths from the scale and cuts a key to match. Retailers describe the tools as built for “fast, non-destructive automotive entry and decoding” (LockPicks.com).

How professionals use them (overview)

• All-keys-lost jobs: decode the door lock and cut a mechanical key, then program a transponder or smart key to the vehicle.
• Lockouts: non-destructive entry once ownership is verified, as an alternative to wedges on some vehicles.
• Ignition and cylinder service: decode a cylinder so a replacement can be keyed to match.
• Fleet and dealer work: produce spare keys for vehicles that came in with none.

Lishi use is a hands-on skill learned in training and with practice locks. This article does not teach picking technique. For training routes, see our automotive locksmith guide.

Choosing the right Lishi profile

Buy for the keyways you actually see. The profile name usually matches the key blank’s industry name. Common automotive profiles listed by one major retailer include (LockPicks.com):

Tips for choosing:

• Check the version number (for example “V.3”) and whether a profile is for the door or the ignition. Some are marked “IGN.”
• Twin-lifter versions exist for some two-track keyways, and “AG” marks anti-glare finishes on many listings.
• Pull your last year of job tickets by make and buy the top five or six profiles first.
• Match each profile to the key blanks and remotes you stock. The FCC/OEM fitment guide and Find Your Key help on the key side.

Is it legal to own Lishi picks?

Lock picks are professional tools, and in general the law punishes intent, not ownership. Three examples:

• California. Penal Code 466 lists picklocks, tension bars, lock pick guns, and, since January 1, 2026, key programming devices and signal extenders. Possessing them is a misdemeanor only when done “with the intent to feloniously break or enter” a building or vehicle (Cal. Penal Code 466, amended by AB 486).
• Florida. Possessing any tool “with intent to use the same” to commit burglary or trespass is a third-degree felony (Fla. Stat. 810.06).
• Virginia. Stricter on paper. Possessing burglarious tools with intent is a Class 5 felony, and possession by anyone “other than a licensed dealer” is prima facie evidence of intent (Va. Code 18.2-94). Virginia also licenses locksmiths through DCJS.

Practical rule: keep Lishi tools with your business license, locksmith license where required, and job paperwork. Never use them on a vehicle whose ownership you haven’t verified. For licensing by state, see our license and insurance guide.

Lishi tool care

• Don’t force. Lifters and blades are thin. Too much tension or leverage bends them and throws off decoding accuracy.
• Keep them clean and dry. Wipe off grit and moisture after field use, and don’t leave tools loose in a van drawer.
• Store them protected. Original Lishi sells protective storage cases as an accessory (Original Lishi). A labeled case also speeds up profile selection on a job.
• Check calibration. If decoded keys keep coming out slightly off, test the tool on a known lock and replace it if it is worn.

Building an auto locksmith tool kit

Lishi tools are one part of a working kit. Most mobile automotive locksmiths also carry:

• Lockout tools: air wedges and long-reach tools (see our lockout tools guide).
• A key cutting machine and a key programmer (see the key programmer guide).
• Ignition service tools and lock cylinders (see our ignition cylinder guide).
• Repair kits and an inventory of transponder keys and remotes.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Lishi 2-in-1 tool do?

It picks a specific automotive wafer lock and then decodes its cut depths, so a locksmith can cut a working key without disassembling the lock (Original Lishi). It does not program transponders or smart keys. That takes a separate key programmer.

Are Lishi picks legal to own?

In most states, owning lock picks is legal. Possessing them with intent to break in is a crime, as in California PC 466 and Florida 810.06. Virginia treats possession by anyone other than a licensed dealer as prima facie evidence of intent (Va. Code 18.2-94), so professionals there should keep licensing and job records handy.

Which Lishi profile do I need?

Match the profile to the vehicle’s keyway, for example HU66 for VW Group, HU100 for GM, HON66 for Honda, and NSN14 for Nissan, per retailer listings (LockPicks.com). Check the door vs. ignition designation and version before you buy.

How do I tell an original Lishi from a copy?

Original Lishi warns buyers about counterfeits and runs an online verification system for its genuine products (Original Lishi). Buy from established locksmith suppliers and check the product markings.

Locksmith supplies in wholesale packs

Car Keys Wholesale carries Lishi items, Lishi pick/decoder tools, and professional locksmith tools in packs of 2, 3, 5, or 10, and aftermarket keys in packs of 2, 3, 5, 10, or 25, all at $3 per unit below list. Open a wholesale account to order for your shop or team.

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