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Gizmo Goes Global:
The Daredevil Locksmith Redefining Security Online
» THE UK LOCKSMITH JOURNAL meets the flip-flop-wearing locksmith who’ s redefining field video content. He goes only by Gizmo, a high-school nickname he admits“ kind of sucks, but it stuck.” Based in Slidell, Louisiana, he’ s become a familiar face for locksmiths and enthusiasts around the world.
We caught up with him to see what makes him tick: from real-world lockouts and daring on-the-fly videos to a fearless, slightly unconventional approach that has earned him hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Behind the Myth
Before all this, I briefly dabbled in parkour- nothing too extreme, just enough to give you a hint at that daredevil streak I still carry. I don’ t do it anymore, but the mindset remains confident, unbothered by judgement, and always ready to dive into something new. You can see it in my work, my videos, and my willingness to film during a lockout while wearing flip-flops in freezing weather.
Now, with hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook,
I’ m known for showing locksmithing as it truly is: messy, unpredictable, and real.
I’ ve always been interested in lock picking. A friend of mine worked for a local locksmithing company opening cars and houses. I started helping out there occasionally, and, after he( my friend) left, I took over his role. Professionally, I’ ve been in locksmithing four years, but about six as a hobby. I realised nobody was making real field content. It was all lab shots and tidy benches, so I decided to show real life- whatever the lock deities gave me that day.
My Kind of Locksmithing I do a mix of commercial and residential locksmithing, handling everything from home doors to business locks. I also do vehicle lockouts, but I don’ t make new keys for newer cars yet-those require manufacturer accounts and programming I’ m not set up for. Most of my work is non-destructive entry.
I also spend a lot of time helping people understand security beyond just locks. Cheap digital or fingerprint locks aren’ t always secure, so I encourage cameras, alarms, and smart setups that actually protect people. A lot of locksmiths focus just on the lock itself, but I see the bigger picture and like to give people advice on how to stay safe.
Content Creation
Content creation has been my life for a decade. I’ ve done all sorts of videos: story times, comedy skits, gaming- but locksmithing content has only been about three years. It’ s harder because I have to wait for a job, record it, and hope it’ s worth editing. I try to post every day, sometimes multiple times. With three kids- youngest two, oldest nine- it’ s easy to fall behind.
Across platforms I’ ve seen huge growth. TikTok sits at 202,000, YouTube 6,400, with Instagram and Facebook climbing fast. TikTok wasn’ t even popular when I started. Now it’ s blown up. I’ ve become mutuals with locksmiths all across the US.
I wear flip-flops, even in a blizzard. Most of the hate I get online comes from locksmiths or people saying I’ m teaching criminals how to break-in. Then there’ s my flip-flops! Apparently, I shouldn’ t be in business because of them. It’ s a sensory thing. I lived in Florida, everyone wore them there, they’ re easy to take on and off. I loved the Under Armour Ignite ones until they redesigned them. I’ ve even started 3D-printing my own!
Everything I do is on the fly. All my videos are spur-of-the-moment. Some of
14
DECEMBER 2025
locksmithjournal. co. uk Issue Takeover