The birth of the Bogota lock pick is a tale of ingenuity, passion, and community spirit. At the heart of this story is a locksmith and lock picking enthusiast named Raimundo, also known as Ray Connors.

Raimundo was a regular contributor to the Lockpicking 101 forum, a once-bustling digital marketplace of ideas for lock picking enthusiasts. It was here that he first unfurled his brainchild, the Bogota lock pick, to a captivated audience.

The pick was named "Bogota" after the city in Colombia, where the idea was first kindled in Raimundo's mind. But the name was more than just a geographic marker. The Bogota's design—with its three peaks and two valleys—was a symbolic nod to the majestic Andes mountains as they split into three cordilleras through Colombia.

Creating a Bogota pick was no walk in the park. It took a lot of elbow grease, especially in the early days. Raimundo started sharing instructions on making the pick around 2004. He crafted the first versions from thin metal bristles, sometimes sourced from humble objects like street sweeper brushes or windshield wiper blades. As time went by, the picks evolved. Thanks to a company called SerePick, enthusiasts could get their hands on sleek stainless steel and titanium versions.

Raimundo's Bogota pick became so popular that manufacturers began to take notice. SouthOrd, a major manufacturer, was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon, producing a version of the Bogota pick they called the Pagoda. Peterson also released variations of the Bogota (called the Bogie 1, Bogie 2, and Bogie 3).

Ever the innovator, Raimundo didn't stop at the Bogota. He went on to create other variations of his original design, including the Monserrate, Arch, and Sabana.

The exact year Raimundo first brought the Bogota pick to life is still a mystery. Details about Raimundo's life are sparse, but his impact on the lock picking community is undeniable. His active participation in online forums and the valuable tutorials he shared have helped countless enthusiasts make their own lock picks. In fact, Raimundo was so dedicated to his craft that he only stopped producing his own picks when the weather turned too cold where he lived.

In the end, Raimundo's story is not just about the birth of the Bogota pick but also about the power of a community brought together by a shared passion. It's about the enduring legacy of a humble locksmith who chose to share his innovation freely with the world.