The Complete History of Lishi Tools: From Backyard Workshop to Global Industry Standard

May 10, 2024 by Global Industrial Hub The Lock Lab
 
 
 

Introduction

 
Lishi 2-in-1 tools have become the gold standard for professional locksmiths worldwide, revolutionizing non-destructive lock picking and decoding. But few people know the fascinating story behind these revolutionary tools and their creator, Mr. Li Zhiqin – the "Father of Modern Locksmith Tools."
 
This is the official, untold history of Lishi tools, based on information directly from Mr. Li's factory and official archives. We will also clear up the common confusion between the different Lishi brands and labels.
 

Table of Contents

 
  1. The Origins: A Locksmith Turned Inventor
  2. The Partnership Era & Brand Split (2009-2011)
  3. The Birth of the Revolutionary 2-in-1 Design (2012)
  4. Global Expansion & New Partnerships (2015-Present)
  5. The Great Brand Confusion: Which Lishi Is Genuine?
  6. Lishi Tools Today: A Global Legacy
  7. Related Resources
 

1. The Origins: A Locksmith Turned Inventor

The story of Lishi tools began in the early 2000s in China, when a skilled locksmith named Li Zhiqin started making his own lock picks in his backyard workshop. With help from his fellow locksmiths and trainees, Mr. Li developed tools that were far more precise and durable than anything available on the market at the time.
  • 2000: Mr. Li officially founded his company and registered the "Lishi" trademark with the iconic oval logo
  • Early products: His first creations were the famous "Lishi Laser Picks," which quickly gained a reputation for quality among Chinese locksmiths
  • Philosophy: Mr. Li's guiding principle was simple – make tools that he himself would want to use as a professional locksmith
 
What started as a small, family-run operation soon grew as word spread about the superior quality of Lishi tools.
 

2. The Partnership Era & Brand Split (2009-2011)

 
In 2009, Mr. Li entered into a partnership with UAP Limited (also known as TradeLocks), a UK-based company that wanted to introduce Lishi tools to the Western market. UAP began marketing Mr. Li's original tools under the "Lishi Tools" brand name.
 
However, the partnership ended acrimoniously in 2011, leading to a significant brand split that still causes confusion today:
  • UAP Limited: Registered their own "Genuine Lishi" trademark and began manufacturing their own line of Lishi-style tools in Shenzhen, China
  • Mr. Li Zhiqin: Renamed his business to "Lizhiqin Tools" and registered his own face and name as the new trademark
 
Despite the name change, locksmiths around the world continued to refer to Mr. Li's original tools as "Lishi tools," a name that has stuck to this day.
 

3. The Birth of the Revolutionary 2-in-1 Design (2012)

 
The year 2012 marked the most important milestone in Lishi tool history – the release of the first Lishi 2-in-1 Decoder and Pick.
 
This revolutionary design combined two essential locksmith functions into a single precision instrument:
 
  1. Non-destructive lock picking
  2. Instant key bitting decoding
 
For the first time, locksmiths could open a lock and read the exact key cuts in minutes, without disassembling the lock or door. This innovation completely transformed the locksmith industry.
 
  • 2014: Mr. Li established Qinhuangdao Li Zhiqin Tools Co., Ltd. and officially began using his face as the logo on all his tools
  • Trade shows: The company started advertising as "Mr. Li Tools" at international locksmith exhibitions
 
 
 

4. Global Expansion & New Partnerships (2015-Present)

 
As demand for Lishi tools exploded around the world, Mr. Li sought new partners to help distribute his products globally while maintaining strict quality control.
  • 2015: An Australian company registered the "Original Lishi" trademark and became Mr. Li's official partner for Western markets
  • 2015-2016: The anti-glare version of Lishi 2-in-1 tools was released, along with the red verification label for international customers
  • 2017: Mr. Li moved his operations to a much larger factory with state-of-the-art equipment to meet global demand. This factory is dedicated exclusively to producing the highest quality lock picks and decoders

  • 2017 onwards: Lishi expanded beyond automotive tools to include a full range of residential and commercial lock tools. Today, there are over 150 different Lishi tool models available, with new ones released regularly
 
 
 

5. The Great Brand Confusion: Which Lishi Is Genuine?

 
One of the most common questions we receive is: "Which Lishi brand is actually made by Mr. Li's factory?"
 
The answer is simple: both Classic Lishi (green label) and Original Lishi (red label) are 100% genuine and made by Mr. Li Zhiqin's factory.
 
Brand Name Label Color Market  
Classic Lishi Green Chinese domestic market  
Original Lishi Red International markets  
Genuine Lishi Various International  
 
Important Note: Any tool without either the green Classic Lishi label or the red Original Lishi label, or any tool with only Mr. Li's face logo and no verification label, is not guaranteed to be genuine.
 
I found a video on YouTube by DeviantOllam, who’s talking about the differences among 3 Lishi SC4 picks. Deviant has 3 Lishi lock pick brands reviewed: one red label “Original Lishi”, one green label “Classic Lishi”, and the third one without label. He said the green label Lishi tool is Genuine Lishi, and the one without label but with Mr. Li’s face logo is not made by Mr. Li’s factory, that’s NOT right.
 
 
Myth Busting:For some reason, although Mr. Li had renamed his brand to “Lizhiqin Tools”, this name isn’t widely accepted except Chinese locksmith communities. Our company, as well as other Chinese distributors still call Mr. Li’s original tools “Lishi Tools”, and our company advertise them as “Classic Lishi”. So back to the video, both Classic Lishi (green label) and Original Lishi (red label) are made by Mr. Li.
 
 
 
 

6. Lishi Tools Today: A Global Legacy

 
Today, more than 20 years after Mr. Li made his first lock pick in his backyard, Lishi tools are used by professional locksmiths in over 121 countries around the world.
 
Mr. Li's legacy continues to grow as his company innovates and develops new tools to meet the evolving needs of the locksmith industry. His commitment to quality, precision, and innovation remains the foundation of everything they do.
 
At TheLockLab, we are proud to be an official authorized distributor of both Classic Lishi and Original Lishi tools. Every tool we sell comes directly from Mr. Li's factory and includes an official anti-counterfeit verification label.
 
 

 

 
 
© 2026 TheLockLab | Official Lishi Authorized Distributor | All Rights Reserved
 

Latest posts