diff --git a/src/blockdb/__init__.py b/src/blockdb/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83d84ea0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/blockdb/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from typing import Generator
+
+from onionrblocks import Block
+
+import db
+from .. import identifyhome
+
+block_db_path = identifyhome.identify_home() + 'blocks.db'
+
+
+def get_blocks_by_type(block_type) -> Generator[Block]:
+    block_db = db.get_db_obj(block_db_path, 'u')
+    for block_hash in db.list_keys(block_db_path):
+        block = Block(block_hash, block_db[block_hash], auto_verify=False)
+        if block.type == block_type:
+            yield block
diff --git a/src/db/__init__.py b/src/db/__init__.py
index ef5daed9..1e9a4a86 100644
--- a/src/db/__init__.py
+++ b/src/db/__init__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ def _do_timeout(func, *args):
 
 
 def set(db_path, key, value):
+    """Set a value in the db, open+timeout so not good for rapid use"""
     def _set(key, value):
         with dbm.open(db_path, "c") as my_db:
             my_db[key] = value
@@ -30,8 +31,38 @@ def set(db_path, key, value):
 
 
 def get(db_path, key):
+    """Get a value in the db, open+timeout so not good for rapid use"""
     def _get(key):
-        with dbm.open(db_path, "c") as my_db:
+        with dbm.open(db_path, "cu") as my_db:
             return my_db[key]
     return _do_timeout(_get, key)
 
+
+
+def get_db_obj(db_path, extra_flag=''):
+    """For when you should keep a db obj open"""
+    def _get_db():
+        return dbm.open(db_path, "c" + extra_flag)
+    return _do_timeout(_get_db, db_path)
+
+
+def list_keys(db_path):
+    """Generator of all keys in the db.
+
+    Uses a lot of mem if no firstkey supported"""
+    db_obj = _do_timeout(dbm.open, db_path, "cu")
+    if not hasattr(db_obj, "firstkey"):
+        for i in db_obj.keys():
+            yield i
+        db_obj.close()
+        return
+
+
+    def _list_keys(db_obj):
+        with db_obj as my_db:
+            k = my_db.firstkey()
+            while k is not None:
+                yield k
+                k = my_db.nextkey(k)
+    yield from _list_keys(db_obj)
+