American the Military's inexpensive lock

[MarkMcGrath]

First let me say that the military doesn't just use American, and frankly of the padlocks I have seen the American tends to be the better brand (coughs the word brinks). For those who haven't been in the military, the world of the lock is more of a "Hey don't touch this" in the military then usually a security feature. While yes this helps prevent theft and it does happen most padlocks are meant just to keep people out of supplies, personal belongings etc. However most times you could leave the lock off with a do not disturb sign and be just as effective, it all depends on the unit, people etc. One of the big things the military like is a the idea of security, and most contracted locks (not purchased by the unit for the unit) is the ability to change out the core of a lock to a new key at a moment notice. You will see this in more secure locks, but American is one of the more common ones, and easiest to dismantle as you will see.

This poor lonely lock was taken off a shipping container by its owner, the key was taken with them, and the lock tossed into the dirt. It stayed out in the elements for probably 2 weeks before I found it, and decided to give it a good cleaning.

This next photo is the base of the lock note the small round bump.

It is hard to see but inside the lock is a Philips head screw, all you have to do is unscrew this to take the lock apart, but when locked you wont be able to obviously.

Base plate and screw

Here is the core still in place in the lock, note how the screw prevents the core from shifting.

The core itself from a rear perspective, this should give you a idea of its function with the next photo.

Lastly inside the lock, and on the left side you can see the half moon area which lines up with the rear of the core and allows the padlock to function


Hope some of you enjoyed this, I took these photos for someone else, but figured I would post here as well..

[cledry]

In the last photo you see a thin piece of stainless, this is used in an effort to prevent manipulation of the locking mechanism through the keyway. Often it is missing.

[squelchtone]

In the last photo you see a thin piece of stainless, this is used in an effort to prevent manipulation of the locking mechanism through the keyway. Often it is missing.

The interesting thing to note is that there is a key retaining cam inside the lock, I thought the tool only worked if it was a 1/4 pie shaped cam so the tool had room to move it. Otherwise it if is a 1/2 cam, and the "tailpiece" that is part of the plug is a 1/2 cam, they mate together and there is no room for rotation, unless the plug is doing the rotation by means of picking or a real key. Wonder if they just throw that wafer in all of their locks now as a matter of manufacturing process, even if there is no added benefit to doing so.

Squelchtone

[MarkMcGrath]

There are a bunch of American and other locks floating around here, and many either get cut, or tossed so I am going to try and find a old one and see if my bypass tool works..... provided it ever gets here with the rest of my lockpicking kit.

[Bass]

My work, local Sheriffs Office, uses these locks exclusively. I was hoping to get a few to play with after they "broke" but thats when I learned how easy it was to repair them. They are now in full service again after maintenance rejected my request.

[shadow11612]

The interesting thing to note is that there is a key retaining cam inside the lock....
Squelchtone

Are you referring the OP's last picture in this statement? In that picture, although the cam is behind the "anti-bypass" plate, you can see the actuator and spring. In a key retaining lock, with the 1/2 cam, there is not a spring around the actuator.