help: Differentiating between lock brands

[fawkesinator89]

Hello, I have been searching the forum and was unsuccessful in finding the information I was looking for. I am curious if anyone has put together some information on the difference between most of the major lock brands. I would like to be able to look at a lock cylinder and plug and have an idea of what brand it is (or what brand it is a knockoff of) without needing it to have the company stamped on the front. I know this is something gathered through experience taking them apart but if there is a collection of pictures or just a list of main differences, I would be interested in taking a look at it. Thanks again

Also just share some differences you have found below if you can think of a few.

[edsmiley]

Keyways will go a long way to tell you what the related brand is. What kind of differences are you looking for? Things like Kwikset, Schlage, etc are just basic pin tumblers. While there can be some variations (Smart Key, Sidebar (everest, primus), Secure key), most are just basic. If you think of other brands, maybe some have security pins in them, some might have anti-bump pins. However, the basics are pretty much the same. Most unmarked locks I have seen are just basic pin tumblers. Typically, if a company is going to invest some money in designing a lock technology, they will want to put their brand on it. There could be some knock-offs that are unlabeled, but those typically have similar keyways to what they are modeled after.

I don't know if this really helps, but maybe if you expand on what you are trying to figure out and why, I could give some more help.

Cheers,
Ed

[Buzo]

If you think you have an idea of the brand, and have a little time to look, you could look through the Ilco key blank directory which also shows pictures of each keyway. Hope this helps.

http://www.kaba-ilco.com/key-systems/Literature-Support/Literature/349692/key-blanks-key-accessories.html

[Squelchtone]

Unless you're a locksmith going place to place this information would be of little use for you as a hobby picker, and if you're in the us (KY) you're gonna run into about 5 keyways every day, 5 ain't that hard to remember even for a beginner. KW1 Kwikset (clones made by Defiant, Mountain Security, Brinks), SC1 Schlage (clones made by US LOCK, ILCO, Baldwin), Y1 Yale, LA Sargent, B2 BEST (Falcon, Arrow), and I think that list just covered 90 % of America. And yes there are others such as Weiser, Weslock, Segal, Lockwood, but it depends where in the USA you live. You mentioned this is an experienced based thing, but you'd be surprised how little experience you need to walk up to a generic SC1 Schlage and say, oh derp, its a Schlage SC1 clone, or walk up to a Kwikset clone and say oh yeah its KW1 keyway. No real guide or printed manuals necessary..

BUT..

I just happen to be writing a Locksport Field Guide to Identifying locks, so when that comes out, hopefully soon, you can get all the information you are curious about.

Squelchtone

[cledry]

Don't you guys use Corbin/Russwin very much in Kentucky? They are at least as common as Sargent here in Florida. I also run into sectionals of Schlage, Sargent, Yale, Corbin/Russwin almost as often as I do the standard Y1. LA, SC1 etc. except on places like strip malls and the like.

[fawkesinator89]

if you're in the us (KY) you're gonna run into about 5 keyways every day, 5 ain't that hard to remember even for a beginner. KW1 Kwikset (clones made by Defiant, Mountain Security, Brinks), SC1 Schlage (clones made by US LOCK, ILCO, Baldwin), Y1 Yale, LA Sargent, B2 BEST (Falcon, Arrow), and I think that list just covered 90 % of America.


Squelchtone

You are correct. We mainly run into kw1s and sc1 around were I live. I guess I was just looking for some simple markers that you guys use to determine a lock type before picking. You have been very helpful and ill be sure to start working on identifying the keyways.

Also, your compilation on lock types sounds great and I will be sure to take a look at it once you are finished.

Thanks again