MASTER DG taken apart

[WolfSpring]

What a pain in the butt to take this thing apart, a lot of filing and finally vice grips and ripping off that first piece. I have looked all over for a break out of this lock and had not seen one. I have at least 10 of them sitting around, they are pretty easy to pick, they mess up a lot of my hooks though, I use them to practice the snap picks. They are the most used lock I have seen in Kuwait lately and a real pain in the butt to keep clean, they always get gummed up with dirt, i put bagies over mine but they wear out after 5 usese. US Army is to cheap to buy good locks with dust covers. Anyway, enjoy:


Normal Master DG Master DG Keyway


The top removed, note the shackle goes all the way to the bottom,no spring, thats why these things gunk up easy.


Cylindar


No retaining clip, just indentions, you line up the key way and push.


Top of the bible, holes? Easy to get dirt in there, and it was dirty!!!


Pins WTF?!?!? All normal pins, yet Master claims the DG has 5 security pins?

[lock2006]

Goob job man on taking that lock apart
i don't see any security pin there.

[LocksmithArmy]

wow man, nice work...
Im quite supprised that there are no security pins...
oh well the army is cheap lol

[WolfSpring]

I was suprised also, this isn't a hard lock, but I can't seem to rake it, only SPP or snap pick it, everyone one I've tried. Even the one I have with a key I can't rake, it's got a pain in the butt key way.

[Solomon]

Goob job man on taking that lock apart
i don't see any security pin there.

I guess they weren't expecting anyone to go to the trouble of taking one apart.

[thelockpickkid]

I have never even heard of the DG, as with most Masters, they don't use alot of security pins it seems!! Are these locks seen in the U.S. or just for the government applications overseas??

[WolfSpring]

They are something the government can order, I've never seen them until I came here, all we ever used in my other units were the 5200 series, or SL-10/20 series Americans. Acording to the readups I've seen it's supposed to be the most secure Master lock and thats why the military uses them, they are cheap with security pins, but obviously not, I'm going to try and take another one apart with longer key pins and see if they are just to short to be security pins, but if not, and we are buying them under the premis they have security pins, we are getting ripped off.

[LocksmithArmy]

I know in my battalion we used the 5200s for ever until recently we switched to the DGs.

Even more recently than that, we ordered all new 5200s to replace all the newly implimented DGs... because they are not in the same class as far as security is concerned.

If I can get my hands on any the replaced DGs(they may already be disposed of) I would be happy to share with the community for those of you that have never had the pleasure of working with one.

[Scott_93]

Does no-one else find it ironic that a lock designed for a US military environment, where keeping morals up is a must has "Asmb in Mexico" engraved on to it ? I mean it can hardly boost moral when the soldiers are thinking that there own army don't even use locks made in the country they're fighting for?

(I'm not anti-Iraq war or armed forces, I am simply pointing out a ironic thing, god bless coalition troops )

[tjweaver84]

One or two of my DGs feel and act like they have a spool or two but the others don't. We replaced all the 5200 out here in Yokosuka with these and we can buy them at the Navy Exchange for $5...cheaper than all the other masters there. I will take apart the lock that feels like it has the spools just to see if it does because now I am curious.

[LocksmithArmy]

From my expierience the dirty they are the harder they are to open. even if you have the key lol

a new lock is like a 5 second pick but the old dirty ones take like 5 mins and the keys for the old dirty ones barley work.

[tjweaver84]

So I took apart the DG I thought had at least spools in it. I have a picture below. As you can see no security pins and it is master-keyed. My lock was a little different than yours in that it doesn't have the hardened shackle, it has a spring at the bottom of the shackle to push it up, and it only had two of the rivets at the bottom instead of 8 like yours. It still had the holes in the top of the bible though but mine had the number 2 instead of 1 on the bible. All my drivers are the same length. I guess the only reason this lock was hard when I was starting out is just the problems with finding a way to tension it since that can be difficult to figure out.

[WolfSpring]

Canned air and WD-40, I know the thread about the evilness, but if your trying to get one open in a jam and have the key it works, then replace it. I've cut open 3 DGs and a Pacific Lock Knock off and all 4 have had normal pins, yet stamped US on them if you order them using the military NSN(national stock number) you can get either or. We've pretty much switched to DGs and American SL-40s which are brass with a 3 spoorated two serated drivers and 5 serated key pins, yet much easier to pick then any other american I've come accros with security pins.(5200, SL10, SL20). As far as the Assembled in Mexico, how bout half my signal gear sais made in thailand and a lot of my gear has made in china on it, yeah really boosts my morale that we realize the reason we go to other companies outside the US is they make the same crap for a lower price, there for not boosting our own economy, lesson learned, lower the price for our crap and we boost the econmy, lol. But this truley is a cheap lock.

[tjweaver84]

I just read the info for this lock and the spec it was made to and it was made to the either ASTM Grade 1 or 2 depending on if it is master-keyed or not. Of course the Commercial Items Description (CID) for the DG and the American 5200 are the same and since it just says at least grade 2 for non master-keyed the military is going to the DG vice the 5200 most likely due to cost. This is cool especially with how many people think the DG is really secure at least out here.

[quiksilver]

I have one that looked like this as far as age and use that I tried a couple months ago and couldn't do it but I was trying to rake it, now that I have my SPP picks I might see if I can get a hold of it again and give it a shot, but still good job.