Help identifying military padlock ("U.S. SET")

[squelchtone]

I thought the rules were that a military padlock had to be made in the US and be stamped US and date of manufacture on the box.

Here's a pic of an Abus No. 41 bottom plate:

[Evan]

I thought the rules were that a military padlock had to be made in the US and be stamped US and date of manufacture on the box.

@squelchtone:

Wouldn't that rule out the Master DG padlocks as being compliant with mil-spec since they are made in Mexico ?

Never know if Abus didn't contract out somewhere to have military/government/NSN stock locks assembled in America to comply with the "Made in America" requirement...

To my knowledge the "Made in America" issue has been in focus only since the economy has been tanking in the past several years and Congress on behalf of the "taxpayers" wanting to invest the government's money in purchasing products made here so Americans can be employed by means of the government obtaining necessary supplies and materials it needs to function...

~~ Evan

[OrangePick]

Very interesting, guys! Evan, I think you have a winner. It definitely matches the body style, size, 4-pin construction and keyway profile. Also judging by the hourglass-shaped plug guard in Squelch's picture that the Abus has about the same amount of rotation to the unlocked position, which is a match to mine.

I agree with Evan's logic that US manufacture isn't (or at least wasn't) a requirement, especially with Master DG's plastered with Made In Mexico .

Glock (Austria), Beretta (Italy), Sig Sauer (Germany/Switzerland), HK (Germany) are examples of foreign companies that established a US presence in order to import their goods and win contracts. (Or at least pacify politicians and their districts to justify existing contracts). I imagine Abus could have done the same.

Also, I don't have any indication this lock is in widespread use either -- it rather seems like an oddball find.

[COMMANDOLOCKUSA]

Sorry I'm late! Just a note on your conversation from last year...I also believe Evan is correct. Abus has that lock body shape on a few of their products.

From a stamper's point of view, they most likely piloted the strip through their progressive die close to where the cut-out shape is on the front and back of the lock. The trade off would be a slightly skinnier but stronger strip of steel while trying to produce less scrap from the process. As a die maker myself, I know they had plenty of room in the strip to leave all of the meat in the product like we did. Just FYI, the conventional padlock shape was originally designed as a 3 row or more progressive tool. The shape allowed the laminations to be "nested" a little closer together to save material in the stamping operation.

The US Government has no issue with purchasing military locks from foreign vendors. Unless it is specialized, lowest price has the advantage on the spot contracts.