Identifying Lock types?

[Cherry Picker]

Simply put, how do I know what kind of lock I'm dealing with?

I don't mean "Is it a Pin Tumbler or warded?" etc. That's obvious enough.

I mean, How can you tell at a glance (Short of having the name stamped on the front of it!) whether it's a Medeco, Yale, Yale style, whatever?

[safecracker]

pin configuration, type of pins, any security features, shape, part of the world your in, these all help but sometimes you just don't know and have to try your luck.

[skeleton_keys]

Many locks will have their name brand stamped on the front of the lock body. . .when they don't, the best way to tell is probably by looking at the keyway grooves. If you can get a key blank catalog, it usually shows the groove shape for identification purposes, but even then, there are a *lot* of different brands of locks. It can take a long time to learn to identify locks like that. For picking purposes, though, it's really not all that important. . .I mean, if you can tell whether it's pin tumbler, or disc tumbler, etc., then you pretty much know how to pick it. And the high security locks such as Medeco and ASSA will *always* have their name on their lock somewhere.

[NewEngima]

And the high security locks such as Medeco and ASSA will *always* have their name on their lock somewhere.

Which could be for the reason of 3 things:
1. Boasting - Showing they make high security locks.
2. Advertising - Hey cars do it so why shouldn't lock companies?
3. Quality - Good quality locks always have good quality tagging etc.

[marso]

I would like to kick the dead to get this topic back alive.

Could someone who has time make a image file that contains a picture of each different lock from the front for newbies.

Also does anyone have any basic information how to tell say a kwikset or can we start posting images of what certain keyways look like that do not have identifing marks. Alot of people here have a number of different practice locks and we could make a large gpl database if we tried. Please do not include high security locks only typical pin tumblers for this database please.

[Chucklz]

Here is a good starting point

http://www.jetkeys.com/catalog1.htm

It is a good starting place. If i had a digital camera of my own, I would take a whole bunch more photos.

[Ice]

If the lock is "small" or they didn't want to engrave their whole name on the lock, they'll leave a logo. Very few locks I've seen don't have anything (except the cheap ones).

[donut_king]

Here in good ol' down under Lockwood do not always "brand" their locks but you can tell its a lockwood by the slightly elongated keyway (on door locks but not pad locks)

but for that matter ive never seen another lock that uses the same shape keyway as lockwood do. Could this be because Lockwood have the rights or am I just living under a stone?

take it easy