Has anyone seen a Banham lock???

by **Morpheus0101** » 20 Apr 2004 10:23

Just curious to know if anyone here has worked on a Banham lock, as I've seen them all over central London yet not one mention of them here :?:

I'd like to know if there particularly hard to pick or if they have any special features that differs from normal pin tumblars, there website doesn't say much about them.
http://www.banham.com/
Cheers

by **jason** » 20 Apr 2004 10:27

never worked on one - I have been told that they are tough (and very expensive!)

by **Morpheus0101** » 23 Apr 2004 3:49

Blimey only one person has heard of it,

as you said jason it is very expensive and probably overrated. I remember one place I worked said there insurance company insisted an Banham locks though why another high sercurity lock wouldn't do I don't know.
Jason I noticed your profile says your an Enforcement Officer does that role involve much lockpicking?

by **toomush2drink** » 23 Apr 2004 6:02

I saw a banham mortice for sale the other day on my surfing travels at Â£150 http://www.banham.com There arent any prices on this site but a description is there. Apparently they are full of lovely little notches to confuse the picker.Also registered key ways so i doubt we would just happen to get one to practice on without paying out.

by **Safekey** » 23 Apr 2004 13:40

Banham Patent Locks ! They are most commonly used in London and very rare do you see them anywhere else.

They are very distinctive, with drill resistant cylinders and escutcheons.

When called to a site with one of these locks, I look for alternative routes.
Mica's are a no go, drilling a pain. Have never tried picking, although I have kept a cylinder in the van to have a go at one day.
And, yes, very expensive. Paid Â£80.00 for a replacement euro cylinder.

by **jimprice** » 24 Apr 2004 16:00

I use to work on banham locks many years ago when i lived in chelsea
at that time they had a 6 pin rim cylinder made by union

They were fitting the S363 mortice lock with euro style cylinder with a double cam. And the L111a rim lock with an extended euro cylinder.

(There is a L111 this comes with automatic bolts. A striker plate that when you throw the bolt of the lock, 2 extra bolts move as well)

The cylinders were six pin and incorporated anti pick mushroom pins
over time the keyway shape has been changed
they were pickable with hand picks and also a pick gun
the different keyways may make things a bit harder
so it depends on when the cylinder was made

And on my last visit to london i had remove a broken key from
a newer style banham cylinder that used a dimple key (but the key is
much thinner than a kaba key)

Grundman (gege) make replacement barrels for these locks
and a cheaper alternative if you can find them is Euro cylinders

by **Jlo** » 6 Jun 2004 6:58

Hi,

http://www.locksonline.co.uk/acatalog/A ... s__1_.html also sells the banham locks. They do look awsome. Look at the door strike on the L11DX nightt latch.

What do you guys think of the Bramah range of locks http://www.locksonline.co.uk/acatalog/B ... ndard.html

Looks like they still use there 7 slide system. I guessing they are good looking at the price. Â£119 plus VAT!

Cheers

Jlo

by **sidpick** » 1 Oct 2004 20:28

Normal one in London area is a L111DX, which is BS 3621 rated, 6 pin cylinder. Automatic deadlocking but if theres a letterbox, your in quickly. If not call Banham out and they will probably drill or may possibly have details of customers key as they are registered. Multilock do a replacement cylinder but you need a proper banham cylinder to replace if you do drill. Don't know anybody who's picked one personally. Just look like a posh Union keyway to me!

by **jason** » 3 Oct 2004 12:09

I have also been told to call out Banham.

Some insurance companies do insist on them in "high risk" areas/environments.

Fortunately I've never hit one on an enforcement role (people who follow the instructions given by their insurance companies are probably less likely to do anything illegal).

I had a call on my "private work" to open a Banham (the Police told the client that "any locksmith can open them"!). I advised that they contact "Banham" directly and take security "advice" from the Police with a very, very large pinch of salt.

Banham sales reps are VERY nicely dressed though!

by **greyman** » 24 Mar 2005 10:47

Are you talking about the Banham cylinder with 6 pins and a 5 pin sidebar? These provide the highest level of pick resistance in the Banham range. The design is identical to the Yale 5000: 6 regular pin tumblers plus 5 feeler pins (actually flat wafers) that check out the milling along the base of the key. Drill proofing aslo, from memory. Come to think of it - they're similar to the Assa Twin in design but probably a bit cheaper to produce - though that doesn't seem to stop Banham charging stacks for them - but then again, there are lots of people who can afford that in London.

by **A-Minor Key** » 28 Mar 2005 6:15

I have 3 Banhams an A2001 and 2 M2002, yes they are very expensive! Mine cost Â£475 (keyed alike), they have a six pin dimple cylinder, hard plate escutchion and and anti drill plate, the bolts are laminated and hard as nails, but very sharp edged and will cut you if not careful. The mortice lock sides are made of hardplate and the pivots are tiny (you would have a bit of a job finding drill points. The keys are thin and fairly soft too, from what I have heard most burglars walk past to find a door with lesser locks on them. The worst thing I found is that the finish is not very robust and they soon return to their original chrome colour, so thats the finish to get! Unusual the Mortice locks operate on only a 180 turn of the key, altough the mechanism looks like a standard eurolock it aint. Don't ask me anything to complex 'cos I aint a lockie

by **taylorgdl** » 17 Nov 2005 15:50

Have just bought a Banham M7 off of ebay, once I get it, I'll have a good look, take some pics and post them (as long as it's not restricted info! Moderator help

).

I'll keep you posted.

G.

by **Shrub** » 17 Nov 2005 16:32

A-Minor Key wrote: the pivots are tiny (you would have a bit of a job finding drill points.

You dont need the pivots to correctly drill a lock, only the cowboys go down that route :wink:

The full range can be picked with a home made tool quite easily.

by **acl** » 18 Nov 2005 17:08

Ive not done that many warrant runs in London lately but i never had that many problems with them when i did ,normally old ones that picked ok or nightlatches that open very easily if theyre not deadlocked (letterbox or not) Idid do a must read run one day and came up against 2 on a door in Hamstead and got a little worried ,went back to the van to get my gear and on my return the owner opened the door.It was Robert Carlisle (Begbie from Trainspotting!) a little offputting to say the least!!
Andy

by **oldlock** » 18 Nov 2005 17:19

acl wrote:Ive not done that many warrant runs in London lately but i never had that many problems with them when i did ,normally old ones that picked ok or nightlatches that open very easily if theyre not deadlocked (letterbox or not) Idid do a must read run one day and came up against 2 on a door in Hamstead and got a little worried ,went back to the van to get my gear and on my return the owner opened the door.It was Robert Carlisle (Begbie from Trainspotting!) a little offputting to say the least!!
Andy

Had he not paid his gas bill ??

Paul