Any aftermarket manufacturers of true Schlage Primus blanks?

[WOT]

I don't mean OEM Schlage blanks with pre-cut side cuts. I mean uncut on both normal and side cuts and ready to accept cuts on both. The patents on normal Primus is expired and I don't know why JET or Ilco do not make plain blanks for Primus.

[FarmerFreak]

Because the way they are milled is still held under the Everest patent. Something to do with the side mill cuts are directly below the regular cuts. Schlage was likely very happy that they could use the new patent for their older Primus blanks.

[WOT]

Because the way they are milled is still held under the Everest patent. Something to do with the side mill cuts are directly below the regular cuts. Schlage was likely very happy that they could use the new patent for their older Primus blanks.

No, they're not. The regular Primus patents expired a year or two ago.
The Schlage QUAD restricted series were never patented either and they remain unavailable.

The Everest's under groove is patented for another few years, but that feature isn't present in regular Primus. In response, Schlage came up with Everest Primus XP.

[FarmerFreak]

It appears that you are right. I think I heard that from a Schlage rep, though that would have been years ago when the Primus patent was still good.

Anyway it is probably the same reason(s) you don't see (or at least I haven't seen) any Assa Twin 6000 blanks on the market. Probably has something to do with how popular any given pre-cut side mill is. And that few locksmiths would have the ability to cut in their own side mills correctly. It would likely be a big investment just to be able to cut a couple dups here and there.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Probably because their isnt a large enough demand or there isn't a huge ROI (return on investment) for whomever is going to sell them. Schlage sells them at a decent rate and we aren't talking about moving hundreds of these a day like your normal SC1 or KW1. Like any high security system, the dealer can easily markup the key to recoup any additional costs Schlage might levy.

[maxxed]

I have experimented with useing a sidewinder keymachine to cut the side profile of my primus locks. a regular SC4 blank with a little work on both sides worked well

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Well what's your Primus keyway?

[ElAbogado]

Probably because their isnt a large enough demand or there isn't a huge ROI (return on investment) for whomever is going to sell them. Schlage sells them at a decent rate and we aren't talking about moving hundreds of these a day like your normal SC1 or KW1. Like any high security system, the dealer can easily markup the key to recoup any additional costs Schlage might levy.

This is the correct answer. Although legally anyone could make the blanks, the number of variations required for the Schlage Primus as well as the stocking requirements makes it not economically feasible. If you look at other high security locks like Medeco, the SKY blanks are limited to about 3 or 4 variations, not thousands like Primus. BTW, my own personal view is that the Primus system is technologically superior to the Medeco design. I also prefer 'Marks' High Security Cylinders for their affordability and serviceability.

[WOT]

Probably because their isnt a large enough demand or there isn't a huge ROI (return on investment) for whomever is going to sell them. Schlage sells them at a decent rate and we aren't talking about moving hundreds of these a day like your normal SC1 or KW1. Like any high security system, the dealer can easily markup the key to recoup any additional costs Schlage might levy.

This is the correct answer. Although legally anyone could make the blanks, the number of variations required for the Schlage Primus as well as the stocking requirements makes it not economically feasible. If you look at other high security locks like Medeco, the SKY blanks are limited to about 3 or 4 variations, not thousands like Primus. BTW, my own personal view is that the Primus system is technologically superior to the Medeco design. I also prefer 'Marks' High Security Cylinders for their affordability and serviceability.

Ilco already offers custom embossing machine or bow. They could perhaps only make blanks in HP,JP and FGP. The three will cover all Primus keyways. The LP would cover all, although the OEM one is stainless steel and nickel silver one may have durability issues.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Ilco already offers custom embossing machine or bow.

Apples and oranges comparison.

They could perhaps only make blanks in HP,JP and FGP. The three will cover all Primus keyways. The LP would cover all, although the OEM one is stainless steel and nickel silver one may have durability issues.

That's silly. That's like advocating all locksmiths should just buy Schlage L blanks and use them on any C thru K key that is brought in for duplication. Cylinder specifications and reccommendations are made for a reason and using something as universal as the above blanks? That surely has to go against the end-user contract.

Even then, like I previously stated, the demand for Schlage Primus blanks can't be that great. Schlage already has the equipment, experience, technology, and information about all of their end-user dealers to produce working blanks on demand. Ilco? No. I find it hard to believe that Ilco could invest the time and money and come up with a logistical plan that undercuts Schlage's product enough to make it worth their time.

[MBI]

Just an update for anyone interested, JET is making Primus blanks now in three different keyways, with an uncut sidebar area. Here is the link to one of them. For the other keyways as well as the cutters just search for "Primus" on their site.
http://www.jetkeys.com/proddetail.php?prod=SC4-PR-C-NS

You'll need a Sidewinder type duplicator to copy the sidebar cuts.