kwikset,smartkey

[locknpawn]

i was able to pick this with a pre cut kw1 key and a pair of vise grips.. gently rocking back and forth .. until it gave a way..what is your take on smartkey picking?

[loki-aka]

Smartkey has seen its share of security velnerabilities since introduction. The lock is far from perfect. Many pickers
find Smartkey to be not easyly picked from a conventional sense. But it is velnerable to bypass.
I will not go into Smartkey bypass here. Sorry.

[ToolyMcgee]

If it involves precut key blanks, vice grips, and anything giving way, then it's not lock picking.

It is my understanding, the shaped of the sidebar has been changed, and the quality of materials used in the newer locks has also improved. The problems with the lock not accepting all possible KW codes is also supposed to have been addressed.

[datagram]

The method discussed is a semi-covert bypass that leans heavily towards the destructive side of things.

dg

[Eyes_Only]

And probably render the re-key function useless.

[ElAbogado]

And probably render the re-key function useless.

Doesn't matter, the whole lock is useless with all it's problems to date.

El Abogado

[zeke79]

It sounds as though the original poster is just using a precut key as a rocker type key so it is not a destructive opening. Also, the method discussed elsewhere uses precut keys to open the lock with no damage or with minimal enough damage (using the smaller number of keys) that the lock will still function with the original key in my experience. Given my experience has only been with 5 of the original weiser smartkey locks as I simply cannot afford to buy 15 or 20 of these locks for more precise testing. When using the small key set method once the lock is opened it can be disassembled and the wafers easily straightened to work as new. Takes only a few minutes and you are not leaving any holes behind for others to attack easily by simply removing the face cap.

[MarkC]

I've tested a few of them and found that the original key still works after the "vice grips" bypass technique. However, I was in the local Home Depot today and noticed that all the Smartkey deadlocks were pulled off the shelves. Perhaps the latest model (revised sidebar) will be coming soon, and this simple bypass technique will be a thing of the past.

Mark

[eppiotic]

I've tested a few of them and found that the original key still works after the "vice grips" bypass technique. However, I was in the local Home Depot today and noticed that all the Smartkey deadlocks were pulled off the shelves. Perhaps the latest model (revised sidebar) will be coming soon, and this simple bypass technique will be a thing of the past.

Mark

Locksmith Ledger had an article about the wafers being of a stronger material, and that particular method of bypass shouldn't be happening. But I haven't tried it since I cant say either way.

[thelockpickkid]

Don't quote me on this, but I bet The Home Depot may have pulled them from there shelves because they are getting tired of replacing them for there customers. I talked to a kid working at our local one, and he said there display model that they show and demo to there customers, has been repeatedly broke and replaced, while showing customers how it works! He seemed more than a little irritated when I asked him about them as he was taking one off of the display board as he spoke, said it was another broken one!

[globallockytoo]

What a great income source for locksmiths. Especially when they have lost the key. Bypass, disassemble, recode tool, reassemble, done ...collect $$$.

Thanks Kwikset.

People whinge and complain about this product but it makes me money with rekeys. Often faster than a standard rekey. 95% of customers dont know what the hole next to the keyway is for. Great marketing!

[MarkC]

I like the idea behind the lock and hope the 2nd generation version solves all these problems. On a side note, the lock is a bit more confusing here in Canada because it is marketed as Weiser Smartkey but still uses the KW1 keyway. I can already picture people trying to rekey this lock with some of their old WR3/WR5 keys and wondering why their Weiser key won't fit in a Weiser lock.

Of course, the instructions say to use a KW1 key but who reads instructions...

Mark

[MarkC]

I just thought of another scenario. Most homes around here use Weiser locks. I can see Mr. Do It Yourself going to Home Depot and buying a Smartkey lock with the intention of "keying it alike" to the rest of his home. He'll be upset when this new lock cannot be used with the key used to enter his home.

Mark

[rx6006]

Schlage is probably drooling over the series of unfortunate events plaguing Kwikset's new flagship. I'll be interested to read about individual experiences when the Schlage analog spends a little more time out in the field.

[eppiotic]

Schlage is probably drooling over the series of unfortunate events plaguing Kwikset's new flagship. I'll be interested to read about individual experiences when the Schlage analog spends a little more time out in the field.

Schlage's secure key system seems more complicated still, and I bet that will be even more problematic for customers.

The user keyable locks are a neat idea, but thats about where it ends heh.