BEST

[runnynose]

ive came across a padlock with the only one identifiable sign...big bold letters "BEST". i did a search on the lock forum and couldnt find anything, so if anyone who has some info and has some spare time, enlighten me. im pretty sure its got some safety measures and that it's 6 pins (which isnt normal for a novice such as myself). thanks guys, your help always appreciated.

-runnynose

[Chucklz]

You should search for SFIC instead.


Plenty of info. More to come from me soon.

[randmguy]

Best Access Systems made the padlock body for sure...If it says Best in dark green letters its an older style padlock. It is made to take interchangable cores. Depending on the level of masterkeying that this lock was pinned to it could be a challenge or it could be a piece of cake. As for security measures (mushroom/spool pins), I doubt that it has any. Most of the institutional locksmiths that I know (myself included) don't bother with security pins when we repin them.

[Chucklz]

I have a few personal observations about BEST brand SFIC's I have yet to try these with arrow, or the Yale SFIC's im just about to get in the mail.


1.) Keyway can kill you. A, B, E and similar keyways are not to restrictive. Get something like J, or M, and well your picking may be seriously hampered by keyway.

2.) Freshly, or recently combinated cores are far easier to pick to control shear line than operating. Infact, many freshly combinated cores are extremely easy to pick to control shear line.

3.) Older locks may be extremely difficult to pick.

4.) MACS -- there is no stinkin' MACS so you may be quite challenged by any particular lock.

[CaptHook]

Heres something Ive touched on before. Picking the control shearline. Take a thick tension wrench, thick enough that it can be wedged in the bottom of the keyway between the wards and the control sleeve(this is where the harris brazing rods come in real handy). This, Ive found is better than the specialty wrenches available.
Hope this is vague enough.....
Chuck