Strange Milling in Key Way

[jbrint]

I received a few Kwikset/Titan deadbolts to pick open. After working my way through the bag of them I found several of them are milled out in the top of the key way all the way to the first pin. Is this a manufacture defect or was this intentional? If it is intentional why was this done?

[Raymond]

It is intentional. Compare a Titan (KW10) key blank to a normal blank (KW1) and you will notice that the blades are the same length. The only major difference is that the bottom shoulder is cut back the width of one space on the Titan. This is so that the Titan key (6-pin cuts) can be used on a regular Kwikset lock. The top shoulder lines up the Titan key with the end 5 spaces. On the Titan lock the key goes into the milling you were referring to. This allows it to reach the 6th pin. The 1st pin is VERY close to the top shoulder. I usually try to use '0', '1', or '2' cuts only in the first position to keep the key from breaking.

[jbrint]

Is this done at the factory or elsewhere and does it affect the integrity of the lock being exposed like that? I have about 6 or so of these and some of them are cut pretty rough. Thank you for your response that definitely makes sense.

[Raymond]

It is factory. Six pins is usually more difficult to pick then five pins and provides more possible combinations. If you know the pin is there, that 1/8" difference makes no difference.

A lot of locksmiths just leave the first pin out and key the lock as if it were a normal 5 pin lock. Especially if you have to include a lot of other 5 pin cylinders in the keyed-alike system.

[jbrint]

Appreciate the explanation. Thank you for that sir.

[kwoswalt99-]

What the shoulders look like.