Lever Locks--Question for our friends across the pond.

[Chucklz]

I was able to get a Union 2 lever and a 5 lever deadbolt off ebay. Not too terribly expensive for the locks, shipping was ~4 pounds each. Interesting locks to be sure. Id rather have the 2 lever on my front door than a Kwikset thats for sure.

[devildog]

Is that due to it's superior construction and tolerances or just because no one would have a friggin' clue as to what to do with it ??

[digital_blue]

On a similar note, I recently won an auction on Ebay that included (in a lot of random salvage locks) what appear to be a couple Kaba Gemini locks that would fit a standard North American deadbolt. I was contemplating fitting them on my house doors, but it occurred to me that I don't know if I like the idea of having locks on my door that I can't pick. That, and I'm not altogether confident that any local locksmiths would pick them either. If I ever lost my keys it'd be time for Mr Makita, and what a shame that would be. I guess I'll stick with the Defiants.

db

[devildog]

I wonder what the other half would say if she knew that you had these high-security locks that you COULD install on your house but didn't because you're afraid that if you lost your keys you'd have to drill your precious locks, so you're sticking with the cheap POS'es that are already there

I will admit that I am going to upgrade my locks once I move back into my apartment (landlord is renovating due to water damage and should be done in about a month )--I've got security gates on both doors that take mortise cylinders, of which I have a lot, including a Mul-T-Lock Interactive I'm putting on the front door gate ; should be a lot better than the no-name KW1 keyway 3 pin (I looked at the key bitting one day and about peed myself ) ones that are there.

[Chucklz]

The union 2 lever actually is both a latch and deadbolt. Considering how few people in the US have any kind of deadbolt... this would be an instant upgrade from the KIK's.

[digital_blue]

The union 2 lever actually is both a latch and deadbolt. Considering how few people in the US have any kind of deadbolt... this would be an instant upgrade from the KIK's.

Really? I go into people's houses every day for my work and I don't think I've *ever* come across one that didn't have a deadbolt here in Canada. People commonly just use KIKs in the US? That's bad. Very, very bad.

db

[Chucklz]

In the immediate area of my house, more people have doors without deadbolts than with. Around school, well the college owned houses have night latches.

[Dimmy Locks]

I'm still trying to get over the union 2 lever would be an upgrade comment.

[illusion]

well standard latch locks can be bypassed easily by just focussing on bypassing the latch itself. A lever lock with a deadbolt, even if it is low security will stop such attempts - well to a certain extent anyway.

[Chucklz]

People have better locks installed in cities.... but in the suburban areas... anything goes. You should all see a Kwikset KIK... or sometimes things even worse.. like the Harloc KIK... with the plastic cylinder. Whats worse... some of the home done installations. Upside down locks, double keyed deadbolts with the screws on the outside. Deadbolts with only the decorative strike installed....

But hey, you did it yourself. Congratulations.

[illusion]

you're kidding right??? - plastic cylinders
perhaps the purpose is that when thieves see it, they laugh at it so much they wake up the home-owners, and get caught that way?

[Chucklz]

The plastic cylinder is hidden in a metal knob, and it does have a brass looking plate over the plug.

[Dimmy Locks]

it does have a brass looking plate over the plug.

just brass looking? please dont tell me thats plastic with brass coloured spray paint.

[illusion]

if it LOOKS like metal it will deter most thieves upon first glance. I bet it you put a screwdriver bent like a tension wrench in the lock, and gave it a good whack with a hammer you could get some interesting results...

[Chucklz]

It is some kind of brass colored metal, but it was much softer than any brass I've ever worked with.

On a happier note, I have been seeing less and less of these kinds of locks in home improvement stores, and more and more of the better quality Kwiksets and Schlages.