What did you pick today?

[VancouverSpecial71]

Nice job with the KeyMark. They can be a real pain with the keyway. Recently got my first KeyMark, a Yale, and it was very difficult to pick. It also had spool pins. Not sure as to whether they were key pins or driver pins, though I suspect key pins. Did not take it apart.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon

The spooled keypins confused me about what was happening at the outset. After I hit the first one I tried to purposely pick into the false sets for awhile but of course that was a dead end - turns out avoiding the false sets would be a much better approach, which appeared quite obvious upon gutting it.

Cheers,
Sean

[VancouverSpecial71]

Hello VancouverSpecial71,

Nice work on the Keymark, was there a working key with it? I have been checking ebay for a Keymark cylinder pinned with a working key but most of the cylinders are being offered as sub assembled without pins or key. There is a seller offering a 7 pin practice lock but it appears to be without a key. Is it difficult to get these locks?

-Nick

Hi Nick,

I do not have a key with my cylinder.
Mike (Doogs) who generously gave it to me posted that he tried his local Medeco dealer (Ontario, Canada) with the brand-new-in-the-box cylinder purchased off of eBay, including key card, but could NOT get a key made for it. It turns out the cylinders/cards are regionally tied thus you can only get keys in the region where it was purchased; whereas, my cylinder's region is Tennessee (I think?).

So my answer would be 'yes' it is very difficult to get a key - however Keymark cylinders themselves do seem to pop up on eBay quite often.

I think Assa does the same thing with their high security keys - tying side-bar bittings to specific regions. Essentially, even if you somehow buy a box of blanks off the grey market (eBay,etc) they will not likely work for the lock cylinders in your region. I am far from an expert so please feel free to correct me if this is incorrect.

Kind regards,
Sean

[Comrade627]

Left to right.
1. Master lock something with nothing special. Same body type as a 5200 series.
2. American ASL40N.
3. PACLOC 100g
4. "The CLUB" (?)
5. Master no. 3.
6. Fortress 40mm
7. Master no. 140.

[nick08037]

Hello VancouverSpecial71,

Nice work on the Keymark, was there a working key with it? I have been checking ebay for a Keymark cylinder pinned with a working key but most of the cylinders are being offered as sub assembled without pins or key. There is a seller offering a 7 pin practice lock but it appears to be without a key. Is it difficult to get these locks?

-Nick

Hi Nick,

I do not have a key with my cylinder.
Mike (Doogs) who generously gave it to me posted that he tried his local Medeco dealer (Ontario, Canada) with the brand-new-in-the-box cylinder purchased off of eBay, including key card, but could NOT get a key made for it. It turns out the cylinders/cards are regionally tied thus you can only get keys in the region where it was purchased; whereas, my cylinder's region is Tennessee (I think?).

So my answer would be 'yes' it is very difficult to get a key - however Keymark cylinders themselves do seem to pop up on eBay quite often.

I think Assa does the same thing with their high security keys - tying side-bar bittings to specific regions. Essentially, even if you somehow buy a box of blanks off the grey market (eBay,etc) they will not likely work for the lock cylinders in your region. I am far from an expert so please feel free to correct me if this is incorrect.

Kind regards,
Sean

Hello Sean,
Thanks for the info, I was not even thinking about the restriction by geographic region. I have some experience with a Schlage restricted MK system and regional restriction is part of their key control system too. Many of the ebay sellers clearly list the important key information on Everest and Primus items offered, it makes a big difference as you noted with the Medeco Keymark.
-Nick

[Mitchell S]

Abus 83/55 Rock

[GWiens2001]

S&G Door lock with timer using Medeco cam lock.





Cool lock. When operated the first time by the key, a mechanical timer starts running. After about ten minutes, then you can use the key again to open the lock.

Made a key for it, too (Hand filed with a Harbor Freight needle file). Was told that a key for a Medeco could not be cut by hand with a file - "The tolerances are too tight". Did not use any measurements, protractors or fancy tools - all freehand. Don't tell me something can't be done!!!



Gordon

[Mitchell S]

Wow impressive work Gordon!

I know something you couldn't possibly do, send me some of your awesome lock collection! Haha

[cheerIO]

Cool lock. When operated the first time by the key, a mechanical timer starts running. After about ten minutes, then you can use the key again to open the lock.

Do you mean that turning the key winds a timer and that timer disables the lock for ten minutes?

What would be the purpose of this lock?

[GWiens2001]

Cool lock. When operated the first time by the key, a mechanical timer starts running. After about ten minutes, then you can use the key again to open the lock.

Do you mean that turning the key winds a timer and that timer disables the lock for ten minutes?

What would be the purpose of this lock?

The first time you use the key, it winds the timer. After 10 minutes, but before the timer completely winds down (about 15 minutes), the key can be used again to open the lock.

The purpose is if someone is trying to rob a place, they have to wait ten minutes to access the cash box/safe. Even if they have the key, it won't speed up the process. Most crooks don't want to hang around for 10 minutes for the lock to work, if they even know what is going on. They may believe the lock is broken, since turning the key does not open the lock.

@Mitchell S: Well, what do you have to trade that is not in my collection? That is one way to get some stuff from my collection.

Gordon

[l0ckcr4ck3r]

Comrade... nice work on them!

Mitch... i need to get me one of those one day, but great job on the pick1

[teamstarlet]

Made a key for it, too (Hand filed with a Harbor Freight needle file). Was told that a key for a Medeco could not be cut by hand with a file - "The tolerances are too tight". Did not use any measurements, protractors or fancy tools - all freehand. Don't tell me something can't be done!!!

That's awesome Gordon! I'll have to give that a shot. Do you think it's any easier on the Medeco cam lock as opposed to the normal Medeco?

[GWiens2001]

Made a key for it, too (Hand filed with a Harbor Freight needle file). Was told that a key for a Medeco could not be cut by hand with a file - "The tolerances are too tight". Did not use any measurements, protractors or fancy tools - all freehand. Don't tell me something can't be done!!!

That's awesome Gordon! I'll have to give that a shot. Do you think it's any easier on the Medeco cam lock as opposed to the normal Medeco?

Think a normal Medeco would be easier. Certainly no harder.

Gordon

[Comrade627]

Nice try Gordon, YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME!

Actually, It's only the first one you sent that I've popped. Still, less than a minute SPPing my first Everest. Granted I took it apart to see how it worked, it still happened.

Twice.

[GWiens2001]

Nice work, Comrade. What did you use for the check pin?

Gordon

[Comrade627]

Nice work, Comrade. What did you use for the check pin?

Gordon

That fella makes great friends with a Southord half diamond. You can practically scrub it into place. Fits snuggly at the bottom of the keyway "laying down".

The Everest is actually master keyed. I was thinking of taking out the little wafer things to up the difficulty.