A few Best keyway pictures

[misterj]

Got a bit bored and wanted to play with the macro mode on the camera...so I figured I'd take pictures of some of the Best cores I have laying around. They're all in American 3560 padlocks at the moment, but I have at least one control and one master key to each core.

Are these all considered paracentric keyways? I'm unclear on what that means...so I'm not sure.

Which of these would be the toughest to pick? I'm thinking the WA core would be a real pain, but I'm not sure about the others.

Also, take a look at how thick the key is to that WA core! It's almost as thick as two of the standard Best keys--shows how extreme the warding is on it.

The cores are as stamped:
"3EST" (newer Best Logo) - J keyway
"R53" (stamped upside down) - L keyway
"BEST J21" - D Keyway
"BEST" (old Best Logo) - WA Keyway

All Four Locks -- http://img834.imageshack.us/i/img1170.jpg/
J and L -- http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img1171iq.jpg/
D and WA -- http://img62.imageshack.us/i/img1172il.jpg/
Standard Key Thickness (D core) -- http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img1173x.jpg/
PEAKS Key Thickness (WA core) -- http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img1180l.jpg/

[Evan]

Got a bit bored and wanted to play with the macro mode on the camera...so I figured I'd take pictures of some of the Best cores I have laying around. They're all in American 3560 padlocks at the moment, but I have at least one control and one master key to each core.

The key(s) which allow removal of the core are called control keys...
The key(s) which allow the lock to be operated are called operating keys...

Are these all considered paracentric keyways? I'm unclear on what that means...so I'm not sure.

A "paracentric keyway" is defined in the locksmithing industry as being: "of or pertaining to a keyway with one or more wards on each side projecting beyond the vertical center line of the keyway to hinder picking"...

The WA keyway is "like a paracentric keyway", yet the definition above is not fully satisfied by the WA keyway shape, as there is only one ward on one side of the keyway projecting past the centerline of the keyway...

Which of these would be the toughest to pick? I'm thinking the WA core would be a real pain, but I'm not sure about the others.

The WA keyway would be pretty tough compared to the others given the angle of attack presented due to the keyway warding... You should see some of the more crazy Best Premium keyways that make the WA look positively tame...

Also, take a look at how thick the key is to that WA core! It's almost as thick as two of the standard Best keys--shows how extreme the warding is on it.

The design of the Best Premium keyways and the thicker and therefore more durable key blanks were the major selling points utilized by Best to get SFIC system users to consider upgrading to Premium... As far as the thickness of the key blank, the keyway designs themselves require that thickness...

~~ Evan

[misterj]

Got a bit bored and wanted to play with the macro mode on the camera...so I figured I'd take pictures of some of the Best cores I have laying around. They're all in American 3560 padlocks at the moment, but I have at least one control and one master key to each core.

The key(s) which allow removal of the core are called control keys...
The key(s) which allow the lock to be operated are called operating keys...

Are these all considered paracentric keyways? I'm unclear on what that means...so I'm not sure.

A "paracentric keyway" is defined in the locksmithing industry as being: "of or pertaining to a keyway with one or more wards on each side projecting beyond the vertical center line of the keyway to hinder picking"...

The WA keyway is "like a paracentric keyway", yet the definition above is not fully satisfied by the WA keyway shape, as there is only one ward on one side of the keyway projecting past the centerline of the keyway...

Which of these would be the toughest to pick? I'm thinking the WA core would be a real pain, but I'm not sure about the others.

The WA keyway would be pretty tough compared to the others given the angle of attack presented due to the keyway warding... You should see some of the more crazy Best Premium keyways that make the WA look positively tame...

Also, take a look at how thick the key is to that WA core! It's almost as thick as two of the standard Best keys--shows how extreme the warding is on it.

The design of the Best Premium keyways and the thicker and therefore more durable key blanks were the major selling points utilized by Best to get SFIC system users to consider upgrading to Premium... As far as the thickness of the key blank, the keyway designs themselves require that thickness...

~~ Evan

I've actually got more of these cores than that laying around...I've acquired them from people, bought a couple off ebay when they were going for a few bucks, etc. I have a few in use around my house in padlocks.

I just got two keyed alike TE keyway cores off E-Bay (with two operating keys and a control key) for 5 bucks shipped.

The library that I'm tech coordinator for has a very small master keyed system of these cores (two levels, four cores, M keyway). They use them just on the few doors that need to be locked (basically just the exterior doors and an office--small building). They could be implemented into other things, too, but there's no need for it at the moment.

They're not the most secure things in the world by my understanding, but they're definitely a heck of a lot better than any lock you can buy in a big box store (Kwikset, Schlage (except Primus), etc.).