by keithwins » 17 Jan 2014 19:14
Hi: I'm a noob here, a contractor that occasionally has to deal with locks. I have a security fence on a project that has what looks like a good-quality double-cylinder deadbolt lock on it. There is no name on either side. I've picked it open, but the strike plate didn't reveal any little allen key holes or anything that I noticed (there might have been a name there, perhaps I didn't notice). Sorry I didn't think to take pictures, I could tomorrow.
On the interior side, where there would often be two screw holes, there are holes in the escutcheon but metal behind them. It looked like a plate of metal. I tried unscrewing the escutcheon (with big slip-joint pliers), but it was pretty clear I was just going to break the lock (my preference would be to save and rekey it: if it comes to breaking it, believe me I can get 'er done. It's my speciality...).
I've been doing research, and can't find an example lock anything like it. I'm now wondering if maybe those screw holes are in fact screw holes, with little metal plugs poked into the tops of the screws? I faintly recall installing a lock like that once. I also tried putting a pin wrench (more accurately: needlenose pliers turned by a crescent wrench) in the two holes and using that to unscrew the escutcheon, but there was no evidence of movement. And that part of the escutcheon is fairly thin, and just bent and dinged up with any force.
Sorry if this isn't enough to go on, any hints will be appreciated. If I don't make it happen the next time I'm over there in the next couple days, I'll take pictures, if that would be helpful.
Keith
