Padlocks with "bent shackle"??

[gumptrick]

I've seen a few older padlocks that have this unusual bend in the shackle. The first time I saw it I thought I was looking at a lock that had been damaged somehow, but since then I've seen many like this. I assume it is a special design for a specific purpose. But what, exactly? Anyone know?

[WilsonTrucking]

This is pure speculation on my part, but I would think the bend would be so it hangs freely when it's locked possibly for use on electrical equipment or railroad equipment. The bend would allow the lock to hang freely without hitting the casing that it was locking.

[mseifert]

The Lock in the picture is a Fraim-Slaymaker Spare Tire Lock.. I cant find any decent picture of ho it was used.. But it is my understanding that it was lock on a stud that the spare tire was mounted on.

[jimu57]

Possibly to go thru a latch or hasp and also a link in a chain (in the shackle offset) connected somewhere so the lock can be locked on the chain to help prevent loss.

[gumptrick]

Thanks guys.
I didn't mean that it had to be that exact lock, as there are other makes with a similar design. For example, I spotted these on Ebay.




...though whatever it is seems to be an old design; I've never seen even a remotely modern lock made like this.

Possibly to go thru a latch or hasp and also a link in a chain (in the shackle offset) connected somewhere so the lock can be locked on the chain to help prevent loss.

I can visualize that, but I'm not sure that this extra design feature would be needed for that. A "standard" padlock fitted to a typical hasp or latch would have plenty of room to also pass through a chain link at the same time.

I would think the bend would be so it hangs freely when it's locked possibly for use on electrical equipment or railroad equipment. The bend would allow the lock to hang freely without hitting the casing that it was locking.

I'm having a hard time picturing what you mean there. I can't see how the different shaped shackle would prevent the lock from banging against an object any differently than a normal shackle would.