Masterkeying Lever Locks

[funboy79015]

Is it possible to have masterkeyed system of lever locks? If so, how is it done?

Thanks

[acl]

Funboy,yes it is possible a few different ways,ill give you one which was incorporated in Union locks ,this was done using wards in the lock case ie each lock had different "wards " protruding parts around the keyway ,the master key would be cut in such a way as to pass these wards where as the slave would only have cuts to pass its individual lock.
Sorry if this doesnt make sense ive been on the sauce and would probably explain it 100 times better had i not been.
Andy

[Chrispy]

Wards would be the only way to masterkey a lever system, wouldn't it? That's why they called them skeleton keys.

[xlr8ed1]

this is not quite correct

chubb 3g110 and similar locks have mastered 'levers' i.e a lever that has multiple notches cut in to the side of the lever - hence you could have a three and seven cut on the same lever.

you buy these pre made - but you can make your own if needed.

i have 'master keyed' 3g114's as well by filing one lever in the lock so a key with a 6 or 8 cut as the first cut could enter the lock - not recomended filing levers but works well and keeps people happy

[Chrispy]

chubb 3g110 and similar locks have mastered 'levers' i.e a lever that has multiple notches cut in to the side of the lever - hence you could have a three and seven cut on the same lever.

Would this lower the security of these locks, similar to the compromise that master pins in pin tumber locks give? And does that mean a key that normally lifts a lever to one position can lift it to the first notch it comes to instead of its intended notch?

[acl]

Yes it will where the lever has 2 gates such as the 110,but not so with the wards as you are actually adding something to the lock,although the levers would need to be the same as the others in the suite.
Andy

[funboy79015]

I figured it should be possible. I just couldn't for the life of me think of a way to do it.

Thanks for the info

[xlr8ed1]

i forgot to mention for those not in the know a chubb 3g110 lever is an 'open ended' lever not a ''H' style lever like those in the 114

hence they are and upside down u shape with notches cut in the side

[funboy79015]

From a security stand point, wouldn't it be best to use a combination of these two methods in a mastered system, since the added wards would help negate the decreased pick-resistance caused by having multiple gates?

[pinky]

side wards present only a small annoyance to picking and dont really cause problems as easily overcome.

to master key the 110 as in any lock will drasticaly reduce security and make it an easier prospect for picking, though chubb have some good restricted key patterns that make picking harder.

multiple gates will always reduce the security of a lever lock, though current talk is of installing a transponder system into lever locks also similar to that on auto immobilisers, now that will make things tricky.