Fichet 787 Breakdown photos!

[workstation]

Although I suppose it is changable in the sense that all the components for any code are in there already. Is that right?

But it's not automatic like, say, a Rielda.

[n2oah]

Nice photos n2oah. Just for info, I have a write-up of Fichet 787 (base model) in my book on locks. I am still trying to get a publishing contract, and it's pretty frustrating not being able to get into print when you're ready to go for it

As to how it works, there's a system of levers on a pivot at the front of the lock that receive the steps in the key. The back ends of the levers are toothed to mesh with the cog wheels. Each cog has a gate at one point. Clearly all 10 gates have to line up. The levers turn the cogs in alternate directions. The idea is not really very different from the changeable lever lock invented in the late 19th century, it's just a lot more compact.

What is really neat is the mechanism at the rear that operates the tail piece.

Have a look at the breakdown diagram on protections-vol.com
http://protections-vol.com/fichet787.html

BTW, I don't agree with the idea that one is "picking" the lock with the Falle tool. It's more like decoding the lock while holding all the correctly set levers at just the right height with the tool. You could not do this with manual picks. Plus there is a gateway at the front of the lock that restricts the keyway (look at the narrow part of the key bit). Not taking away from the skill needed to build or use such a tool, but I would say the same thing about any mechanical device that churns through the possible key codes - it ain't picking.

Also, the decoder is clamped onto the lock. A nice escutcheon that blocks the decoder's clamps would help greatly. The guy who sent me this lock says that the cylinder pictured is an inner cylinder. The exterior cylinders are made of a hardened metal, and have a big collar around the whole cylinder for extra protection. Even without that, this lock seems impossible to drill.

[n2oah]

Diagram added into the origional post.

[illusion]

Dude... that lock is... wow.... I mean... I want one!

[n2oah]

I think I'm getting another to make a cutaway out of!

[illusion]

I think I'm getting another to make a cutaway out of!

Do that, and I'm hunting you down to get it off you.

[n2oah]

I think I'm getting another to make a cutaway out of!

Do that, and I'm hunting you down to get it off you.

You just wait...

[scampdog]

you want to pack up picking and take up photography,the clarity and defination of the pics were first class, well done mate

[n2oah]

Thanks for reviving this thread. I semi-destructively got out the inner cylinder and took new photos. Photos are posted here.

[Deathadder]

there is a way to pick the lock if i understand how it works correctly...
if it is like a pin tumbler, than it will be able to push forward a tiny bit, tiny enough to set the ridge of the gear on the bar. if you slowly push each lever up until each gear sets on the bar, then it will push into the bar fully, allowing it to rotate, if i am not fully understanding how the lock works fully, and this will not work, please tell me where i am wrong and i will gladly find another way to pick it .

[n2oah]

there is a way to pick the lock if i understand how it works correctly...
if it is like a pin tumbler, than it will be able to push forward a tiny bit, tiny enough to set the ridge of the gear on the bar. if you slowly push each lever up until each gear sets on the bar, then it will push into the bar fully, allowing it to rotate, if i am not fully understanding how the lock works fully, and this will not work, please tell me where i am wrong and i will gladly find another way to pick it .

In theory, yes, that could work, but in real life, I can't feel any of the gears set. Plus, you can't apply pushing force that exact. Too much pushing on the cylinder results in the gear pack locking up, too.

[greyman]

I don't think that theory will produce results. All you get from pushing the core while adjusting the levers (if you can make a tool to do that!), is the teeth of the cogs catching on the blocking bar at the rear of the cylinder. All 10 cogs must present their gate towards the rear in order NOT to catch on the bar. As n2oah mentioned, there is also an anti-decoding feature on the Fichet 787 that prevents the levers from being individually adjusted. This is similar to the Abloy DBS.

[workstation]

Can you show us the part that is similar to a DBS?

[greyman]

It's not similar to the Abloy protec DBS but it has the same function. THat is, it holds all the cogs to the combination of the key before engaging the blocking bar. The Abloy idea is similar - the return bar engages notches on the discs before the tension of the key is sufficient to turn the core.

[greyman]

Can you show us the part that is similar to a DBS?

Sorry - I didn't answer your question. I can't show it to you because I can't post pictures on this group. To describe it: it's a little D-shaped gizmo with bevels on both sides of the D. The outer bevel meets a sloped edge in the lock barrel and gets pushed in towards the cogs. The inner bevel then engages the teeth of the cogs, wherever they happen to be.