A high security lock for Joe Six-Pack?

[lockedin]

The other day I was thinking of the vulnerabilities of our everyday locks (i.e. Kwikset, Schlage, etc.) and I couldn't help but think that if I had a lock company, I would make a very secure lock in a price range that everyone could afford (seriously, over $100 for a medeco deadbolt? ). For the sake of example let's call my lock the Plebelock. My economical lock would feature:

-multiple serrated and spool pins. Seriously, how expensive can these be? In fact, if you think about it in terms of mass production they should actually be cheaper as security pins carry less brass than their normal counterparts. In terms of cost, this is one security-enhancing feature that actually saves money.

-a hardened insert For my lock to remain economical, it might not be steel but it would be a lower grade hardened metal. Something tougher than what your average lock has.

A rudimentary sidebar Nothing complex, but something that at least requires pressure against the side from the key. This would make more difficult to attack by pick gun, picks, or bump keys.

A registration system to make copying the keys more secure Ordinary locks such as the Master Lock steering wheel locks use it for money guarantees in case of theft, how much more expensive/difficult could it be to implement a database that has the original purchaser of the key registered, and has his permission required to transfer authority to another.

A paracentric keyway Some of the cheapest locks carry these. There is no excuse not to have one.

The advertising campaign woulld be innovative comparing the security feature by feature (drilling, kicking, pick attacks) with the "leading competitor," and it would make a mockery out of the security claims on the packaging of other locks. Soon security in general would increase as the other companies tried to catch up, and prices would remain low due to price wars. Security would increase dramatically in the United States.

The plebelock: A quixotic dream? or a plausible investment for the ambitious businessman?

[Shrub]

Its not the cost of materials but mostly the cost of the machines that make the parts and then assemble them and then multiples of those machines to get the bulk made,

I am with you though, why are the prices so expensive?

Well i guess its the research time as well and then they all have to have that second house in the sun and a boat to sail there on, the lockie in the middle has to also add some profit as does his supplier, there are transport costs on top of all that for delivery etc and the cost soon builds up for someone in Japan to copy it and sell it cheaper,

[MacGyver101]

. . . I would make a very secure lock in a price range that everyone could afford . . .

Sadly, it's true in many industries: there are a significant number of companies that are more concerned with profit than product quality... and rely on marketing to make up for poor engineering. Anyhow, without intending to detract from your idea (which is a very good one), just a few thoughts:

-multiple serrated and spool pins . . . should actually be cheaper as security pins carry less brass than their normal counterparts.

That may not be the case: unless you're casting the parts (unlikely), you have to remove the brass to make a spool or a serration -- and the costs of that likely outweigh the recycling savings.

A rudimentary sidebar Nothing complex, but something that at least requires pressure against the side from the key. This would make more difficult to attack by pick gun, picks, or bump keys.

It would certainly increase resistance to pick guns and general picking... but, as was found by the TOOOL folks, rudimentary systems that rely on specific keyway profiles don't offer a lot of bump key protection (as it's often easy to obtain the appropriate blank).

A paracentric keyway Some of the cheapest locks carry these. There is no excuse not to have one.

Agreed. On average, North American locks tend to have very unobstructed keyways.

The advertising campaign woulld be innovative comparing the security feature by feature (drilling, kicking, pick attacks)...

I'm not familiar with all of the various European rating systems but, from the little I've read, it seems that there are probably a few rating standards that a marketing campaign could use. It might lend an additional sound of authority to your marketing claims if you use the "Country Name Here Security Standard", rather than your own in-house tests?

Anyhow... great idea! This is the sort of thing that forums are great for: tossing around new ideas.

[toomush2drink]

How about you approach evva and become the importer for their products ? Along the way you could become rich as well as al the other things you mentioned.

[n2oah]

How about you approach evva and become the importer for their products ? Along the way you could become rich as well as al the other things you mentioned.

I was thinking about that, but I'm under 18 and haven't much money.

[HeadHunterCEO]

You know this is a lockpicking forum and a lock like that would keep the average lock picker busy for a long time.

however
reality is when a deadbolt is comprimised out in the real world it is usually with a five pound sledge or similar ham handed tactics and tools.

i think you would be better off creating a lock that is mounted ala x09 style with a decent don-jo frame reinforcer

[devildog]

however
reality is when a deadbolt is comprimised out in the real world it is usually with a five pound sledge or similar ham handed tactics and tools.

This is exactly why locks in North America are still pretty easy to pick or bump, because it just isn't a threat. This is also why lock makers have been making heftier locks lately and making a point of advertising that their lock is ANSI Grade 1 or Grade 2 (either one is pretty tough), and I have to say that they're headed in just the right direction. Even most of the new Kwikset, Weiser, and Falcon deadbolts you see in Home Depot/Lowes now are at least Grade 2, and I applaud this as I think that's just what needs to be handled first: resistance to FORCED entry, as that's 100 times more likely to be a viable threat than any type of surreptitious/covert bypass method such as picking or bumping.

Now, they just need to start including MAG strike and kick plates and hinges with the appropriate screws and instructions on how to properly install everything with their locks, and we should be set. Maybe start pushing security film for windows and minimum thicknesses for exterior doors (hardwood, of course), that should pretty much do it.

[devildog]

Oh, and I really wish places like Home Depot, Lowes, and Wal-Mart would start selling American Lock padlocks so Master has some competition and people have the opportunity to choose a good quality padlock at these places, since most people go to one of those places when looking for a padlock instead of a locksmith.

[raimundo]

Good security follows money and threat, If someones rich and they have good locks, thats because they live in an upscale place and hired the locksmith of the upscale to do competent work, they neither know or care about locks and keys, but they hire competent contractors and get the best. Joe Sixpack gets ripped off in petty ways every day, but its mostly insider jobs, the wife, kids, friends, nobodys sneakin in to haul the big screen tv off, In japan, do they even lock up bikes on the street,? didn't used to have to, even here in the mid west, there was a time like that. long ago. Germans have very clever locks, and this could be a response to clever thieves, while some countries, use broken glass on the top of high walls, and every window is barred, Security is a visible attitude, I see razor wire in films about Los Angles, on peoples yards, Security can be a reflection on how homogenous the population is, also on the economy, poverty breeds theft so you will see security where poverty is hardest. (I once saw photos of looters at portauprince were tearing doors into conex containers in the port to get at whatevers in them.)