Schlage Cut-Away Practice Lock Review

by **Bud Wiser** » 12 Sep 2006 13:55

I have heard that cutaway practice locks can be useful so I decided to buy the Schlage model from lockpicks.com

First I want every one to know you are not actually getting a schlage lock *made by schlage*, this is a cheap, and I mean cheap replica, and not a very good one at that!

This lock has no spring tension, obviously inferior craftsmanship, and is incredibly easy to pick with out looking!

I got it in hopes it would help me master my real schlage which I can not open as consistently as I would like to. My real schlage has a completely different feel to it! This schlage practice lock is completely useless if you want to master real schlage locks!

If on the other hand you just want to see how a lock looks thru a cutaway, it may have some value. And since it's so easy to pick it may be a good practice lock for a complete noob. BUT I repeat, if you expect to get a real schlage lock, it is not. You will be terribly disappointed!

I rate this lock 2 Stars out of a possible 5 Stars!
NOT Recommended! VERY disappointed!

by **hobkkop** » 12 Sep 2006 16:19

I bought a very similar cut-away lock off eBay. I have had a similar experience to yours. The lock is not smooth at all and the spring tension is not very good. Also, the pins, which are spool pins, catch on the cut part of the lock. This lock is not very good for practice although it does show the inner workings for someone who can't visualize how this type of lock works.

by **Bud Wiser** » 12 Sep 2006 19:58

hobkkop wrote:I bought a very similar cut-away lock off eBay. I have had a similar experience to yours. The lock is not smooth at all and the spring tension is not very good. Also, the pins, which are spool pins, catch on the cut part of the lock. This lock is not very good for practice although it does show the inner workings for someone who can't visualize how this type of lock works.

Was that the clear see thru plastic coated model?

by **hobkkop** » 12 Sep 2006 20:29

No, it was just cut with nothing covering the pins. Looks very similar to the one in your photo.

by **tharms17** » 12 Sep 2006 22:06

this one? http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=169

by **Bud Wiser** » 12 Sep 2006 22:22

tharms17 wrote:this one? http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=169

yes that's the one. Nothing like a real schlage as far as actual feel of pins or level of difficulty.

by **I Pik U** » 12 Sep 2006 22:48

Why not make your own? I did.

by **I Pik U** » 12 Sep 2006 22:49

I used a rotary tool with a cut off wheel a a hand file to smooth edges.

by **Bud Wiser** » 12 Sep 2006 23:16

I Pik U wrote:I used a rotary tool with a cut off wheel a a hand file to smooth edges.

I've tried a couple on really cheap Ilco locks and destroyed both

I bought this schlage new and don't want to ruine it.

I should practice some more on cheap locks.

I just wanted people to know that the lockpick.com practice schlage is no where near a real schlage. Thanks for your pics! It's inspired me to try again.

by **Krypos** » 13 Sep 2006 0:56

bud man....that blows. hope ya didnt pay too much for it.

i have always wanted a cutaway lock, just to mess with it, and for a teaching tool for showing others about HOW locks can be manipulated and the flaws exploited. but i have never had the tools (and still dont) and i dont want to pay a billion dollars for one, and since i dont need it, i havent tried any of my options yet.

by **Bud Wiser** » 13 Sep 2006 1:05

Krypos wrote:bud man....that blows. hope ya didnt pay too much for it.

i have always wanted a cutaway lock, just to mess with it, and for a teaching tool for showing others about HOW locks can be manipulated and the flaws exploited. but i have never had the tools (and still dont) and i dont want to pay a billion dollars for one, and since i dont need it, i havent tried any of my options yet.

$45, and I should have known better. I just thought they used an actual schlage lock and made it a cutaway, which would have been worth it then. It appears they use inferior material and the tolorances are about the same as a kwikset.

For demonstration purposes you can buy a cheaper cutaway from them to show how the pins work when picked or key turns, but these are not good for practicing at all. They charge more for the schlage just for the name! Major rip.

If you can make your own, thats the best way to go, but not with out practice

by **pickmonger** » 13 Sep 2006 6:55

Is 100% of the poor result in making that cutaway due to the low quality lock used or is it partly the consequence of making a cutaway?

Will a non cutaway and a properly done cutaway on a good quality lock always have the same feel when picking.

by **I Pik U** » 13 Sep 2006 8:56

The Schlage cut away I made still has the same feel. Even being able to see whats going on inside, it's still a tough (for me) cylinder to pick. Try to make your cut outs narrow, leaving as much material as possable.

by **Bud Wiser** » 13 Sep 2006 9:50

pickmonger wrote:Is 100% of the poor result in making that cutaway due to the low quality lock used or is it partly the consequence of making a cutaway?

Will a non cutaway and a properly done cutaway on a good quality lock always have the same feel when picking.

I believe this practice lock was not made from an actual schlage cylinder. The only resemblance it has to a real schlage is the key way and key. Every thing else is not schlage parts but cheaper made parts. At best this can only be called a schlage replica, and like I said, a very bad replica.

The actual cut away is not at fault here, just the infieror parts used.

by **New-York-Locksmith** » 19 Oct 2006 9:11

I have to agree - its a replica!

Schlage Cut-Away Practice Lock Review

Schlage Cut-Away Practice Lock Review

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