Brinks

[NIC]

First I'd like to thank LockNewbie21 for sending me this lock (Brinks Shrouded Shackle). I heard alot of talk about this lock on the site, so i decided to have a go at it. At first, i had trouble with the feel of it. When i finally got a false set, the lock was real easy to open. The hardest part was getting the false set. Because of poor tolerance, the pins are easy to push past the serrations (serrated pins).

So i waited about 2 weeks to get this lock. And after two days of playing with it, Brinks is disappointing.

Finally, My Question ? Is American lock 1105 the next lock i should be attacking ?

[scorpiac]

Ha ha, I know the feeling I anxiously awaited a month for mine as it isn't carried anywhere locally I ordered it directly from Brinks online from California ( it was on backorder for 2 weeks and I literally paid twice as much for shipping as I did for the lock itself!) but I had heard a lot of good things about the challenge of this lock and figured I could carry it around in my pocket for a couple of weeks and pick at it on and off when I had a spare minute here and there. I was both psyched and disappointed when it arrived and I popped it open in half an hour snapped it shut and popped again 2 minutes later. I was psyched I was able to do it a lot quicker than some of the posts I read had suggested but disappointed that it wasn't the challenge I was looking for . Even though it was a lot easier than I had hoped I really like picking this lock as it has the most pronounced feeling from the security pins of any lock I have picked to date... After the false set you can really feel Exactly what is going on in this lock. As for a next step I personally found my American 5200 to be more of a challenge. I followed the Brinks shrouded with a couple of Sargent 6 pin hotel room mortise cylinders ( C keyway I think ) thought they would be challenging as they are supposed to have pretty high tolerances but was also disappointed with those when I opened the first one in about 30 seconds and the second the next day after playing with it for about 5 minutes ( I think they may have been easier due to being master keyed for hotel use ) I think I'd like to try something from Best next. Anyone got any suggestions ? Sorry if I'm rambling I'm into the Gin & Tonic tonight and I tend to ramble when I drink

[Eyes_Only]

If I were you I would buy a security pinning kit from LAB they sell at Lockpicks.com and throw in a mix of serrated and spool pins drivers and totally disregard the MACS rule to make your cylinders more of a challenge. Thats what I did when all my regular locks was starting to bore me and I was not yet ready to tackle my Medeco.

I would stay away from Best and all other IC locks at this point. The second shear line at the control sleeve will give you a bad day. You need a tension wrench made by Peterson that grabs the control sleeve to be able to pick that lock, and even with that tool it's still very very difficult to pick. I personally find my Medeco cylinder to be much easier than dealing with my IC locks.

[NIC]

ya i've been changing the combinations a my Schlage Kik with four spools and one normal pin. But now i know that lock by heart. Now i'm trying my Medeco Biax, i've gone up to three pins just to get a feel for the sidebar! Now i want to try Euros maybe, i have trouble with tight keyways!!

[Eyes_Only]

If you wanna stab at a tight keyway, go for a Primus. I can't even fit my Peterson pry bar tensioner in that thing.

[Schuyler]

if you want a tight keyway go GeGe. Primus is the grand canyon comparatively.

[Eyes_Only]

How can those of us in the States get our hands on one of those?

[NIC]

I want Them ALL !!!

[Schuyler]

How can those of us in the States get our hands on one of those?

Our European members have them up in BST occasionally, or you can always put up a "wanted" in BST.

also:
ebay
ebay 2

Seems like they're big in Austria.

[NIC]

I'm looking for a keyblank for my brinks!! Does the american 1105 have the same keyway ??

[Jolly Rodgers]

yes americans and your brinks have the same keyway but the brinks key is a bit longer if your american is a 5 pin like mine, and the brinks is a six pin.

on another note i have been having trouble with my brinks. its my first lock with security pins. i think most my trouble is that my hook pick is a tad short(home made).

[NIC]

yes americans and your brinks have the same keyway but the brinks key is a bit longer if your american is a 5 pin like mine, and the brinks is a six pin.

on another note i have been having trouble with my brinks. its my first lock with security pins. i think most my trouble is that my hook pick is a tad short(home made).

No i would say that your trouble is with your tension wrench!! No really where are you putting your wrench? 6 or 12 o'clock ?

[Jolly Rodgers]

if the pins are facing toward me and up it would be 6 o clock. maby 5:30 lol

[NIC]

if the pins are facing toward me and up it would be 6 o clock. maby 5:30 lol

If you put your wrench at 12 o'clock you'll have plenty of space to pick. With pretty much any pick!!

[Squelchtone]

if the pins are facing toward me and up it would be 6 o clock. maby 5:30 lol

If you put your wrench at 12 o'clock you'll have plenty of space to pick. With pretty much any pick!!

I just picked my American 5200 with some Peterson thicker than normal steel that I bent 1/4 inch with my U-bend-it tool, and inserted it in top of keyway on the 5200. Works great, and the thicker steel makes it stay in there snug. I know how normal tension wrenches cam out of place on that keyway.

my Series 700 isn't opening as easily though.