ERA 6 pin 5 pin ????

[cybus]

I was called to a lockout today to what looked like a standard ERA rim cylinder on a wooden door. A quick check through the letter box with a mirror confirmed it was an ERA British Standard Nightlatch. While I had the letter box open I let myself in ( you know what I mean )

The customer wanted the lock changed because she lost her keys. No problem, changed the cylinder and off I went with the old lock. Later I stripped the lock to find that only the first 5 pins were there, the 6th hole at the back of the lock was empty, no spring driver pins nothing. The plug was also missing the 6th pin.

The cylinder was new'ish and didn't look like it had been stripped before. I found it abit strange to find an empty chamber in a lock. Has anyone come accross this before ? Its a bit strange to have the security of a 6 pin lock reduced to a 5 pin lock on purpose ?

[UWSDWF]

alot of companies will do this where they make a 6 pin lock and only pin it to 5... maybe they had spare 6pin and had a call for 5pin in store

[Eyes_Only]

I just got a Arrow lock a couple weeks ago and the key that came with it was a 5 pin but when I took the lock apart it turned out to be a 6 pin lock. I've had this happen to me with some of my other locks as well. I think it is a way for lock companies to try to save money like UWSDWF said.

[freakparade3]

I'm in the US but with the exception of Kwikset nearly every lock I buy is like this.

[cybus]

Hmm bit of a strange practice from the companies but I supose I can see the cost savings involved.

Also it was a chrome cylinder that had 3 spool driver pins in it, all the ERA cylinders i've come accross before have never had these security pins, just the standard pins. Must be a special run or somthing, but if they were going to the length of introducing security pins to make the lock harder to pick you would think they would have put in the extra 6th pin ?

Anyway its probably just another of lifes little mysteries

[Mark A]

Are you sure it was the BS Nightlatch and not the 193/183? Because if it was one of these it would make sense as they do only pin 5 chambers.

Mark

[NickBristol]

Are you sure it was the BS Nightlatch and not the 193/183? Because if it was one of these it would make sense as they do only pin 5 chambers.

Mark

I've noticed that only 5 chambers are filled too - first time I assumed a lockie had keyed it like that as it was from an apartment door.

Does anyone know if ERA only use a small number of similar cut patterns on the 193/183?

The reason I ask is that I've had three separate cylinders from 193's from three very different properties that seem to be be keyed alike. Two worked absolutely perfectly and one was a little stiff but still turned. They varied in age from almost new to a couple of years old. Given the number of possible differs it seems a bit too much of a co-incidence. Next time I get one on a lockout I'll try one of the keys and see!

Actually, while the 193/183's are being discussed... anyone know why they put spool pins on the internal cylinder? Stopping people from picking their way out? Or is picking backwards via the letterbox to gain entry a common thing?

[cybus]

Are you sure it was the BS Nightlatch and not the 193/183? Because if it was one of these it would make sense as they do only pin 5 chambers.

Mark

It was definatly the BS Nightlatch, and the whole assembly was very new shiney chrome, even the screws on the back of the cylinder was nice and clean. It had been fitted at the same time as the latch, so I would guess its the cylinder that came with the latch and not a replacement.

Do ERA use alot of security pins in its cylinders, or was this one special ?
I know its common in Yales, but the ERAs I have always opened have none.

[Mark A]

Yes they do in the BS cylinders to comply with the anti pick requirements, if as you say it was the BS Nightlatch then it is odd that only 5 chambers were used.

Mark

[midnightlocky]

i know this is a little different from the question asked but i've got a whole heap of era 5 pin practice locks on boards and i know that all of the locks are different i've only got one 6 pin and it's the night latch set i suppose i could have a look at it to see. i'll get back to you soon on that one.

[midnightlocky]

the 6 pin is a b.s. 2004 comply so if there are any others with pins missing this would be breaking the law of trades descriptions so anyone with a b.s. 3621 2004 night latch check them out and see. i know that i.d like to know and so would trading standards. ha ha