Old Corbin Cabinet Padlock

[maxxx]

I have an old USN marked, solid brass (even the hex stock shackle) padlock that has a patent date of 1909. It has a tether clevis on the body of the lock itself. One of my locksmith school classmates is old school, career US Navy and he has never seen one like it.

It has ball bearings instead of bottom pins. I know how to pry off the cylinder cover and dump the pins, but do not want to do that because it has a nice, natural patina.

It has a code stamped on the bottom: 5B56884 I have ran this through a key code software program at school, and it brings up nothing relevant to Corbin padlocks.

So my questions are: (this is a loose padlock that I own and is NOT attached to anything, and likely hasnt been used for 50 years)

Does anyone have space & depth data for these old padlocks. Its 5 pin, I am fairly sure. I have ten blanks, but have burned 5 1/2 of them trying to impression it. "Shear Line Jake" is coaching me and after viewing my latest impression attempt said "open up the cuts and file only when you see a good mark".

So, can anybody decode the 5B code and give me space & depth data? Or tips about how to impression ball bearing drivers? Its a nice padlock.
Thanks.

[Raymond]

My reference material, dated 1946 states tthe following:
"5B - For U.S.N. Locks. Cancel the 1B and cut direct from tip to bow. Use 2A guages and Corbin blank #8563."

Sorry, but I do not have a reference to a 2A guage. However, if you believe in the code being the direct cut tip to bow, then impressioning should not be too difficult as you have the relative pattern.

The ball bearings should not make too much difference. But the mark will be very light.
Good luck