key codes on the package

[bumber]

I never really buy master padlocks new often but a trip to lowe's(hardware store) today to buy some chain, I see a NICE shelf of master/brinks/offbrand locks and thought hmm lets look at some masters.....

well long story short I was just wondering if how long master most of the master padlocks have been puttin the key code on the package for?

.......which leads to my next point, about 80% of the #3's ALL had the same keys, think it was 0035 or 32. seems like in a small town that could be REALLY bad.
(needless to say I got a handfull of random locks )

[Beyond]

I never really buy master padlocks new often but a trip to lowe's(hardware store) today to buy some chain, I see a NICE shelf of master/brinks/offbrand locks and thought hmm lets look at some masters.....

well long story short I was just wondering if how long master most of the master padlocks have been puttin the key code on the package for?

.......which leads to my next point, about 80% of the #3's ALL had the same keys, think it was 0035 or 32. seems like in a small town that could be REALLY bad.
(needless to say I got a handfull of random locks )

Is the code also on the keys or just on the package?

[bumber]

hmm i dont know let me go check...wow its on the key aswell, but its like a sticker on the back inside the plastic...I threw my package away but It's so if you keep the package or write down the number you can have a locksmith make a key....I know DUH but still.

[mcm757207]

A lot of times that's just so that if you want to buy multiple locks keyed alike you can do it easily. The codes aren't necessarily the key bitting too, especially if it's masterlock. Although you can look up the bitting from the code if you have access to code books or software.

[bumber]

No these ARE the key cut codes,(its a little oval, locoks like the back of a combo lock) they had different numbers on a few of the locks that correspond with the key, which was the same as the number on the key to boot...I know how to read a decoder and have a few for different types of locks....just wondering when they started putting the codes on the package, and my side note was I was supprised to see SO many of the single locks with the same cut keys.

And most of the time it is cheaper to buy a set of keyed alike locks, maby by a few cents, unless you need more than what comes in those packs.

[raimundo]

master has a four pin lock with a limited number of possible combos, but they have been using code to identify the key cuts for those who have codebooks,

Codes are not the cuts, you have to decode the code with a book to get that.

on the other hand, schlage and american do put the key cuts, not the code to look up the cuts, but the actual cuts themselves stamped into the original keys. Anyone with a pen who can write down those numbers can get the key cut on the proper blank if they are just slightly knowlegable.

I just want to hear the reasoning behind the idea to stamp the cuts into a key bow when any locksmith could read the actual cuts with a caliper or a v groove tool

[bumber]

I was just wondering how long they have been putting the codes on the package, and why so many single packs had the same code....

I know how to read codes and cut keys by code

[linty]

i've seen master padlocks with the code stamped on the lock body itself too.
Mind you this was a code and not a cut.

[freakparade3]

Before the internet having a code on a lock was not a big security threat. Your average person did not know what it was or wouldent have the code books anyway. Now days it should not be done, I guess the lock companies havent figured it out yet.

[maxxed]

Most lock manufacturers use about 5 or 6 key codes for the keyed alike groups for each lock series. This makes it easy for the customer to get locks keyed alike but will certainly reduce overall security. When you consider that some of these key codes have been used in KA groups for 25 + years there will be a lot of these locks and keys around

[SnowyBoy]

Sounds like a bike lock I bought when I was 12......I tried the keys on the one I wanted to but on 4 of the other locks on the shelf & it opened all of them xD

[linty]

some older european cars had the codes stamped on the locks just like you see on file cabinets too.