Information re pin tumbler cylinder door locks

[Jim Palmer]

I have three questions about some older cylinder locks that perhaps someone can help me with:

(1) Unknown lock with a flange at the bottom of the keyway which obstructs most tension wrenches. I have a very thin one which can be inserted, but I have been afraid to use it, fearing bending or damaging it. Most tension wrenches won't work and I presume that's why the flange is there.

(2) A Lockwood with a curved keyway which looks like an upright (~). Does this mean the pins are lined up symetrically or not? It seems to create difficulties in picking and I suspect the pins are different in some way.

(3) A Sargent lock with two latches, one atop the other and virtually the same size. Was easy to pick, the cylinder turned and the outer latch turned. But the inner latch did not move and could not be picked separately. I believed had the lock been mounted in a door it would have opened, since the key wouldn't have done anything more than I did with the pick. So the question is, why was there two latches and what does the inner one, which didn't engage with anything, do?

[datagram]

1. Make a small tang at the other end of the tension tool and use it at the top of the keyway instead. Make sure not to bind it against the first pin, though.

2. This is normal, and the pins are all lined up. The keyway is just for key control and pick resistance, but no biggie. There are MUCH worse out there, believe me.

3. By latches do you mean actual locking latches (aka beveled/angled bolts) ? If so, it might be a multiple turn lock which requires that you pick it several times or use a plug spinner to open both latches.

dg

[Jim Palmer]

I probably should have said bolts. I cannot get the inner one to turn of even engage. It almost looks like someone decided to put a new turning bolt on and put it over the original and left it in place. I don't have key or know how it was mounted. Something tells me the inner bolt won't pick and it pushed the outer one farther inside the jamb. I haven't seen one like this before. I believe I did everything the key would have. I will continue to work with it, but I think it is already picked and the door would be open.

[straightpick]

With regards to the Sargent lock, is this a mortise lock? Is one bolt square or rectangular and the other beveled? If so, the key would generally only throw the deadbolt part of the lock - the beveled latch would be retracted by the knobs. On some types, one full turn will retract the deadbolt and an additional half turn will retract the beveled latch. Any chance of a picture?

[Jim Palmer]

Both locks are beveled.