Is this Mountain Security padlock a re-badged Brinks?

[CypherSeks]

Greetings! First post on this excellent forum, and it's about a generic Walmart lock (harhar). Kind of a long post here, so prepare yourselves.

I was out and about earlier today, and figured I'd pick up a new toy. While browsing the Walmart's (yeah I know, screw Walmart) padlock section, I noticed some nice laminated steel Brinks padlocks. I've heard these provide an interesting pick experience, but I didn't want to spend a whole lot on a boredom induced impulse buy.

Sooooooo right below the actual Brinks padlocks were some loose, virtually unmarked locks. I picked one up, and studied it. The lock looked and felt just like one of the 45mm laminated Brinks locks I had in my hand a second ago. Compared the two directly, and sure enough: Same feel, body, shackle stamped "Hardened", same type of locking mechanism / keys, rivets, and "45MM Made in China" stamped in the same locations. Was only $3.97 (2-3 bucks cheaper than the actual Brinks), and I figured it was probably a re-badged Brinks anyway, so I bought one.

Right now I'm wondering: Is this really a re-badged Brinks lock? The only markings I could find on the tag were "1 3/4 Steel Padlock", 242-44121 BP-8 (Brinks Padlock? :p). In tiny nano-lettering I also see "Mountain Security is not responsible for..." blah blah blah. So yeah, guess it's supposed to be a "Mountain Security" lock heh. You'd never know by their advertising.

Here are a few pics for anyone interested:








Naturally I picked the lock as soon as I got home. I would say it felt...loose, but "Brinks-ish", I suppose. Not particularly easy, but not super difficult either. So what does everyone think? Is this a re-badged laminated 45mm Brinks lock? Curious to know if I actually saved a couple bucks.

[lock2006]

Most of the Brinks lock has some spool pins
I don't know if this one has any spool pin
i have a few a brinks padlock and all of them has spools pins
this one i don't think is re-badged laminated Brinks lock
i maybe wrong,just check if you see any spool pins good luck.

[thelockpickkid]

No way, these suck, no spools no security pins at all. Not even close to being a Brinks made product.

[Solomon]

Mountain is wal-marts own brand. It's a cheap brinks knockoff... probably about as difficult as a typical master lock of the same style.

[CypherSeks]

Now that you mention it, I can't really see any definite spools (bad lighting) or feel any security pins. Very odd. When you dial the 1-800-562-5625 number on the lock's tag (Hampton Products International), it says it's the maker of Mountain Security and Brinks...

There were a couple Brinks locks which shared SKU #s. One type had the "45mm Made in China" stamp on the bottom, another type (same package) had the normal US Patent numbers on the bottom. Wonder if Brinks is passing off some cheaper locks under their name...

[thelockpickkid]

That's interesting, they might make them, that's a first for me!!

[quiksilver]

Mountain is wal-marts own brand. It's a cheap brinks knockoff... probably about as difficult as a typical master lock of the same style.

I just got a dead bolt from wal mart that was made by mountain and it was my first lock i was able to pick so I dont know if it is just as difficult.

[freakparade3]

It's a cheaper, way less secure Brinks lock. If you compare dealbolt locks from Kwikset, Mountain Security, and Brinks you will see they are also the exact same lock, the only difference is the Brinks will have 2 or 3 spool pins.

[Squelchtone]

Mountain is wal-marts own brand. It's a cheap brinks knockoff... probably about as difficult as a typical master lock of the same style.

I just got a dead bolt from wal mart that was made by mountain and it was my first lock i was able to pick so I dont know if it is just as difficult.

and now you know the secret that most Americans do not. The locks that are being sold to us and many times even stamped on the box as "Maximum Security" or "High Secuirty" or "Precision Pin Tumbler Mechanism Resists Picking" are a substandard product, and we the American consumer have been lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to guarding our homes and businesses.

If a first time picker can buy a deadbolt at Walmart, Ace, Home Depot, or Lowe's and within minutes open it without any trouble, then something is wrong with the locks available to the consumer through retail and big box DIY stores.

I for one do not believe that one should have to spend $150 and up on a high security lock available only at a locksmith shop in order to feel that my family and things are safe. I realize that something like a Schlage is going to be harder to pick than a Mountain Security or a Defiant, but it's not that much harder. The new picker in this post could probably open a Schlage with only a few days practice on one.

And since I know Medeco, Abloy, Mul-t-Lock, BiLock, and Schlage Primus are not about to start selling their wares at a place like Walmart or Home Depot, nor are they about to lower prices (nor should they), it's time for manufacturers to start building locks with better tolerances, or at least with more difficult warding, and some security pins installed in each lock they sell. Kwikset has shown us that they are willing to improve their product by coming out with the Smartkey line of locks which are much harder to pick than their older product line, I hope in the near future, the other store brand mainstays follow suit.

Here's to hoping,
Squelchtone

[Dulmit]

I have a Mountain Security lock and 2 different Brinks. The Mountain Security is not nearly as good as either Brinks (no security pins). I still find it a little better than a Master Lock #3 though.

I think in terms of security they are a fine visual deterant.

[quiksilver]

Ok so I have moved onto a new master lock pad lock and have no idea what number it is...can someone point me in the right direction as far as how to tell what type of master lock it is...

[ElAbogado]

Mountain is wal-marts own brand. It's a cheap brinks knockoff... probably about as difficult as a typical master lock of the same style.

Kwikset has shown us that they are willing to improve their product by coming out with the Smartkey line of locks which are much harder to pick than their older product line, I hope in the near future, the other store brand mainstays follow suit.

Here's to hoping,
Squelchtone

How has Kwikset improved the quality of their locks by making the Smartkey? Do you call a lock that can be forced open in 2 seconds regardless of the key bitting an improvement? I think just adding spool pins would have been a cheaper and better improvement on their part, as opposed to foisting the Smartkey on us.

The Smartkey is nothing but problems from the get go. I have clients who have them and one day they just quit working and you have a lockout situation. This is improved?

Kwikset is, and always has been, the bottom of the American made security market. People paid $200,000+ for a house, put all of their possessions inside, then lock it with a $10.00 lock. Go figure.

It is our job to point out the many short comings of this poorly made product and educate people to make an informed decision that will affect of their persons and property.

I have never failed to upgrade a Smartlock when I come across one. People are receptive to matters involving their security.

To say a good word about Kwikset, I must admit that in the 70s and 80s their 880 series deadbolt was a good product, with an all brass cylinder and bullet proof design held together with steel plates and 1/4X28 hardened steel screws. All the new products are no better than the Chinese copies that we complain about here at LP101.

El Abogado

[FarmerFreak]

How has Kwikset improved the quality of their locks by making the Smartkey? Do you call a lock that can be forced open in 2 seconds regardless of the key bitting an improvement? I think just adding spool pins would have been a cheaper and better improvement on their part, as opposed to foisting the Smartkey on us.

To Kwiksets credit. The Smartkey is the cheapest bump proof lock on the market (except wafer locks I suppose). Simply adding spooled pins wouldn't have changed that.

Of course there are problems with Kwiksets. There almost always have been, but with this design they are amplified. Poor tolerances, this is what causes the wafer to disconnect from the pin resulting in the broken lock plus being locked out (this is obviously very bad). Poor materials, if they had used brass, it would immediately be much harder to force the lock open.

If they made a higher quality version that fixed those two immanent problems. I could easily recommend this lock for home use. Since it's other design/security flaws pale in comparison. Remember it isn't suppose to be high-security, but it should be reliable and prevent the brain dead criminal from being able to force it open easily.

[RevDisk]

Now that you mention it, I can't really see any definite spools (bad lighting) or feel any security pins. Very odd. When you dial the 1-800-562-5625 number on the lock's tag (Hampton Products International), it says it's the maker of Mountain Security and Brinks...

There were a couple Brinks locks which shared SKU #s. One type had the "45mm Made in China" stamp on the bottom, another type (same package) had the normal US Patent numbers on the bottom. Wonder if Brinks is passing off some cheaper locks under their name...

HPI owns the rights to Mountain Security and Brinks branded hardware. Mountain Security is their "budget" line. Same basic design, but with cheaper material, lower quality and lacking extra features. Same as any other budget line of products. They bought the rights to use the Brinks name back in 1998, solely because people would associate it with the armored car folks and think it was good security. Oddly enough, the Brinks branded padlocks are pretty decent. Probably due to some understanding between Brinks Company and HPI. BCO has been divesting its operations for a while now. They sold off their logistics company, and spun off their home security line.

[quiksilver]

I recently bought a Mountain Security deadbolt from wal-mart and had no trouble picking it for my first lock and then I got a Brinks door knob for a higher challenge. I threw away the packaging so I dont have the exact model number and cannot seem to find it anywhere on the internet other than the combo 2 pack that they sell online http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8251857

Can anyone help me with first identifying the lock, and any insight someone might have regarding the level of difficulty I should expect. I have used the search function and there is very little if any threads about brinks door locks other than a photo from deathadder http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l204/deathadder_01/brinksshrouded.jpg which doesnt have a model number. Thanks in advance.