What is this lock?

[rvc]

Hello!

I recently started exploring the art of lock picking and I have couple of padlocks I can open easily (< 30sec), but this one keeps on resisting...
I tried to look for info on this lock but couldn't find anything, and I mean anything.
Seems like the manufacturer doesn't even exist. It's propably made by some other company and sold under this bogus brand. Any help is appreciated!

Enough BS, here's the lock:



and here's the backside of the original packing:




Thanks!

[Varjeal]

Wow...can anyone say "American knock-off"?

..and a pretty crappy copy at that.

I'd pull the cylinder out of that lock and tear it down to find out what kind of pins are in there.

In case you're not aware the cylinder is removed by opening the lock and removing the retaining screw in the hole on the toe side of the lock.

The key warding is a bit different than an american, but the key shape and head are very Americanesque.

[Chucklz]

I find it interesting that the back of the package claims that the lock is a "disklock" when its obviously a pin tumbler mechanism. I wouldnt be supprized however, if this thing was loaded with security pins.

[rvc]

Varjeal: The lock really smelled like knock-off and I thought someone here might know what it was modelled after It's a bit hard for me to guess because I'm still inexperienced with locks and here in the land of Abloy you don't really see anything else... (quick count from my pocket: 7 Abloy Exec -keys, 4 older Abloy keys and all the other keys I have are for cars/bicycles )

Chucklz: Might be that the lock has some security pins, and I really would like to find out. But, I don't know how to open the plug...



The problem is that the key turns only 90 degrees and I'm unable to get the cylinder out

[S3rratedSp00L]

Wow, that is a funky retainer clip... anyway, if you remove that retainer clip and insert the key, then turn 90 degrees you can pull the plug right out just like American... I can put my drivers and springs back with a pair of tweezers pretty easily with a real american brand cylinder, but I would recommend making or buying a plug follower for that one. If you don't, you'll just have springs and driver pins to put back.

On most of the American cylinders that I have seen, the tail of the plug is not a half circle but a quarter circle so this padlock would probably be key-retaining or something. (As well as not being vulnerable to the same bypass that similar looking models of American are open to.) Having only a quarter circle for the tail of the plug lets you spin the plug back and remove the key without having to lock the shackle.

American has serrated, spool, and other security pins, I would assume this probably does too. Look into the keyhole and see if there are grooves in the first keypin or not. Then you'll at least know about that pin and if it is a security pin, then you can be sure there are more.

Have fun with it!

[quickpicks]

I wonder if they broke any of the American Lock patents making that knock off. it probaby fools consumers into thinking it's the real deal.

[S3rratedSp00L]

Oops, I made a mistake in that last post... The American cylinders do have a half circle on the tail of the plug.. it's the cam inside that is a quarter of the circle, making the lock non-key-retaining and vulnerable to a certain peterson bypass tool... Sorry if I just confused everyone.. I just didn't know what the hell I was talking about for a moment or two.

I dunno what patents American Lock Co. has on their construction, but knockoffs are probably made in countries where American patents don't apply anyway.. ...and are probably hard to import into the U.S. for the same reason, but I might be able to find something similar in San Francisco's China Town... A quick web search didn't turn up anything useful about that particular lock, but the pics say a lot!

[Chucklz]

Take a careful look at the lock in the picture. It may be a bit difficult to see, because its stamped so poorly in the lock, but it says "FOR SECURITY" I just cant stop laughing.

[Romstar]

Look a little closer Chuck, that's not "For Security".

It's "Top Secret". At least it sure looks like it when you enhance the photgraph.


Now, THATS funny!
Romstar

[rvc]

Actually it says "Top Security", but it's stamped so badly that you have to look at both sides of the lock before you can be sure

And as to where it is made, I really don't know. Neither the package nor the lock say anything, which is odd because I've always thought that you have to state the country of origin for any product you going to sell here (in Finland).
The only thing I can tell is that it's packaged in Germany, or atleast the package is made in Germany. It says: "der grüne punkt", which means "the green point". It's some sort of environmental compliance thing. But then again, the product being what it is, I wouldn't be surprised if that logo too is being used without permission

Anyway, the price of this "Top Security" lock was 5 euros (6 dollars) and that's pretty much the right price for a lock you're going to rip apart and ruin...

[DeadlyHunter]

knock-off?? naw, that lock looks NOTHING like a American lock lol




http://cloud.prohosting.com/d33m0n/pic07.jpg
http://cloud.prohosting.com/d33m0n/pic08.jpg