wafer lock masterkey

[tadpole_93]

Hi guys,

This is probably a really basic question, but i found this wafer lock master key and don't get how it works,
i get how a lock works and how a master key works but how can a key work on so many different locks when they aren't master keyed to this key,
i have one of these keys and i am yet to come up against a wafer lock which it doesn't work in.

I'm sorry if this is really basic and stupid but i just don't get it.

this is a key which looks like what i have:http://www.withoutakey.co.uk/filing-cabinet-master-key

Thanks again for your help

[Evan]

Hi guys,

This is probably a really basic question, but i found this wafer lock master key and don't get how it works,
i get how a lock works and how a master key works but how can a key work on so many different locks when they aren't master keyed to this key,
i have one of these keys and i am yet to come up against a wafer lock which it doesn't work in.

I'm sorry if this is really basic and stupid but i just don't get it.

this is a key which looks like what i have:http://www.withoutakey.co.uk/filing-cabinet-master-key

Thanks again for your help

@tadpole_93:

A wafer lock that is master keyed usually involves the master key being cut on a different key blank from the user keys and the wafers being used in the lock having specially cut bitting openings in them in which the user key is in contact with the wafer in a different area than the master key, allowing for the different levels of keying and for the wafer lock to allow two different bittings to operate the lock in the same space on the key...

~~ Evan

[Raymond]

If you look into the keyway you may notice that several of the wafers appear to have a step, left or right. Then notice that change key blade contacts the wafers on only one side and the master key blade contacts the wafers on the other side. By using the correct wafer one can make both keys work. If the lock is not to be mastered, there will be no step.
If this lock has 5 wafers and 5 depths then a kit made up of 25 different stepped wafers can make all of the possible combinations. The wafers would be marked as: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32,....to 55. Note that the 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55 are unstepped and are the same as non masterkey wafers.

[tadpole_93]

thank you very much for both of your reply's Evan and Raymond,
I'm sorry i must have not made my self clear, the master key i have has opened every wafer lock i have come up against,
it has opened wafer locks which i didn't know had master keys,
my question was more referring to how can this key open so many different locks because to me this looks like a huge vulnerability in the locks if they can all be opened with the same key (not that wafer locks are that secure anyway)

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question,
thank you again for all of your help and the information you provided was both very interesting and useful,