Half cut pins are used mostly to increase the number of pinning options in master key systems. At least that's where I've run into them most. I think people like to use them because they are a pain in the repinning process...
it may be that the manufacturer has changed their pin specs and you have a lock from an older system.
I came across this once and spent a lot of time fighting with an old Yale master-key system. Yale locks use pins with a .025 increment between pins and all of the locks I had were all sorts of odd pin lengths. I was confused and frustrated until I called Yale to get the original key list (which they had on microfiche) and found out they changed their pin specs from .019 to .025 in the mid 60's and this system was older than that.
A certain locksmith in my city only uses half cut on his Medeco systems. He claims that only he knows how to cut the keys properly...He still uses the old 00 keyway. He never upgraded his systems to biaxial or M3. He thinks that he retains the exclusivity and warns his customers against using any other locksmiths because they wouldn't be able to cut the keys...What a looney he is. Little does he know, my machine is capable of cutting half step and I also have the pin kit. Sadly his customer stick with him because he thinks it's 1950 and his prices reflect that too. Other that that I rarely see half steps except for one customer of mine with an old Sargent masterkey system.
Altashot wrote:A certain locksmith in my city only uses half cut on his Medeco systems. He claims that only he knows how to cut the keys properly...He still uses the old 00 keyway. He never upgraded his systems to biaxial or M3. He thinks that he retains the exclusivity and warns his customers against using any other locksmiths because they wouldn't be able to cut the keys...What a looney he is. Little does he know, my machine is capable of cutting half step and I also have the pin kit. Sadly his customer stick with him because he thinks it's 1950 and his prices reflect that too. Other that that I rarely see half steps except for one customer of mine with an old Sargent masterkey system.
M.
Interesting, so Medeco offers pins in half-depths?
