Regarding Simple Lever Locks - A Complete Guide by illusion

[phrygianradar]

I have not ever come across this style of lock before, but just reading this thread makes me want one for my collection! What a cool guide, kudos! Really loved the bit on making your own personal picks. That is something I have been doing more of lately. The more I learn, the more I think, "if only I had something like... to pick this with". The simple answer; make it myself! Great post! Very inspiring.

[GWiens2001]

I have not ever come across this style of lock before, but just reading this thread makes me want one for my collection! What a cool guide, kudos! Really loved the bit on making your own personal picks. That is something I have been doing more of lately. The more I learn, the more I think, "if only I had something like... to pick this with". The simple answer; make it myself! Great post! Very inspiring.

And so you see, as you gain experience, why most experienced pickers make at least some of their picks. You encounter a lock that may be either a style or bitting which make you wish you had a pick just like... (you grab a file and a pick or piece of metal)... This! And the lock pops open.

Gordon

[IndigoChild]

I wasnt going to post in this thread but what you said is so true. I have a double half ball pick for that exact reason. I also have a super sensitive tensor that you can feel everything with. Why? Because I needed them at the moment. On that note too one of my poor short hooks became a poking device for removing levers and setting kwikset smartkeys. I turned many tensors into tulip and inset tensors but my pick wallet is far too small to carry those so I usually give them to coworkers.

[kahula]

Fascinating guide for me, thanks! I'm new to this, and a bit naive. I recall being amused when on business trips caught a glance of an English colleague's house key, thinking it was antiquated, silly, and not secure; I know better now.

I'm curious to know how secure common UK lever locks v. common US pin-tumbler locks are, in terms of degree of difficulty/time for NDE.

[markdavies1]

Super post buddy very well constructed. Is it possible to give a thumbs up to a post here?

[Tango170]

Nice detail on you post, Thank you!

[peterwn]

Fascinating guide for me, thanks! I'm new to this, and a bit naive. I recall being amused when on business trips caught a glance of an English colleague's house key, thinking it was antiquated, silly, and not secure; I know better now.

I'm curious to know how secure common UK lever locks v. common US pin-tumbler locks are, in terms of degree of difficulty/time for NDE.

There are effectively two classes of UK lever locks. Low security ones have less than five levers and pad out differs with wards. Higher security ones have at least five levers and no wards (one exception - differing key profiles sometimes used). A 'double entry' (ie key can enter both sides) five lever lock would generally have two levers at the same level and a 7 cut key with 600 - 1000 differs. A keyhole 'curtain' and false notches add to security. A more secure version would still have five levers, but a 9 cut key and a sidebar type mechanism with a few tens of thousands differs. They cannot be bumped. In my opinion a high quality lever mechanism is superior to pin tumbler. For example both UK and USA prisons use lever locks, and lever locks remain popular for safes, etc. Older style pay phones in UK and USA used lever locks and these (especially the ones on coin compartments) were for all intents virtually unpickable.

[kmh6k]

very informative, thanks for taking the time to clear that up

[FuzzyChopz]

Awesome thread, really helps to see inner workings to
Fully understand how the lock works. Thanks!

[asgardschosen]

Great guide illusion, thanks! Have you ever encountered a lever lock with the same protruding ward at the bottom (to prevent overlifting) on multiple levers? For example, levers 2 and 4 are normal but levers 1 & 3 both have the extra warding at the bottom. And is it usually the 3rd lever that has that security feature?

[kwoswalt99-]

Great guide illusion, thanks! Have you ever encountered a lever lock with the same protruding ward at the bottom (to prevent overlifting) on multiple levers? For example, levers 2 and 4 are normal but levers 1 & 3 both have the extra warding at the bottom. And is it usually the 3rd lever that has that security feature?

It depends on the lock. Lever locks aren't really used in the US any more, but they used to be common in mortise or rim form on most doors, interior and exterior. They were usually simple on lever locks with lever cutouts only above the gate. Good lever locks, like the ones on safes and such, usually have all their levers cutout above and below the gate. Some other places, like the UK for example, use cheap lever locks residentially. I couldn't tell you what to expect in those. Illusion's lock is probably typical.