These are courtesy of Patrick Smith, of Commando Lock Company. Many, many thanks for the preview of these prototypes.
The most obvious difference in the above picture is the new matt chrome finish on the shackle. He describes it as "very durable, very strong and very rust proof".
The main attraction that can be shown in the pictures is the new Y1 keyway! This is a huge change, and will keep many beginner pickers out due to the difference in how open the keyway is.
And the keys from the front:
The bitting is intentionally mild, and Patrick had a couple of other updates disabled on these so the lock cylinder can be isolated for testing. Note that both of the keys have exactly the same bitting. More on that soon.
Here they are with the pick used to open them.
Inside where they are not as easily noticed, Patrick has included a few other treats. In addition to the normal spools they put into the locks, there are now serrated driver pins tossed into the mix. ***said in television spokesperson voice*** But wait! For Commando Lock Company, that's just not good enough! Now the prototypes are including not only spooled and serrated driver pins, but they are including serrated key pins!!! Not one or two or three, but five of them at no additional cost!!! WE'RE not done! as a special bonus Commando Lock Company's Prestigeous President has put in ... wait for it... wait for it... not just a bump pin. After all, numerous companies give bump pins. Commando had added even more innovation by including a serrated bump pin!
What is the matter with this guy? Doesn't he want anybody with a pick to be able to open the lock? In a personal interview ficticiously conducted last night, when asked that exact question, he answered "No! If they want to pick my locks, they are going to have to earn that ability. No stinking pick guns and bump keys are going to open my locks!
***Back to normal voice***
OK, now for the review. Grabbed one of the locks at random and one of Legion303's picks because it was closest to the couch where my beautiful wife and I were watching a movie. A little under two minutes later, the M1 fell victim to the pick and wrench. Took so long because my wife kept trying to hold my hand during the movie. That adds a level of difficulty.
Patrick, if you can add some feature that makes the picker's spouse show up and try to hold the picker's hand, it definately slows down the picker. It may be a tough feature to add, but if anyone can develop that feature, it is you.
The spool pins are what we have come to love about Commando Locks. But the serrated add a bit of difficulty. By feel, the serrations are more clearly defined than you find on American (brand) padlocks. It is not as easy with Patrick's serrated pins. It is not as easy as following clicks. These serrations are larger and deeper. (Filipe... mind your mannors!)
you can't just skip over them like with the American locks. They catch and feel like you really hit the shear line.So, as the pins go, kudos, Patrick.
By the time I picked up the second Commando (with the Y1 keyway), I was thinking of how I was going to fly right through it. WRONG! It took almost 5 minutes to pick it the first time. Working those security pins within the Y1 keyway was certainly different that the M1 keyway. The Y1 keyway definately slowed down the picking process.
Patrick also had one lock pinned with brass springs, and the other with squid carcasses. OK, maybe they were not squid carcasses, they were stainless steel springs. Note to Patrick, probably not good to use squid carcases. First, the smell will draw every cat for blocks around. Hmmm. Maybe that is a benefit. It is hard to surriptitiously open a lock when there are 200 squid-starved cats trying to get at the lock. And talk about hard to make the picks work when you are battling paws and claws for the same lock.
The brass springs are softer, so will have a different feel than the stainless steel springs.
I can hardly wait for these to be production line locks. I'm going to get some for practice.
Again, my thanks to Patrick Smith for the sample and the additional info not posted here.
Gordon
I still have tons to learn. That is why my signature still has not changed. I appreciate all the knowledge that so many people here share with me.