What kind of lock is this?

[Achyfellow]

I was watching fringe and I saw this



Looks fancy, is it a lever lock of some kind? I really doubt they bothered making a prop from scratch.

[GWiens2001]

That, my friend, is a Folger Adam prison lock. Very nice locks!

Gordon

[mechanical_nightmare]

Cool looking lock, kinda guessed it was a lever lock from the bitting. I seem to remember one of the first episodes in Fringe (the dissolving flesh one) where one of the agents rips his way through a bunch of padlocks in seconds. I would love to see the look on his face when he came across an Abloy

[ARF-GEF]

Or just a Folger Adam lol

[Achyfellow]

Cool looking lock, kinda guessed it was a lever lock from the bitting. I seem to remember one of the first episodes in Fringe (the dissolving flesh one) where one of the agents rips his way through a bunch of padlocks in seconds. I would love to see the look on his face when he came across an Abloy

Yeah, when they start breaking into all the storage boxes. They were all master padlocks by the way

@Gordon Thanks! I looked it up and it is really cool

[GWiens2001]

And yes, that is a lever lock FA. They also make pin tumbler versions.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Our very own MacGyver101 has a very nice write up about his Folger Adam restoration project:

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=52798

Enjoy!
Squelchtone

[GWiens2001]

Loved MacGyver101's writeup. Been trying to get one of those lever-lock beauties for a while now.

Here is a look at the pin tumbler version of the Folger Adam lock. (This would screw into the lock body.)



In the above picture, there is the FA lock, key, and a Yale 7 pin mortise lock and key, just for scale.

Here is the same picture as above, but from a different angle.



This pin tumbler FA is quite a bit smaller than the lever lock version FA in the OP's post. But it is still massive.





Gordon

[mechanical_nightmare]

Gordon,

How do you find the pick resistance of the pin-tumbler Folger Adam? Does it have security pins?

[GWiens2001]

To be honest, have not found the time to try picking it since receiving it. Have so many projects going that some things get pushed to the back burner.

That said, at the very least, the springs feel stronger than normal when putting in the key, and each pin channel in mine has a ball bearing at the lowest point, making keeping a normal pick on the pin difficult.

Can think of several possible weaknesses and ways to make the needed picks. However, considering what these locks are used for, will refrain from posting them here.

Gordon

[ARF-GEF]

The big issue I found is that all the pins have metal balls on top, can't "grab" them with my pick, it slides down

[MBI]

Just cup the balls. Gently, of course.

Sometimes the ball bearings are used to reduce wear on locks that get lots of use. Often just in the first pin stack or two. If you file a groove in the tip of a hook, half diamond (or whatever your favorite SPP pick is) it can help keep it centered on the ball.

[spandexwarrior]

I did that with one of the Southord Max picks. The steel and the .031 thickness made it pretty good for staying on the ball bearings and having the strength to lever up the binding stack.

-Brian

[ARF-GEF]

D'oh I should have thought of that!
Thanks MBI