Information on a Couple Padlocks

[Airmaxx23]

Hello, I joined the forum yesterday and starting picking locks about 8 days ago (PXS-14 Set) just for something to occupy some time and it's something I always thought was interesting. So far I've picked all of these locks numerous times but I was wondering if anyone has any information on the type of pins, etc...that may be in the U-Haul and Russwin locks. I received them without keys and was able to pick them after a little while but they were definitely a challenge since I'm just starting. I tried searching but didn't find much at all, thanks in advance for any help.

[jeffmoss26]

The Best and Russwin are interchangeable cores. The Best is one of the Wx series keyways and it may have security pins. It's not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines.
The Sargent mortise cylinder should not have any security pins but they have very good tolerances.

[Airmaxx23]

The Best and Russwin are interchangeable cores. The Best is one of the Wx series keyways and it may have security pins. It's not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines.
The Sargent mortise cylinder should not have any security pins but they have very good tolerances.

Thanks for the information. I'm able to pick the Best lock as well but it is tricky. When I was picking the Russwin yesterday I decided to try a rake pick just to see what would happen and I somehow picked the core right out of it. Are there any special pins in the Russwin? I've found that the Brinks locks are real easy to pick.

[Squelchtone]

The Best and Russwin are interchangeable cores. The Best is one of the Wx series keyways and it may have security pins. It's not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines.
The Sargent mortise cylinder should not have any security pins but they have very good tolerances.

I want to slightly challenge your notion that the BEST is not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines. You are 100% right if you mean that it is a better idea to learn on a simpler mechanism where you have 1 set of key pins and 1 set of driver pins, thus 1 shearline, and no control sleeve to fumble with, but I would like to say that since there are multiple shearlines in the BEST, it would be easier to rake open by someone just learning, more shearlines = more chances to win. BEST is well made however so it isn't as easy as let's say raking open a Kwikset deadbolt.

I'm also not 100% sure that Russwin is IC core, but like I said, I'm not sure, it just doesn't look like a control key IC core, maybe a core you can drop out via a shackle hole set screw so you can repin it.

just my opinions,
Squelchtone

[Airmaxx23]

The Best and Russwin are interchangeable cores. The Best is one of the Wx series keyways and it may have security pins. It's not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines.
The Sargent mortise cylinder should not have any security pins but they have very good tolerances.

I want to slightly challenge your notion that the BEST is not a good beginner lock due to the multiple shearlines. You are 100% right if you mean that it is a better idea to learn on a simpler mechanism where you have 1 set of key pins and 1 set of driver pins, thus 1 shearline, and no control sleeve to fumble with, but I would like to say that since there are multiple shearlines in the BEST, it would be easier to rake open by someone just learning, more shearlines = more chances to win. BEST is well made however so it isn't as easy as let's say raking open a Kwikset deadbolt.

I'm also not 100% sure that Russwin is IC core, but like I said, I'm not sure, it just doesn't look like a control key IC core, maybe a core you can drop out via a shackle hole set screw so you can repin it.

just my opinions,
Squelchtone

Thanks, I've had the core out of the Russwin, I was messing around with rake pick (which I don't normally use) and raked the core out. When I was messing the core I locked it as if it were in the padlock and had to pick it open to get it inserted into the lock again. The rake pick idea is nice but I want to actually pick the locks, I feel like I'm doing ok for just starting out.

[GWiens2001]

That Best core looks to be a WB keyway. Nice lock. Have some blanks for those.

Gordon

[jeffmoss26]

Since you said the core came out, it's definitely a LFIC.
I can have keys made for that core if you want.