BEST key blanks???

[Raymond]

Best simple answer so far is to contact Best for who can cut the duplicate even though most of us do not like the the Best company!

With everything that has been said about this lock and Peaks core, no one has mentioned that you probably do not have the core removal key. This means that to change cores and keyways, you will probably have to have the lock core drilled out. (additional costs)

The only greatist features this lock has are: 1. key control- cant easily get duplicates and 2. pick resistance. The shackle is easily cuttable and the core is easily drilled to open the lock.

If you are in fear of losing the key and creating a huge momentary personal problem of inconvenience, then plan on getting another padlock. Remember: plan to fail or fail to plan. - Your choice. You can choose the same lock or a bigger, badder one with at least the same or better key control, better pick resistance, and much more destructive entry resistance. However, continuing on with only one key is definitely asking for a problem. At least you asked the most knowledgeable and opinionated group around.

[Irma Herms]

Why the bad words for best, they are the big daddy of lock companies in my opinion as well as many of the largest institutions in the US and make a very solid product. I was working for a university that had 1930's best hardware and was still fully functioning and no other lock company has such a large black market for their product.

also wondering about the Multiplex blanks

FM is the master keyway for A-R. If you can get your hands on one of those and it slides in, you know it should be available from most any locksmith.

Um, no it isn't. FM is sketchy at best and quality control is inadequate even with top brand like Ilco. Best offers such multiplex blanks and if you're going to use the FM, OEM is the only way to go.

It's supposed to fit A,D,E,F and G. It does not fit B,C and H & above. The thing is that, Best knows exactly what machining tolerances are for their cylinders, so they can make it properly. Third parties, not so. I've got some Star brand that do not fit F keyways.

Well said! Your case in point regarding OEM (original equipment manufacturers) keys is well taken, for Master, Schlage, and most of all for BEST.

I have 2 that I know of JK and KM wondering if anyone else knows of any others is DD a multi? BA?

[cledry]

I am constantly replacing BEST cores that have failed, either the working keys stop along with the control key or the control key stops working. This is something that happens at least weekly for me. I don't have the same failure rate with regular master keyed cylinders. I think with the tight tolerances and pin stacks they just don't hold up to the constant use.

[Evan]

I am constantly replacing BEST cores that have failed, either the working keys stop along with the control key or the control key stops working. This is something that happens at least weekly for me. I don't have the same failure rate with regular master keyed cylinders. I think with the tight tolerances and pin stacks they just don't hold up to the constant use.

@cledry:

Any lock under constant use will fail... Master keyed locks will drop a pin eventually, those tight tolerances in Best cores mean that wear has to be detected faster and the core swapped out for one keyed the same way before failure occurs... Most people do not properly maintain locks preventively and only have them repaired or replaced after the failure happens...

~~ Evan

[wiz329]

Hello,

I am needing some help identifying a Key and locating a blank.

The key says Kaba Peaks and has a series of numbers on the front and back of the key.
The numbers on the front say A03 L28 and those look laser engraved the ones on the back look stamped on and don't look original SLP 01.

I have done some research on this key and it is a Kaba Peaks Classic key.
This was a patented key, but the utility patent expired June 2010.

I have searched online to see if I can find a blank, but I have not had any luck.
When doing my searches I kept coming accross the brand BEST.

Does anyone know of any key blanks that will work for my key?

I can send photos of the key if that would help.

THANKS

Since you still have the bill of sale you already know who you can obtain additional copies of the keys from... No dealer of the Kaba/BEST Peaks products will sell you an additional copy of another dealer's cut keys (this is what that laser engraved number 'A03 L28' is, it identifies the dealer who cut and sold the key) because even though the blanks are no longer under patent protection, the dealers who have access to them who can cut such keys are still under contract to follow the agreements they made in order to be able to sell the locks and keys in the first place... Just because the patent has expired doesn't mean the contracts which limit distribution of the materials become null and void...

"SLP 01" is an internal code by the locksmith to identify the key so that they could cut you another one if you lost your keys...

Nothing is forcing you from continuing to use your Peaks cores and keys, if you want to swap them out with something you can copy without restrictions there are hundreds of options open to you... But something tells me that is why you opted for the Peaks cores and keys in the first place when they were installed...

You can't find "Kaba Peaks" brand key blanks anymore because BEST Access Systems has purchased the rights to sell the the Peaks product from Kaba-Ilco...

~~ Evan

I'm curious why no 3rd parties are making these KB blanks if they are no longer protected by patent.

[PinTumbl]

Isn't that simply a BEST 'M' keyway by the pictures?

[billdeserthills]

There is one keyblank that you can't be caught with, its the keys for mailbox lock, as you see in the post office, they look like a yale only they are opposed, I don't remember the name of them off the top of my head.

reverse Y1.

Squelchtone

Actually I have a box of them & they are called Y2R because it is a 6-pin reverse
There are plenty of locks from overseas that these keys do fit.

[GWiens2001]

There is one keyblank that you can't be caught with, its the keys for mailbox lock, as you see in the post office, they look like a yale only they are opposed, I don't remember the name of them off the top of my head.

reverse Y1.

Squelchtone

Actually I have a box of them & they are called Y2R because it is a 6-pin reverse
There are plenty of locks from overseas that these keys do fit.

I think that in the five years since Squelchtone wrote that post, he has probably learned the Y2R.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

["]

There is one keyblank that you can't be caught with, its the keys for mailbox lock, as you see in the post office, they look like a yale only they are opposed, I don't remember the name of them off the top of my head

reverse Y1.



Actually I have a box of them & they are called Y2R because it is a 6-pin reverse
There are plenty of locks from overseas that these keys do fit.

I think that in the five years since Squelchtone wrote that post, he has probably learned the Y2R.

Gordon

As the key is largely unavailable to the public & even the private business industry I highly doubt that. However I do believe that Squelchtone did have the ability at the time he said it was a Y1R to have actually counted the cuts on a usps po box key and find that there are 6 cuts, and that even at that time know that it was not a Y1R which would contain 5 pins. However I do not know Squelchtone so I must simply accept Your word on the whole thing