S&G Lever lock fix and key impression

[phrygianradar]

A long time back I got an old S&G lever lock off eBay that I thought was cool looking, but it didn't have any keys. So I held on to it for quite a while and it was in the locked position which I never thought would change… Then not long ago I picked it! A first for me and I was quite excited, so I posted about it on the "what did you pick today" thread. Then I set about trying to impression a key for it, or at least make a key by looking into the now open shackle hole to see the levers gates and where they where in relation to the bolt stump(not sure if that is the correct term. I was just calling it a "stub") on the locking dog. So, I was getting close to the point where I thought that I had a key that would work, when I accidentally broke a piece off (the stub, or bolt stump to be exact) with a tiny little screwdriver while trying to lift a lever up to see where I was. I must have been lifting the stub or pushing on it or doing something else stupid... I was crushed because now it didn't matter what key I put in; anything would work because it now didn't matter if the lever gates lined up on not. I am not sure how I did it but it happened and nothing could take it back. So I let a few days go by and then thought that maybe I could open the lock up and fix it. So that is what I did. Here are some pictures of what it all looks like and how it turned out.

Here is the lock totally disassembled:



The way I got the lock apart was by putting a really sharp and small chisel in the crack of the face plate and trying to gently work it off. It did come off with minimal damage. It sucked to have to do that, but I really wanted to see if I could fix it.

Here are all the levers lined up. If anyone can tell me why there are two gates I would be interested to know. I don't know a lot about these types of locks:



Here is a picture of the broken piece:



Here is what it would look like with all the gates lined up and the "stub" not broken off and what I had to deal with:





So I took an old key and cut a little rectangular piece out and started shaping it with files and my dremel:







Now I took the piece and carefully but firmly tapped it into place with a little hammer. Little hammer! Carefully!!!





I put the lock back together and finished the key. Now I am a happy camper. I really wish that I didn't have to have taken the lock apart, but it is what it is…



There is a little bit of damage to the seem around the faceplate. It isn't supposed to come off! I used a vice and cloth to squeeze the faceplate back on and then used the round end of a ball peen hammer to "squish" the posts back into place. The whole lock is brass so it is pretty soft metal. You can tell it has come off if you look closely, but I am surprised that it looks as good as it does. Almost as surprised as I am that I got the thing fixed!

If anyone would like to add something or correct any of the terms I used, please do so! This was a learning experience for me and I am very proud of the fact that I got it back together and that it is now a "lock" again and not just a broken dream…

Back when I first started picking locks I never would have thought that I would be doing these sorts of things. I owe so much to this site and the people who have taken time to show their work. I hope that someone learned something from this. I wish that I would have taken more pictures or even videos, but perhaps next time I mess something up. It's bound to happen!

[GWiens2001]

Not sure, as have not seen levers with two true gates before. But the gates are not the same distance apart on each lever. Perhaps it is a method by which this lock is master keyed.

What do you think? It will be interesting to see where this leads.

By the way... Nice job with the repair!

Gordon

[phrygianradar]

Not sure, as have not seen levers with two true gates before. But the gates are not the same distance apart on each lever. Perhaps it is a method by which this lock is master keyed.

What do you think? It will be interesting to see where this leads.

By the way... Nice job with the repair!

Gordon

I thought the same thing about it being master keyed, but I am so inexperienced with these type of locks that I wasn't sure. I am hoping someone can weigh in who has seen this before. Maybe the levers were mass produced for different purposes? I don't want to take it apart again, but maybe I can try to make a different key for it. I don't know what that will prove but it would be fun!

[Divinorum]

Very cool and very nice work!!! I have a bunch of lever locks that I have yet to learn how to pick and impression. Been busy lately and have not had time. This has inspired me to make some time and learn something new .

[GWiens2001]

Was just given a burglary rated safe (115 pounds, even though it is small) that has a lever lock along the lines of what you pictured here. It was given because it has no key. Will try making a key for it soon. It will be a nice challenge for a slow day.

Gordon

[phrygianradar]

Was just given a burglary rated safe (115 pounds, even though it is small) that has a lever lock along the lines of what you pictured here. It was given because it has no key. Will try making a key for it soon. It will be a nice challenge for a slow day.

Gordon

I am soooo jealous! Please send a picture! I tend to obsess over those types of projects and not put them down until I have them completed or the safe opened. By any means necessary… Screwdriver and pipe wrench comes to mind. Not for your safe of course, but you know what I am talking about. I just like to get things open!!!

[C-Horse]

Great repair on that lock man, I hope to come across a few lever's one of these days.

[phrygianradar]

Thanks C-Horse! I am getting a bit more into lever locks, but they are a whole new world. I really wanted to save this lock because it is so heavy and quality feeling. I know that cracking it open didn't help the value of it, but for me it was quite satisfying to get it fixed. Learned quite a bit, too! I still want to find out about all the gates on the levers though...