Assa V-10 pinning?

[Korver15]

So I recently bought Open in Thirty Seconds by Marc Weber Tobias and I am reading through the section about other high security locks. He talked about the the Assa V10 which was of particular interest because I found one on ebay a month or so ago and I hope to pick it eventually. It was discussing the design of assas side bar when it showed a picture of the V10 key. It looked exactly like they key I had. I rummaged though my key ring pulled it out and compared the two, and they are pinned exactly the same. I looked over for about 10 minutes. Now this got me wondering. The probability of me getting the lock that was used in this book is phenomenally low. So that leaves that the key bitting are mass produced? That seems really odd coming from something that should be high security. What are your thoughts



while it looks like the 5th side pin is different it is actually flat just like in the picture in the book. The lighting doesn't give it justice

[VancouverSpecial71]

Seems like a pretty weird situation given Assa's reputation - I too would like hear any insight from other members.

I was getting a little confused comparing the keys at first - i think it might be clearer if you covered up the lower key in both of the photos. In the book, the purpose of the photo is to make a side-by-side comparison of two Assa keys with the same main bitting but different side bittings. Now your key looks to have the same (or very close) main bitting as both keys in the photo - however, your side bitting is similar to the topmost key only - it does NOT match the bottom key's side bitting at all.

Interesting observation for sure - thanks for sharing.
Sean

[Squelchtone]

It could be a dealer sample. I know their factory cutaways use the same key code and sidebar code.

Korver, is your lock a cutaway or does it look like a production lock that was pulled from an existing system? does it have the word DEMO stamped on the back of the key bow?

By the way, good eye!

[Korver15]

I was getting a little confused comparing the keys at first - i think it might be clearer if you covered up the lower key in both of the photos.

Good call. Confused myself once doing that

It could be a dealer sample. I know their factory cutaways use the same key code and sidebar code.

Korver, is your lock a cutaway or does it look like a production lock that was pulled from an existing system? does it have the word DEMO stamped on the back of the key bow?

By the way, good eye!

It is not a cutaway unfortunately, and I scoured the cylinder and key for any declarative markings and cant find anything. I bought it used-like-new on ebay from someone who started an auction and had a buy it now price of 25$... Suspicious? To me it looks like it could have been production but not for certain.

[Korver15]

Also it is not master pinned.

[billdeserthills]

The sidebar code on the head of the key looks different

[Korver15]

Yes I mentioned on that earlier

while it looks like the 5th side pin is different it is actually flat just like in the picture in the book. The lighting doesn't give it justice

[GWiens2001]

The sidebar code on the head of the key looks different

Agree with billdeserthills. The ones I have for the sidebar bitting code is different. Mine all have a letter, followed by numbers.



Maybe it is a demo.

Gordon

[Robotnik]

Interesting. My first instinct would also be dealer sample, but the code (599) stamped on the key may indicate otherwise. I do notice that the key in the 30 Seconds photo appears to have a different code - 79, from what I can see. If these are in fact samples/demos, could this code be a unique identifier?

Just a theory pulled out of...somewhere.

Good luck on picking it! I've opened my V10 several times, but have a Twin 6000 that won't come out of that deep ASSA false set - I'll get as far as I can on the top pins before the sidebar starts binding, I'll set the sidebar, get a solid click and rotation into a false set...and I'm in a feedback loop of dropping and re-setting pins from there.

[Robotnik]

I do not type very fast on my phone, apparently - a little late to the party

[Korver15]

The sidebar code on the head of the key looks different

Interesting. My first instinct would also be dealer sample, but the code (599) stamped on the key may indicate otherwise. I do notice that the key in the 30 Seconds photo appears to have a different code - 79, from what I can see. If these are in fact samples/demos, could this code be a unique identifier?

ohhhhh I misinterpreted what you said. My apologies. the 79 side bar code in the previous picture is for the key that I blacked out. The sidebar code for the one I compared my key to is 599



Open in 30 Seconds pg. 41
(Red line is the key in question, and the 79 is used in the book to depict how it could have the same pin tumbler code but different sidebar code)

Good luck on picking it! I've opened my V10 several times, but have a Twin 6000 that won't come out of that deep ASSA false set - I'll get as far as I can on the top pins before the sidebar starts binding, I'll set the sidebar, get a solid click and rotation into a false set...and I'm in a feedback loop of dropping and re-setting pins from there.

I was hung up on the bitting for a long time. I couldnt seem to get passed the second pin enough to push the third one up all the way. I finally decided to cheat and threw in a master wafer

[spandexwarrior]

This is the 'sample' bitting for cutaways and factory demo locks. If you flip the side bar over, 799 will operate the lock and vice versa - 599 is the mirror of 799.

-Brian

[Robotnik]

This is the 'sample' bitting for cutaways and factory demo locks. If you flip the side bar over, 799 will operate the lock and vice versa - 599 is the mirror of 799.

-Brian

Awesome info to have; thanks!

[Korver15]

This is the 'sample' bitting for cutaways and factory demo locks. If you flip the side bar over, 799 will operate the lock and vice versa - 599 is the mirror of 799.

-Brian

that is pretty cool. good thing I didnt put it on a door or something
thanks all!

[GWiens2001]

This is the 'sample' bitting for cutaways and factory demo locks. If you flip the side bar over, 799 will operate the lock and vice versa - 599 is the mirror of 799.

-Brian

that is pretty cool. good thing I didnt put it on a door or something
thanks all!

Doubt it would be a problem. Not very many people have keys with that bitting, let alone the correct sidebar bitting. Don't know about the rest of the guys and gals here, but I don't keep try-out keys of factory sample bittings.

Gordon