Why are serrated pins not conical?

[Thanshin]

A line of conical serrated pins would change the pin picking order on each serration, right?

I'm imagining a very small slope cone. One that has a diameter difference between top and bottom that's about twice the position difference between first and last pick order pins.

[GWiens2001]

That would be a give-away if I understand what you are saying. It would be pretty clear as to when the pin was at the proper level.

As for why they don't do it... cost.

Gordon

[Thanshin]

[disclaimer: I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just trying to understand. ]

That would be a give-away if I understand what you are saying. It would be pretty clear as to when the pin was at the proper level. As for why they don't do it... cost.

I understand the cost part but, how would one know when the pin was at the proper level?

I imagine the pin with a shape similar to this:
http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3000/ ... 80.jpg?c=2
Except the external walls would be vertical (although concentric) instead of conical. It would be like an "inverted round serrated ziggurat".

When the pin is binding, moving the serration up one level would make a different pin bind. Essentially, picking a lock with all conical serrated pins would be like picking all serrated except after passing every serration one would have to find the next binding pin.

[GWiens2001]

Serrated pins can already cause a different pin to bind. But the modified conical shape would have a different feel when picking.

Gordon

[Thanshin]

One day I'll file down some pins to that shape and send the lock to bosnianbill to check his reaction while picking them.

[kwoswalt99-]

The "Christmas tree" pins used in some Assa/Ruko locks have a similar shape, although the serrations are bigger than a standard serrated pin.

[GWiens2001]

The "Christmas tree" pins used in some Assa/Ruko locks have a similar shape, although the serrations are bigger than a standard serrated pin.

They also use countermilling that the Christmas tree pins catch in.

Gordon