Lock that opens with a blank?

[sisk]

I've bought several batches of random locks off Ebay and a couple of them have included locks still in the original packaging that are pinned up to open with a blank. Obviously these aren't meant to go into use as is, but what's the point of them? Why not just leave them uncombinated for the locksmith to pin up like some other locks are? I'm not really worried about these, just curious. At $2 per lock I'm not terribly concerned if a few of them aren't good for picking practice.

[GWiens2001]

I've bought several batches of random locks off Ebay and a couple of them have included locks still in the original packaging that are pinned up to open with a blank. Obviously these aren't meant to go into use as is, but what's the point of them? Why not just leave them uncombinated for the locksmith to pin up like some other locks are? I'm not really worried about these, just curious. At $2 per lock I'm not terribly concerned if a few of them aren't good for picking practice.

They are quicker to set up. A follower to hold the driver pins and springs in place, dump the pins, then put in the pins you want.

Gordon

[cledry]

That is standard for locks that are going to be rekeyed, commonly called 0-bitted or zero bitted. Some manufacturers 1 bit the locks.

This is why locksmiths rarely need to buy 0 pins for their pin kits.

The nice thing is you have two blanks to cut to your specifications. If they came ks or kaa you would be throwing away keys if keying to a MK system.

[cledry]

I've bought several batches of random locks off Ebay and a couple of them have included locks still in the original packaging that are pinned up to open with a blank. Obviously these aren't meant to go into use as is, but what's the point of them? Why not just leave them uncombinated for the locksmith to pin up like some other locks are? I'm not really worried about these, just curious. At $2 per lock I'm not terribly concerned if a few of them aren't good for picking practice.

By Uncombinated you mean with no bottom, top o springs? Never seen them this way.

[peterwn]

I've bought several batches of random locks off Ebay and a couple of them have included locks still in the original packaging that are pinned up to open with a blank. Obviously these aren't meant to go into use as is, but what's the point of them? Why not just leave them uncombinated for the locksmith to pin up like some other locks are? I'm not really worried about these, just curious. At $2 per lock I'm not terribly concerned if a few of them aren't good for picking practice.

They are quicker to set up. A follower to hold the driver pins and springs in place, dump the pins, then put in the pins you want.

Gordon

Saw a comment on some forum that a new university building had such cylinders fitted and the builders used a blank as the construction key.

This may be OK if the manufacturer uses a single length driver. It the manufacturer uses three or so different driver lengths, it is not good practice to re-key zero pinned cylinders retaining the existing drivers.