Lockpicking Dictionary/Glossary/Terminology

[GWiens2001]

Can anyone talk to locking dogs vs. pawls? What is the difference? Is there a difference?

Dog - In engineering a dog is a tool that prevents movement or imparts movement by offering physical obstruction or engagement of some kind. It may hold another object in place by blocking it, clamping it, or otherwise obstructing its movement. Or it may couple various parts together so that they move in unison


Pawl - A bar, pin, or stud that can be moved, pivoted, or slid into engagement with teeth cut on another part, such as the parking pawl on the automatic transmission that can be slid into contact with teeth on another part to lock the rear wheels.

As you can see the "dog" is really just something that gets in the way or blocks movement.. The Pawl is a piece that engages with a slot/tooth/groove to stop movement ..

and locking dogs are the same thing as both. it prevents movement of the shackle.

Gordon

[sol77angel]

Thank you for a very helpful and informative post

[demux]

Was surprised to see these weren't in here already, but for the record:

interchangeable core: Locking system in which a core, or unit which accepts the key and contains the pin stacks, discs, etc, is held in place in a lock or housing by a lug or sleeve. This core can be removed and replaced by activating the lug or sleeve with a control key.

SFIC: Small Format Interchangeable Core. Any interchangeable core system, available from any manufacturer which conforms to the specifications and dimensions originally developed by Frank Best in the 1960's. These are the classic "figure 8" cores.

LFIC: Large Format Interchangeable Core, sometimes also known as FSIC or Full Size Interchangeable Core. Any interchangeable core system which does not conform to the SFIC specifications. These are generally physically larger than an SFIC and generally vendor-specific, which means they are often not truly interchangeable between different manufacturers' hardware.

[jeffmoss26]

Was surprised to see these weren't in here already, but for the record:

interchangeable core: Locking system in which a core, or unit which accepts the key and contains the pin stacks, discs, etc, is held in place in a lock or housing by a lug or sleeve. This core can be removed and replaced by activating the lug or sleeve with a control key.

SFIC: Small Format Interchangeable Core. Any interchangeable core system, available from any manufacturer which conforms to the specifications and dimensions originally developed by Frank Best in the 1960's. These are the classic "figure 8" cores.

LFIC: Large Format Interchangeable Core, sometimes also known as FSIC or Full Size Interchangeable Core. Any interchangeable core system which does not conform to the SFIC specifications. These are generally physically larger than an SFIC and generally vendor-specific, which means they are often not truly interchangeable between different manufacturers' hardware.

Best cores have been around since the 1920s.

[demux]

Best cores have been around since the 1920s.

1919, if I recall correctly, but the original design was different that what is considered the modern Best SFIC.

[Ralph_Goodman]

Best cores have been around since the 1920s.

1919, if I recall correctly, but the original design was different that what is considered the modern Best SFIC.

The timeline that the company website advertises says: "1919- Frank Best invents the small format interchange core and files a patent application for the first interchangeable core lock."

Then in 1920, the company is founded.

Sounds like you are both right.

It could be said that the cores have been around since 1919 because the patent was filed that year.

But it could also be said that the 1920s are when the cores started to be "around"... because it took until 1921 to have the patented issued, and it was not even until 1925 that the padlocks went into production.

[demux]

Well, now you all got me curious. I did a bit of digging, it looks like these are the relevant patents:

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=01384022

That one I believe is the original interchangeable core that Frank Best came up with.

Here's the classic "figure 8" core, note the filing date is 1963:

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=03206958

[GWiens2001]

Yet I have a Best padlock with the standard SFIC form used today (though shorter) that is stamped from Seattle, WN.

According to their website, Best moved from Seattle, Washington to Indianapolis,Indiana in 1938. If that format had not been in use until the 1960's, then none of the cores would have been stamped as mine is. They would have been stamped for Indiana.



Gordon

EDIT: Adding to my post. Had time to read the 1965 patent. The patent wording states that the figure 8 style core has been produced since Jan 2, 1925. The 1965 patent is a modification of building method of the cores using sheet metal instead of extrusion, but the form factor is the same.

Gordon

[cledry]

Definition of MACS seems wrong to me. The problem isn't the steepness but rather it is that the peak is removed so that the bottom pin sits too low in the plug. If we want to get around MACS to a small degree we actually use a cutter with an increased angle which usually gets us one more depth between adjacent cuts. So the steeper angle actually works better in this case.

[demux]

EDIT: Adding to my post. Had time to read the 1965 patent. The patent wording states that the figure 8 style core has been produced since Jan 2, 1925. The 1965 patent is a modification of building method of the cores using sheet metal instead of extrusion, but the form factor is the same.

Well then, I stand corrected. I was wondering if something had changed that allowed Best to file for and receive another patent in 1965. Guess the answer is yes, but it didn't substantially change the design.

Nice example of a Best core, by the way. Very cool that you have something from that early.

/me is a bit jealous

[GWiens2001]

EDIT: Adding to my post. Had time to read the 1965 patent. The patent wording states that the figure 8 style core has been produced since Jan 2, 1925. The 1965 patent is a modification of building method of the cores using sheet metal instead of extrusion, but the form factor is the same.

Well then, I stand corrected. I was wondering if something had changed that allowed Best to file for and receive another patent in 1965. Guess the answer is yes, but it didn't substantially change the design.

Nice example of a Best core, by the way. Very cool that you have something from that early.

/me is a bit jealous

Was not sure exactly when what form factors happens when, either. So we both learned! Win-win

Gordon

[Jack002]

Can someone tell me what a KIK lock is? I saw it in a thread, came over here to look it up, I didn't see. it.

[GWiens2001]

Key In Knob. It is a smaller lock cylinder that is made to fit into a door handle or knob. Some padlocks are made to take a KIK cylinder, too, as are some deadbolts.

Gordon

[broadwaylock]

Nice! good stuff

[Key Guy]

If you think you know it all, then it is time to quit, lock picking and smithing is all about continual learning ! Myself at age 70 has decided it is time to learn single pin lock picking !! Wish me luck ! lol Have a great week everyone !