Alumininimn master 140???

[WilsonTrucking]

Finally got around to milling this thing open and, surprise surprise, not a single security pin in the lot. The package clearly states "anti-pick pins"... false advertising?

[gumptrick]

How pathetic. While the older Brass 140s were far from a high security lock, at least they did have security pins.

The advertising sure sounds shady to me, but I can't help but fear some kind of silly response like "the mere presence of pins is the anti pick feature".

What is sad about all this is that Master has been more than capable of producing very good locks--in the past anyway. Consider the long-discontinued No. 19. I know we pickers love to make fun of Master Lock but the 19 is no joke--massive heavy construction, can't shim it, can't bypass it, good tolerances, really evil keyway, 6 security pins. Alas it seems that as time progresses they just get crappier and crappier. I remember seeing posts elsewhere showing the current production American locks (now owned by Master) having a far less secure pin arrangement than the previous ones. I own a few Americans (pre-Master ownership) that have serrated keypins. The current ones? Nope.

[demux]

I remember seeing posts elsewhere showing the current production American locks (now owned by Master) having a far less secure pin arrangement than the previous ones. I own a few Americans (pre-Master ownership) that have serrated keypins. The current ones? Nope.

Yeah, I've seen these too. I've even heard from a few places that the newer ones are completely replacing the standard American cylinders with the cheap, pot metal, crimped-on-the-end Master style ones.

At least the American lock bodies and locking mechanisms are (for now) still well made. I tend to buy most of my locks in the KIK or SFIC prep less core, so since I'm putting my own in I get around a lot of that. I suppose someday Master will cheapen down that design as well. Then it will be time to start buying everything from PacLock, or Abus, or... Shame how they took a solid brand and are running it into the ground.

[gumptrick]

[quote="demux"}
Yeah, I've seen these too. I've even heard from a few places that the newer ones are completely replacing the standard American cylinders with the cheap, pot metal, crimped-on-the-end Master style ones.

At least the American lock bodies and locking mechanisms are (for now) still well made. I tend to buy most of my locks in the KIK or SFIC prep less core, so since I'm putting my own in I get around a lot of that. I suppose someday Master will cheapen down that design as well. Then it will be time to start buying everything from PacLock, or Abus, or... Shame how they took a solid brand and are running it into the ground. [/quote]

I saw a few photos of a cylinder that was crimped like you described, but it was at least brass. Now they have potmetal ones too? It just gets worse. And what's ironic about the whole thing is that the plastic LOTO padlocks sold by Master actually have (for now, anyway) a great core.

I own two Paclocks and I am very happy with them. Well made, 6 security pins, and a very reasonable price. They have a couple exclusive keyways as well. I'm not sure how strict the key control is but they're pretty tricky to pick.

As for Abus, I've yet to be disappointed in any of the many Abus locks I own. But I have seen some strangeness with them as well. The lowest-end model of the "Granit" series is a normal pin-tumbler core whereas most of the Granits have the disc detainer core. Those locks used to have a brass core, but now they're even cheaper and seem to be potmetal now. I've seen at least two "pick and gut" videos on YT that show the core inside and it doesn't look like the kind of quality I expect from Abus.

Here is one of them:

[Prizrak]

Finally got around to milling this thing open and, surprise surprise, not a single security pin in the lot. The package clearly states "anti-pick pins"... false advertising?

I have noticed that lots of the Walmart-quality locks (Master included) will basically say on the packaging that any pin-tumbler design is "pick-resistant," security pins or not.

[Jack002]

Master in particular seems to repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot. Least secure locks in the business. I can't imagine that they have ever had a discussion on how to up security in their locks ever. They are handy for all beginning lock pickers. A master padlock first grade for the noob picker.

[Ralph_Goodman]

Finally got around to milling this thing open and, surprise surprise, not a single security pin in the lot. The package clearly states "anti-pick pins"... false advertising?

I have noticed that lots of the Walmart-quality locks (Master included) will basically say on the packaging that any pin-tumbler design is "pick-resistant," security pins or not.

I wonder what they are referring to. They must have some reason for using the words "anti-pick pins", or they do open themselves up to false advertising issues.

The thought of variable springs came to mind, but that would not be "anti-pick pins". Unless they are counting the pin stacks as pins.

Very troubling.

[WilsonTrucking]

Finally got around to milling this thing open and, surprise surprise, not a single security pin in the lot. The package clearly states "anti-pick pins"... false advertising?

I have noticed that lots of the Walmart-quality locks (Master included) will basically say on the packaging that any pin-tumbler design is "pick-resistant," security pins or not.

I wonder what they are referring to. They must have some reason for using the words "anti-pick pins", or they do open themselves up to false advertising issues.

The thought of variable springs came to mind, but that would not be "anti-pick pins". Unless they are counting the pin stacks as pins.

Very troubling.

The 4 springs were identical, small steel pieces of crap.