Key-Way Identification Needed

[techguru]

Got a box of many locks in two different brands inside a case bought at auction. Of course there are no keys. I'm wanting to order blanks to try to make keys for them via impressioning. I just need to know what blanks I need to order...

The first one is brass and says Herculock USA 800 on the lock. I'm not finding Herculock blanks anywhere so I believe an alternative will have to be used. I have gotten a MasterLock M5 key to fit into the lock but it leaves a gap at the bottom and I don't know if there is a 6th pin that it does not reach or if it's only a 5 pin if the pin spacing is the same that a M5 MasterLock uses so even the 5th pin could be beyond the end of the key.



The second lock has no name or anything on it. It is brass and I believe it could be a "WB".



I thought a 600dpi flat bed scan would provide the best image, just let me know if a macro photo is needed.

Hopefully all the locks of the same brand are keyed alike so I only have to impression twice! lol

[petemoss]

Sorry, I have no idea about the blank to use. However, as to the number of pins question, GWiens2001 recommended the following to me, take a half diamond pick or similar, flip it upside down, Insert it, depress all of the pins, slowly pull the pick out and listen to how many pin clicks there are. Hopefully, I didn't butcher that too much.

[GWiens2001]

Petemoss, you got it right! You are a fast learner.

techguru, you can try looking at online key blank catalogs like this one. There are other ones. That ILCO one for North American cylinders is but one of ILCO's catalogs.

As for the Herculock, you may find them listed under the manufacturer Hercules. The Herculock 800 series padlocks have 5 pins. With the exception of the Series 400, which has 4 pins, all their models that I have info on - Series 500, 540, 560, 600, 700, 700M, 800, 900, 980, 8000 and 9000 all use 5 pins. Hope that helps.

And Herculock's literature advertises that they can key their locks to most popular keyways (ie. Master, Corbin, Yale, Best, and others). The info on Herculock comes from a sales sample kit that I acquired a while back. So you may have to browse that catalog I linked to find a match.

Gordon

[femurat]

I'm impressed by the scans quality. I never thought a scanner could work but I have to admit it does. I see some blur when the keyhole is far from the scanner glass, but the closer part is perfect!

Good luck with your project

[techguru]

Thank you both.

I’ve confirmed both lock brands are 5 pin. I’ve been able to pick open the no name but not the Herculock (it must have security pins).

[techguru]

Just a couple of updates.

First the Herculock...

Went ahead and cut one of the locks open to remove the core then used a file on a M5 keyblank to make a key to it. Works great but how can I get a original (cut by code) key made so I don't have to use my ugly file job key? I measured all the pins with a caliper, I don't think I can make a MasterLock key code from it because one of the pins is longer than the MasterLock standard but the others seem to all match up to standard ML cuts ok.

Now the WB...

According to this here chart the WB should be the "CR" key-way which I'm thinking could be restricted because I'm not finding blanks anywhere.

[jeffmoss26]

CR is indeed restricted.

[techguru]

CR is indeed restricted.

Is there any way of obtaining blanks?

Are there any known alternatives that fit in the key-way?

[jeffmoss26]

not that I am aware of.

[Peter Martin]

The Herculock 800 may be a M16/1092NR. I have the same lock and am scouring the catalogs.

[kingstoncity00]

I founds a short video on YouTube were it was suggested that it looked like a Wilson-Bohannon keys at. Using a Ilco 1071D, 1071E, or maybe 1071M key blank. I'm waiting on these blanks to arrive to see if they work

[jeffmoss26]

none of the 1071 blanks will work for the CR keyway. As posted a year ago, it's restricted. You may be able to modify something else to work but those 3 are the reverse.

[stratmando]

I'm impressed by the scans quality. I never thought a scanner could work but I have to admit it does. I see some blur when the keyhole is far from the scanner glass, but the closer part is perfect!

Good luck with your project

Can see Keyway clear enough.
Wonder if he put tissue paper in keyway to show more clearly. The Ilco catalog could sure help.
I mentioned before, it would be nice if someone made 8 1/2X 11" thin Stainless pages with keyways. You could try keys like at Home Depot, wherever, but portable as opposed to the large contraptions at the stores.

[Raymond]

Look at an Ilco 1010M for Sargent. The V cut may not be deep enough but the rest looks similar.