Schlage padlock.

[Sabin37]

I have a 5-pin padlock that says Schlage on one side of the lock body and RFL on the other side. The plug has Chubb written on it and the key handle has Chubb on one side and Medeco on the other. The key has a total of 5 groves for the wards in the lock and the cuts in the key are very jagged. Can anyone tell me how difficult this lock is to pick and if it has a sidebar or not. I've been picking it for a couple days with no luck. Thanks!

[Eschatos]

Oh lord,

So you're trying to pick the infamous Schlage/Chubb/Medeco Frankenstein padlock. I say give up now, while you're ahead.

-Elijah

[Sabin37]

Oh lord,

So you're trying to pick the infamous Schlage/Chubb/Medeco Frankenstein padlock. I say give up now, while you're ahead.

-Elijah

I'm trying to not let my confidence be deterred by that statement but this is starting to seem next to impossible.

[Sabin37]

It seems like I have set all the pins but the plug still won't turn.

[quickpicks]

There are little nothes in the pins that have to be lined up with the sidebar.
Your padlock is biaxial?

[raimundo]

in the bottom of the key cuts, is each cut angled differently, there are three angles usually, straight, left and right diagonals, the pins have chisel tips that rotate to fit in these grooves, and when the groove aligns the pin, a slot on the side of the pin lets in a finger from the sidebar, but only when all five pins are aligned at the same time, (when the key is put in) You need to read whatever is said about picking medeco, and very few people on this site have anything credible to say about it.

[quickpicks]

This lock sounds like an interesting challenge. Where can I get one of theese frankenstien locks from?

[Pickermeapie]

Mabey its an interchangeable core with a medco SFIC in it. Dosen't sound frankenstien-ish.

[Eschatos]

When he says the cuts on the key are very jagged, I can't tell if he means there is a high-low type bitting on the key, or the key cuts are indeed angled to fit a Medeco SFIC.

What threw me off was the Chubb name on the plug, then Chubb and Medeco on the key, and Best, and some other name on the case. Which brand lock is this, exactly?! Describe the key as best you can!

[Chucklz]

The lock body is Schlage to be sure. The core certainly sounds like a Medeco to me, probably contracted to produce cores for Chubb. RFL.... something Royal ____ _____, Chubb being a very common Brit. lock, I would suggest that this lock is from some governmental body.

[Wolf2486]

Yeah, odds are if you think all the pins are set, yet the lock fails to open, odds are your pins are not aligned with the sidebar. You could try the old trick of bending a half diamond pick 15 degrees and softly scrub the pins after you think they have all set. However, this has never worked for me in the past.

[alias]

Based on the dual Medeco/Chubb branding on the key and the Chubb branding on the core itself, we can assume that the core is one of either Medeco Biaxial or Keymark as Chubb and Medeco are both part of the ASSA 'uber'-corporation and Chubb is licensed to badge both the Biaxial and Keymark lines in the UK.

From the information you've provided it doesn't sound like Keymark as a doglegged keyway would likely score a mention so I'd be assuming it's a Chubb Biaxial SFIC core. Aside from the branding there are no differences between the Chubb and Medeco iterations so you can use any information you find on Medeco Biaxial locks and apply it to your situation.

To get you started, yes there is a sidebar (unless removed at some point). Yes they are hard to pick and no I've never picked one of mine (well not with the sidebar and all the pins in it) but yes other people have picked them including Barry from Toool in less than 4 minutes!!!!!

I don't know what your skill level is but unless you're a freak you should probably look for something a little less taxing. If you've got a key for the thing perhaps you could look at buying an easier SFIC to put in the body or if you really want to pick that sidebar, try removing all bar one pin stack and then pick it and get the feel for how the sidebar engages. Then step up to 2 pin stacks and try again. It's been a while since I've played with my Biaxials but in the past I've managed to open them with 2 pin stacks but just can't get past 3....maybe its time for more play....

Oh yeah, and RFL sounds like it could be the English 'Rugby Football League'. I could see a body like that needing a bunch of corporate branded padlocks. Total stab in the dark though...

Any chance of a picture?

[Cyber Samurai]

Medco's are infamously difficult. Good luck, be patient, and let us know how it goes!


Cyber Samurai

[Sabin37]

in the bottom of the key cuts, is each cut angled differently, there are three angles usually, straight, left and right diagonals.

Yes the key cuts are indeed angled differently, not only in the bitting but also the actual cuts. Thanks for describing how the chisel tipped pins engage the sidebar. I now have a good idea of what I need to do to pick this lock.

When he says the cuts on the key are very jagged, I can't tell if he means there is a high-low type bitting on the key, or the key cuts are indeed angled to fit a Medeco SFIC.

What threw me off was the Chubb name on the plug, then Chubb and Medeco on the key, and Best, and some other name on the case. Which brand lock is this, exactly?! Describe the key as best you can!

The lock doesn't say Best on it and everything else that is on it is described in my previous post. I'll try to post a picture of the lock and key soon. I hope I answered your first paragraph in my statement above.

You could try the old trick of bending a half diamond pick 15 degrees and softly scrub the pins after you think they have all set. However, this has never worked for me in the past.

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it out.

[Sabin37]

Here are some pictures of the lock and key. I didn't mean to make them this big.







It was hard to get a clear shot of the diagonal cuts in the key in the picture above.