Mechanical locking solutions often get short shrift.
There’s no questioning the appeal of smart locks and the use of a smartphone to unlock a door as far as the general public is concerned. As we’ve been saying for years, electronics are the future of the security industry, and manufacturers are keen to market their latest and greatest electronic locks and locking solutions.
But, even as the emphasis on providing power to the door increases, mechanical locks and hardware continue to dominate the industry. In our latest State of the Industry Report, 87.2% of respondents say they stock and sell mechanical door hardware, nearly 43% more than the runner-up category, electronic door hardware.
So, locksmiths, naturally, are interested in what’s new with mechanical locks and locking solutions, and 2021 resulted in a number of such products.
Following are new mechanical locks and locking solutions that stood out over the past year.
Corbin Russwin CLX3300/SARGENT 10X
ASSA ABLOY Group brands Corbin Russwin and SARGENT released a premium bored cylindrical lock, known as the CLX3300 for Corbin Russwin and the 10X for SARGENT.
The locks have a universal lockbody chassis and support all cylinder formats, including fixed, high-security, small-format interchangeable core (SFIC) and large-format interchangeable core (LFIC), says Gary Agans, director of business development for SARGENT and Corbin Russwin. They also are particularly suited to retrofit.
“It’s a two-screw install,” he says. “It’s quick, easy and durable.” He adds that the locks’ easy-to-adjust push-turn button assembly keeps installations quick, even on doors of different thickness. Also, because the locks have fewer parts than standard bored locks, they result in less maintenance.
The cylindrical locks surpassed ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 requirements during testing in a number of ways:
- They maintained egress while withstanding a 3,100 inch-pound locked lever torque, or 2.6 times the requirement.
- They prevented entry against 1,600 pounds of offset lever pull, or eight times the requirement.
- They prevented entry against 100 vertical impacts, or 20 times the requirement.
- They maintained latch retraction under 100 pounds of preload, or two times the requirement, which ensures consistent operation even on warped doors.
In addition, the locks’ independent return springs enable the lock to exceed Grade 1 cycle requirements without producing any lever sag.
The locks are available in an array of finishes and a variety of decorative levers.
More info: www.corbinrusswin.com, www.sargentlock.com
Kwikset SC1 Keyway
Kwikset introduced a Schlage C (SC1) Keyway that features Kwikset’s SmartKey Security technology.
The addition means that SmartKey functionality now is available to match the industry’s top two residential keyways (KW1 by Kwikset being the other). So, homeowners or multifamily-property owners can switch to Kwikset locks while keeping or allowing tenants to keep SC1 keys, because the SmartKey lock can be rekeyed to existing locks without taking the lock off the door and without worrying about lost or unreturned keys.
The SC1 Keyway works with all standard SmartKey door locks and allows up to 100,000 key combinations.
In addition to delivering one-key convenience, the SC1 Keyway’s patented SmartKey Security technology protects against common break-in methods, including lock picking and lock bumping. We were unable to pick a Halifax SC1 entry lever when using a traditional hook pin and tension rod.
Kwikset sells SmartKey products through DIY big-box stores as well as distributors, so locksmiths should be aware of how the SC1 works. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform a manual reset of the lock cylinder, should you have to repair one:
Step one: Hold the cylinder with the learn tool insertion hole on the left side of the cylinder and insert the key blank.
Step two: Place the reset tool onto the cylinder while ensuring the five prongs of the reset tool settle into the cylinder grooves.
Step three: Hold the reset tool and cylinder firmly together and remove the key blank.
Step four: While still holding the cylinder and reset tool firmly together, turn the reset tool 10 degrees clockwise until the tool no longer turns.
Step five: Remove the reset tool from the lock cylinder.
Step six: Rotate the cylinder face clockwise until the keyway is horizontal and the learn tool hole is on top.
Step seven: Insert the learn tool fully into the learn hole while ensuring a firm fit.
Step eight: Remove the learn tool and insert the new key.
Step nine: Turn the new key 90 degrees clockwise and remove the key.
The cylinder is now reset.
More info: www.kwikset.com
Medeco 4
The Medeco 4, or M4, key system is the latest generation of Medeco’s high-security locking systems. M4 features a patent-pending design, in effect through 2040.
M4 leverages proven Medeco technology, such as elevating and rotating offset chisel-point pins, top and master pins and springs, a sidebar mechanism to create a secondary shearline and four hardened steel rod and steel crescents. Select top pins are fashioned from hardened steel, and a hardened steel ball bearing protects the sidebar against drill attacks.
However, M4 delivers further innovation. M4’s design includes four side pins: three finger pins and one lift pin, to protect against picking. The lift pin works with the patent-pending M4 key, which contains a movable element that helps to guard against the use of 3D-printed keys. The key also contains factory-cut side bittings in four positions that engage the finger and lift pins, to create a third locking point in the cylinder. Keys are fashioned from the strongest nickel silver alloy and carry a lifetime warranty against breakage.
The movable element is particularly notable, says Joseph Kingma, general manager for Medeco Security Locks. “3D printing is accelerating in certain pockets, and we expect that growth to continue to increase the threat level to key-credential integrity every year.”
M4 cylinders are constructed of solid machined brass and are available in a wide variety of formats, which make retrofit projects straightforward and hassle-free. They’re UL 437 listed and ANSI/BHMA A156.30 and A156.5 certified for quality and performance. M4 cylinders also exceed ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 cycle requirements by hundreds of thousands of cycles.
Medeco also integrated M4 into several of its products and services, including:
Key System Design Studio (KSDS): This digital portal enables security pros and end users to design masterkey systems online.
Record of Authorization Online Portal: This portal ensures that blanks are shipped only to authorized end users.
Intelligent Key Cabinet (IKC): The IKC is Medeco’s electronically controlled steel cabinet used to store all types of keys.
M4 CLIQ Intelligent Key System: This system allows companies to maintain mechanical and digital lock cylinders and operate both types of locks with one device.
More info: www.medeco.com
Mul-T-Lock MTL800
The MTL800 is Mul-T-Lock’s next generation of patented key control. The high-security keyway is built on the well-known MT5+ platform and is patent-protected through 2039.
The key features a new double alpha spring, instead of just a single spring, in the tip. This patented moving element on the key blade’s tip engages with a unique pin at the rear of the cylinder, which creates an additional shearline in the cylinder.
Two other elements, along with the double alpha spring, create a triple locking mechanism. Those are a locking bar mechanism that forms a powerful security layer and telescopic pinning technology.
The MTL800 is backward-compatible, so the new key will operate existing KS5 series cylinders. (Old keys won’t work in MTL800 cylinders.) Also, the same pinning kit and key machine can be used. This will allow locksmiths to extend masterkey systems and gain more years of patent protection while minimizing the cost to their customers.
More info: www.mul-t-lock.com/en-us
TownSteel m-Genius
The m-Genius is a mechanical interconnected lock that Dennis Ma, president of TownSteel, expects to earn the industry’s only ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 designation for an interconnected lock.
The lock operates simply enough: On the inside, when you press down the lever, the interconnected latch and deadbolt retract. You walk through and close the door, and the one-half-inch latchbolt automatically locks. Lifting up the outside lever throws the 1-inch deadbolt, which provides additional security.
Upon returning, a turn of a key in the lever cylinder unlocks both locks, and again, one press down on the lever retracts both latches. After closing the door, the door locks, and another lift of the inside lever throws the deadbolt.
“I think this will greatly help the security for residential homes and be much more convenient,” Ma says, noting that only one key is required to unlock both latches from the outside. In addition to the residential market, the m-Genius is aimed at multifamily housing, K-12 school districts, correctional facilities and hospitals.
The mechanics of the m-Genius allow the stop plate and spindle driver to become a solid piece that retracts both bolts. The lock includes a clutch mechanism on the lever, so when the door is locked, the exterior lever rotates without retracting the latch. Only after a user presents a key will the lever connect with the spindle driver and retract both bolts simultaneously.
A breakthrough for the m-Genius, Ma says, was allowing for passage mode. In passage mode, the door isn’t locked automatically when it’s closed, which is an important consideration if, for example, an end user goes out to a mailbox and doesn’t want to lock themselves out accidentally if they didn’t bring their key with them.
“It took three years to find a solution,” Ma says.
He refers to the solution as a sliding spindle that allows the spindle itself to be engaged, so a toggle switch on the interior lock lever can be turned and make it so the door is either latched or locked when it’s closed. (Ma says the door can’t be locked when the m-Genius is in passage mode.) Either way, the m-Genius complies with single-motion-egress fire code.
The lock comes in two sizes, with the latch and deadbolt being 4 inches apart or 5-1/2 inches apart, and each version comes in three varieties.
The m-Genius cylinder comes with a Schlage or Kwikset six-pin keyway, but it also can handle SFICs or LFICs from BEST, Corbin Russwin or Schlage as an option. Further options include TownSteel six- or seven-pin high-security cylinders.
More info: www.townsteel.com
