Re: KEYING DOOR LOCKS

Posted by Marco on July 28, 1998 at 09:36:27

In Reply to: KEYING DOOR LOCKS
posted by Tony Parision July 28, 1998 at 08:11:34

: I recently picked up a couple of very nice locking door handles (Not repros), but there are no key numbers on the shafts so I don't know how to get the right keys made.Does anyone know what you would do in a case like this?
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Tony,
If there are no numbers visible on the shaft (and it isn't due to rust), then the handles are probably '31 handles with removable cylinders.The numbers would be on the cylinder (hidden) which doesn't help much.Removable cylinders have a small hole near the edge to insert a pin and depress a retaining spring while turning the cylinder counter clockwise with the key.
I have a variety of keys that I modified to be a loose fit in the cylinder that can be jiggled and/or slid in and out while maintaining slight rotational pressure on the cylinder.With a little practice (and a ton of patience) you can pick most model A locks.Before trying you must be sure there is some free movement to the cylinder and that it isn't swelled and frozen into the handle.
I suppose some of the people that work on these handles have a complete set of keys so they can try them all until one fits.Depending on your patience (or stubborness) it may be worth sending the handles out.

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