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I'm intrigued by unique mechanical access and custody control devices. While picking/bumping/etc. is certainly a method of compromising locks, far more common in my experience is unauthorized use of keys, privilege escalation, and other such defeats.

With traditional locks, a key can be illicitly obtained and used, or if enough change keys are collected, the master can be decoded. If a set of keys has to be issued on a daily basis to janitorial staff, or a key has to be provided on a temporary basis to someone performing work on your house, how do you ensure that key isn't illicitly copied and distributed, surreptitiously used, or a low level key altered into a higher level one? Alternately, how can the legitimate use of a key be mechanically restricted or audited, if necessary?

My lock collection centers around various solutions to these problems. Dual custody locks, dual shearline locks, user-resettable locks, and other such novel master keying, key custody, and access control devices. I'll post an initial run now, to be followed by more pieces that I'm working on keying, processing, and/or photographing.

Basically, my key tag color-coding scheme comes down to:
Red and Black key tags for dual-plug locks (black is the higher-level key)
Green and Blue for dual-shearline locks (blue is higher-level key)
Yellow for user-resettable locks.

Yale Bicentric, Dual Custody.
Believe it's a 945. Obtained from a US Navy contractor.



Yale Bicentric Rim Cylinder


Sargent & Greenleaf 4440 Safe Deposit Lock


Winfield Hotel Lock.
This is the only non-operable lock in my collection; after reviewing patent documents/drawings, I'm unlikely to ever key it to the original Guest key, let alone obtain a working Maid key.


Kwikset Key Control SmartKey Deadbolt
Dual-plug master keying solution for a lock that cannot otherwise be master keyed. Qualifies as both a dual-plug and a user-resettable lock.



Corbin Master Ring
With original mortise deadbolt chassis


Corbin Master Ring
c. Early 1900's. As touched on in another thread, this is the lock that founded my collection


Corbin Master Ring
Exploded skeleton view


Best SFIC Padlocks, on Utility Hasp
Dual-shearline SFIC's, displayed on a shared-custody utility locking hasp (itself a rudimentary master keying device)



More to follow, as I gradually get keys cut and photographs taken. Currently looking for a Sargent Duplex, a U-Change, and - of course - an affordable NAPEC DCP padlock . Thanks for looking!

Nice themed collection. Many collectors just hoard everything, (which is understandable as we love all locks), but your focus shows an interesting aspect of lock use.

you heve a very nice collection buddy!!! thats amazing!!!

Hugo Martel

I certainly understand the temptation to grab anything and everything cool - which there is A LOT of out there - but for the health of my bank account and marriage, I keep things fairly focused.

A couple user-resettable locks I got around to photographing today:

Kwikset SmartKey Padlock
Displayed with operating key, reset tool, and second (different) key


Schlage SecureKey Deadbolt Cylinder
With two different sets of keys, each including "blue" reset key.


Question on the SecureKey, if anyone happens to have tried this before: do these cylinders fit into the old Schlage brass-body padlocks (the 'poor man's IC' ones that accept a KIK cylinder)? I'd like to display this in a padlock body, but don't want to drop the cash unless I'm reasonably sure it'll be worth my while.

One more I missed posting yesterday:

Yale Bicentric OSU Padlock
Shared custody, with master and change key


This one's notably smaller that the 945 dual custody; I'll post a size comparison soon.
Thanks to MacGnG for this one!

Couple more, one freshly keyed up.

CCL Master Ring
US Navy padlock, with original box


CCL Master Ring
Obtained without working keys; disassembled, cleaned, cut keys, and reassembled.

ITE Kirk Interlock (Yale Cylinders)
Safety lockout/custody control device for electrical service equipment. As I understand it, with a dual custody one like this, generally the guard key is retained in another single cylinder trapped key interlock; when the equipment is powered down, it's locked out, then the guard key can be removed and used in conjunction with an operating key to open whatever access panel/gate/etc is being secured by the dual cylinder interlock.

Very smooth operation; feels like a geared mechanism. Don't see a simple way to nondestructively disassemble and get eyes on the internals, though.

on the Kirk interlock, you have to remove the nameplate and you can remove the cylinder from behind there.

Ah, good to know; thought the plate was riveted. I'll try working it off with some kind of non-marring tool. Thanks!

Awesome! I love it! Thank you for sharing.

Best Portland Parks Bureau Padlock
Key retaining with 6-pin core.


Corbin or Corbin-Russwin Master Ring Padlock
Coined OSHD, which in all likelihood stands for Oregon State Highway Department (predecessor to ODOT). Corbin BR keyway.

Haven't yet found key blanks, but picked open to master shearline. Not going to disassemble this one (as I've done with other MR's), so I need to step up my impressioning game


U-Change Mortise
One of my picking practice locks; more of a 'placeholder' piece, until I can swing for a padlock or better-condition mortise.


More to come - I have a lot of projects underway .

nice collection!

Very nice indeed. Love the Bicentrics and Master Ring padlocks.

Appreciate the kind words. The Yale bicentrics and Corbin master rings are definitely the core of my collection, but there's a couple different gems I'm champing at the bit to finish and photograph as well .

Чаз Dual Custody Disc Detainer Padlock
Post-Soviet Russian DC padlock. Thanks to LocksportSouth for the tip on this one - had no idea these existed.