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I'm going to begin documenting the locks I've picked and post them here. Since I'm a beginner, none of these will be exotic, high-end, hard-to-find locks. So hopefully this will possibly help others that may currently be at this level of picking. Please feel free to add ANY tid-bits/knowledge you may have on any of these as I post them. My hope for this thread is lots of "lock-talk". Comments, questions, tips on disassembly, assembly, picking, etc.

AMERICAN SERIES 5200 US

Application: US Military



Key-retaining, 5 pins.....3-serrated, 2-hybrids, serrated keypins


Now, tell me that's not one of the sexiest things you've seen today. lol

Occasionally, I'll include a photo of the pinstacks placed in the plug,
as this is a great way to gain some insight into a lock.

ABUS 71/40 LOCKOUT

Generally geared toward electrical applications;
the body is comprised of a nonconductive material made from fiber-glass reinforced nylon.



Key retaining, 6 pins......5-spools, 1-standard



Fun pick! If you see one, buy it.

For disassembling, I recommend having the lock up-side-down when removing the core.
This way you won't loose the bolt driver and the two ball bearings on either side of it
(kind of a pain to get them positioned back in correctly).



*caught on camera* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUw21dRCrlg

AMERICAN SERIES 1100



Non-key-retaining, 5 pins.....3-hybrids, 2-serrated, serrated keypins



ADDED: Just wanted to add pins from four other American 1100's to maybe give you
an idea of the mixture of spools & serrated drivers your apt to find in these. I've also
found Americans that contain no spools, just serrated drivers. The two keypins at the
bottom are from two different Americans. You can see that the depth and/or width of
the serrations may vary.



*Caught on Camera* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z-P513aAFU

not bad man, great photography, nice looking locks, all security pins. impressed! looks good, keep up the good work

Master 141 (40mm)

4 pins.....3-spool, 1-serrated (granted it's not a fully serrated pin from top to bottom, but it is serrated)




Several things worth noting. The body of the lock serves as the bible, housing the springs and drivers. This is a four pin lock,
but you'll notice a fifth chamber with a pin in it. This is not a pin, rather, it works in conjunction with the slot that's been
milled out of the side of the plug; this way the plug is only allowed to turn from 12:00 - 2:00. The pin is not long enough to
protrude into the keyway, but you'll feel the hole it sets in if you put your pick just behind the last pin.

There's also a small pin installed at the back of the plug, running diagnally across the keyway. The purpose
behind this; an attempt to inhibit direct manipulation of the latching mechanism.

Master 140



4 pins.....3-spool, 1-serrated



Basically identical to the 141, just a little less sloppy. Any of the more recent models will have the small pin
in the back of the plug running diagnally across the keyway to restrict access to the latching mechanisms.

You can expect the same type/arrangement of pins in any of the other brass numbers ( + or - one spool ).
In my experience, the serrated pin in any of the brass numbers from Master has ALWAYS been in position 1.
TIP: Often times the one serrated pin is going to bind first, but is not always necessarily the first to be set.

Thanks for the encouragement. Will do.

Thats a great breakdown of locks/pins - thanks for the post

excellent start,oldfast.very sharp pics. thank you .



this is called the "retaining pin"

"reataining pin", ah, ok. Maybe you could also help me with another term: The spring that rotates the plug back to it's oringinal position?

Great Pics!! Thanks for posting.

MASTER 532



Two retaining pins must be drilled out to get to the pins: One holds the core in the lock. Once the core
is removed from the lock, another must be drilled in order to remove the plug from its' housing.

*Learn from my stupidity- When removing the plug, be sure to rotate CCW prior to pulling it out. Otherwise the drivers and springs
will fall into the milling that works in conjunction with the retaining pin. One spring gave his life...so that others may live. lol



non-key-retaining, 5 pins.....4-spools, 1-standard, beveled keypins



*Caught on Camera* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfrEymSAZUw

nice work! i wish i could gut a lock and not have all the parts go everywhere lol

great pictures! i like the cardboard pinning mat, will do that until i buy one

what he said.
Absolutely stellar thread, oldfast.
(something you may or may not know, ALL U.S. military padlocks are required to be key retaining.)
just a tasty tidbit.


(rotational or rotary) Return Spring.