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contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:22 pm
by LocksmithArmy
ok... yeah if I ask about picking a usps lock people may look at me funny... but for real, my wife was walkin down the road and found a usps lock... ya believe me i was suprised too lol

anyway it looks like a car lock with the little cover so I immediaty assumed wafer tumbler but when i was lookin down inside its definatly got pins... and little upside down V shapes...

does anyone have any expierience with these... I can provide a picture if my integrity is in question... but atm im not diggin out the cam(just hid it from the kids)

but if anyone could tell me what the heck is inside this itd be a big help...

it says
USPS-L-1172C
over the keyway... there are side wards so the key likely looks like a normal house key
on the inside top it says COMPX
it has 2 holes on the bottom i would assume to rekey the first two pins but i have no idea how many pins are in there because I can only see 1 past the first upside down V shape...

thanks guys

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:42 pm
by s1deshowmick
Nice find MRS Locksmitharmy, i have no idea how to pick it but i'm sure someone here can.

Good luck and welcome home mate.

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:42 pm
by jzz20
Hard to tell, definetely need pictures. COMPX make the Chicago Ace tubular locks and Tubar vending machine locks and many other filing cabinet style locks.

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:49 pm
by LocksmithArmy
ok, ill get pix to you tomorow. assuming i remember...

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:39 pm
by KokomoLock
It is just a 4 or 5 pin pin tumbler lock, nothing special about picking them, NA14 key blank. Holes on the bottom are drain holes.

http://www.securitybase.com/locks/mailbox-locks/national-mailbox-lock-c9100-c9200-usps-l-1172c.html

These are used a lot around here on outside mail boxes for apartment complexes and mobile home parks, not actually used at US Post Offices, just meets their lock specifications.

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:48 pm
by LocksmithArmy
OOOO, wel, i stil cant tension it lol... ill work more with it tomorrow, thanks though.

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:48 pm
by the lockpickkid
Almost all the apartment complexes and trailer parks around here have these locks on the mailboxes. Pretty simple lock really, just looks better than it is!

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:38 am
by uklockpicker
Looks very simlar to a warded locks we have over here, good to see you back locksmith army

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:36 am
by KokomoLock
LocksmithArmy wrote:OOOO, wel, i stil cant tension it lol... ill work more with it tomorrow, thanks though.


Also, they have a cam on them so they only turn one way so try picking it both ways.

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:06 am
by LocksmithArmy
the cam on the back is gone... it was like that when she found it... aswel as the nut that holds the cam on... I just have issues with that litle dust cover... I think I can get it though... thanks for the help

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:26 am
by ChicoSlim803
you arent the only one i have one that is similar and it is a pain to get tension on it. i ended up getting mad and ripped the cover off. didnt really help any though. i picked it once. i filled the end of a butter knife down and used that for a tension wrench. picks easy though

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:13 pm
by PHatDriver
Wait a min, mate. Back up there a sec. Think we are all overlooking something...
You say ya wife was walking along and found this lock.
And brought it home, for you?
SHE A KEEPER MATE!
I like her already... Lucky man...

Re: contraversial lock questions

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:21 pm
by LocksmithArmy
lol thanks :mrgreen: