Commando Lock Company Sale!

[verz]

I just went through the payment process $5 shipping in the US for small box. Kind of a confusing checkout process to paypal and back to another checkout site.

[Riyame]

The keys work super smooth... they are key retaining... sorta... if you turn the shackle 180 degrees you can lock the plug back and remove the key... locking the padlock open.. i thought that was neat...

That is because all of the internals in the locks are the same, including the shackles. So if you cut a slot in your key, or remove the anti CCW turning metal pieces around the keyway you can turn it into an interchangeable shackle model.

[Josh66]

Interesting... Does that mean that if I pick it open, I should be able to remove the shackle? With no key in the keyway, there will be nothing to stop it from turning all the way to the change position, right?
(Haven't tried picking mine yet, but I'm about to right now.)

Edit
Just picked it. Tried for 5 minutes, put it down, tried again and got it in about 5 minutes... Tension was very touchy. I might have to make a new wrench just for this (and any M1 keyway, I guess).

Also, I'm not able to turn the plug any farther than I could with the key...

[LocksmithArmy]

Interesting... Does that mean that if I pick it open, I should be able to remove the shackle? With no key in the keyway, there will be nothing to stop it from turning all the way to the change position, right?
(Haven't tried picking mine yet, but I'm about to right now.)

Edit
Just picked it. Tried for 5 minutes, put it down, tried again and got it in about 5 minutes... Tension was very touchy. I might have to make a new wrench just for this (and any M1 keyway, I guess).

Also, I'm not able to turn the plug any farther than I could with the key...

after you pick it... turn the shackle 180 degrees around... then lock it back... then pick it backwards... the shackle should fall out then...

[Josh66]

Ah. I will try that next time. Thanks.

[the lockpickkid]

I seen somewhere that they were an M1 keyway, they also have a 5 pin keyway also right? I am going to buy me one to play with, try to show some people here and try to sell them. If they do have a 5 pin, what key does it use? The M15???

[jeffmoss26]

the keyway is the same as M1, the 5 pin blank is M10. Verified and tested at the hardware store Saturday

[LocksmithArmy]

mine are M1... 2 of my 4 keys even say M1 on them...

[Josh66]

mine are M1... 2 of my 4 keys even say M1 on them...

Yeah, my keys say M1 on them too. They also have a code that I assumed was the bitting, but the numbers don't seem to match up with the cuts. It may be a serial number or something...

[Riyame]

mine are M1... 2 of my 4 keys even say M1 on them...

Yeah, my keys say M1 on them too. They also have a code that I assumed was the bitting, but the numbers don't seem to match up with the cuts. It may be a serial number or something...

Yea, the number on the key is not the direct biting. Its a bit safer that way.

[Josh66]

mine are M1... 2 of my 4 keys even say M1 on them...

Yeah, my keys say M1 on them too. They also have a code that I assumed was the bitting, but the numbers don't seem to match up with the cuts. It may be a serial number or something...

Yea, the number on the key is not the direct biting. Its a bit safer that way.

I can partly agree with that logic (it being safer), but I mostly disagree. The code tells you nothing that you didn't already know just by having the key in your hand. Anyone that knows what those numbers mean knows enough to figure it out without the numbers.

edit
I would omit them entirely, or make them correspond to the actual cuts.

[easy-e]

At least the numbers aren't marked on the lock too.

I ended up with 2 locks of totally different types with the exact same key. I didn't notice until I started comparing the codes on the keys. One was an interchangeable shackle and the other was one of the military ones. Kind of weird to have duplicates in a random batch of 10 locks. 2 of 5 different models.

[jeffmoss26]

The keys say M1 but if you compare an M1 blank to the key, the blank is too short. M10 is the 5 pin blank for that keyway.

[GWiens2001]

The M 10 blank is what I use to impression these locks. They impression well.

Gordon

[COMMANDOLOCKUSA]

Regarding the keys, yes they are M1 by design. We originally planned to work to established standards so that you as the consumer could more easily duplicate when desired. As a new company, we don't expect to see our keys in inventory at the hardware stores. It also played in to some of our designs for bump resistance. The other major reason was to match some of the specifications of Brinks who for a number of years now has expressed interest in having Commando build a product line for them in USA rather than China where all of there product currently comes from. There are obvious plus and minus to a relationship with a large distributor like Brinks.

The numbers on the keys are code and do not exactly represent the biting. When handling 25k-50k cylinders and double the keys, we need to have numbering for organization. You may see them as random but we start with sets of 10 to 200 plus KA. They take up a lot of space when separated into numbers. When building the lock we have to separate the keys from the cylinders but they always travel close together. Key to cylinder testing is performed any time product is moved to make sure we have matching elements. You can't come into this tired...simple things like a non matching key kind of defeats the purpose of the product!

After all the great feedback we've been receiving from you all we are looking seriously at a change to our keyway for better security. It will still be standard. Yale has been suggested multiple times. If I could get a general yes or no from the experts, we'll go with the one you most recommend. Any takers?!!