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57-425: A key is a device that is used to operate a lock (to lock or unlock it). A typical key is a small piece of metal consisting of two parts: the bit or blade , which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow , which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. In its simplest implementation, a key operates one lock or set of locks that are keyed alike,

114-428: A "security layer" that exceeds the reasonable gain of an intruder. Traditional key cutting is the primary method of key duplication. It is a subtractive process named after the metalworking process of cutting , where a flat blank key is ground down to form the same shape as the template (original) key. The process roughly follows these stages: Modern key cutting replaces the mechanical key following aspect with

171-403: A certain key, to replace a lost key or make an additional copy. The bitting is usually a series of integers (e.g. 372164) that is usually translated from a key code chart or from a bitting code list to settings on specially designed key machines. In many code systems each digit in the bitting corresponds to a certain location on the key blank where a cut or notch is to be made and also indicates

228-423: A disc tumbler lock, which uses an entirely different mechanism. The wafer lock is relatively inexpensive to produce and is often used in automobiles and cabinetry. The disc tumbler lock or Abloy lock is composed of slotted rotating detainer discs. The lever tumbler lock uses a set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock. In its simplest form, lifting the tumbler above a certain height will allow

285-404: A flat card of similar dimensions as a credit card . In order to open the door, one needs to successfully match the signature within the keycard . The lock in a typical remote keyless system operates with a smart key radio transmitter. The lock typically accepts a particular valid code only once, and the smart key transmits a different rolling code every time the button is pressed. Generally

342-702: A hard surface, or have debris fall upon it during a fire. Burglary-resistant safes are rated as to their resistance to various types of tools and the duration of the attack. Safes can contain hardware that automatically dispenses cash or validates bills as part of an automated cash handling system. For larger volumes of heat-sensitive materials, a modular room-sized vault is much more economical than purchasing and storing many fire rated safes. Typically these room-sized vaults are utilized by corporations, government agencies and off-site storage service firms. Fireproof vaults are rated up to Class 125-4 Hour for large data storage applications. These vaults utilize ceramic fiber,

399-571: A high temperature industrial insulating material, as the core of their modular panel system. All components of the vault, not just the walls and roof panels, must be Class 125 rated to achieve that overall rating for the vault. This includes the door assembly (a double door is needed since there is no single Class 125 vault door available), cable penetrations, coolant line penetrations (for split HVAC systems), and air duct penetrations. There are also Class 150 applications (such as microfilm) and Class 350 vaults for protecting valuable paper documents. Like

456-470: A lock without a key is called lock picking . Locks have been in use for over 6000 years, with one early example discovered in the ruins of Nineveh , the capital of ancient Assyria . Locks such as this were developed into the Egyptian wooden pin lock , which consisted of a bolt, door fixture or attachment, and key. When the key was inserted, pins within the fixture were lifted out of drilled holes within

513-464: A lock/key system where each similarly keyed lock requires the same, unique key. The key serves as a security token for access to the locked area; locks are meant to only allow persons having the correct key to open it and gain access. In more complex mechanical lock/key systems, two different keys, one of which is known as the master key, serve to open the lock. Common metals include brass , plated brass, nickel silver , and steel . The act of opening

570-556: A locking system resembling the modern pin tumbler lock. In the 16th century, blacksmiths in southern Germany, Austria, and France first forged cash boxes in sheet iron. These sheet-iron money chests served as the models for mass-produced cash boxes in the 19th century. In the 17th century, in northern Europe, iron safes were sometimes made in the shape of a barrel, with a padlock on top. In 1835, English inventors Charles and Jeremiah Chubb in Wolverhampton , England, received

627-644: A number of unique profiles requiring a specifically milled key blank to engage the lock's tumblers . Keys appear in various symbols and coats of arms, the best-known being that of the Holy See : derived from the phrase in Matthew 16:19 which promises Saint Peter , in Roman Catholic tradition the first pope , the Keys of Heaven . But this is by no means the only case. Some works of art associate keys with

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684-410: A patent for a burglar-resisting safe and began a production of safes. The Chubb brothers had produced locks since 1818. Chubb Locks was an independent company until 2000 when it was sold to Assa Abloy . On November 2, 1886, inventor Henry Brown patented a "receptacle for storing and preserving papers". The container was fire retardant and accident resistant as it was made from forged metal. The box

741-487: A position to where it would allow the plug to rotate (Emhart). Safe A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer ) is a secure lockable enclosure used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire . A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door . The body and door may be cast from metal (such as steel ) or formed out of plastic through blow molding . Bank teller safes typically are secured to

798-430: A process in which the original key is scanned electronically, processed by software, stored, then used to guide a cutting wheel when a key is produced. The capability to store electronic copies of the key's shape allows for key shapes to be stored for key cutting by any party that has access to the key image. Different key cutting machines are more or less automated, using different milling or grinding equipment, and follow

855-523: A set of levers to prevent the bolt from moving in the lock, was invented by Robert Barron in 1778. His double acting lever lock required the lever to be lifted to a certain height by having a slot cut in the lever, so lifting the lever too far was as bad as not lifting the lever far enough. This type of lock is still used today. The lever tumbler lock was greatly improved by Jeremiah Chubb in 1818. A burglary in Portsmouth Dockyard prompted

912-404: A special regulator key to reset the lock; by 1847 his keys used six levers rather than four; and he later introduced a disc that allowed the key to pass but narrowed the field of view, hiding the levers from anybody attempting to pick the lock. The Chubb brothers also received a patent for the first burglar-resisting safe and began production in 1835. The designs of Barron and Chubb were based on

969-456: A variety of fire rating classifications, 125, 150, and 350 representing the maximum internal temperature in degrees Fahrenheit the safe may not exceed during the test. The classifications come in durations from 1 ⁄ 2 -hour to 4 hours in length. The safe is exposed to gradually higher temperatures depending on the duration of the test. The most common standards being the 350 one hour (1,700 degrees) and 350 two hour (1,850 degrees) ratings as

1026-487: A vehicle), institutional, or investigational (forensic locksmiths). They may specialize in one aspect of the skill, such as an automotive lock specialist, a master key system specialist or a safe technician. Many also act as security consultants, but not all security consultants have the skills and knowledge of a locksmith. Historically, locksmiths constructed or repaired an entire lock, including its constituent parts. The rise of cheap mass production has made this less common;

1083-626: Is a safe that is made from an otherwise ordinary object such as a book, a candle, a can, or wall outlet. Valuables are placed in these hidden safes, which are themselves placed inconspicuously (for example, a book would be placed on a book shelf). Fire-resistant record protection equipment consists of self-contained devices that incorporate insulated bodies, doors, drawers or lids, or non-rated multi-drawer devices housing individually rated containers that contain one or more inner compartments for storage of records. These devices are intended to provide protection to one or more types of records as evidenced by

1140-451: Is a traditional trade, and in most countries requires completion of an apprenticeship . The level of formal education required varies from country to country, from no qualifications required at all in the UK, to a simple training certificate awarded by an employer, to a full diploma from an engineering college . Locksmiths may be commercial (working out of a storefront), mobile (working out of

1197-477: Is a type of key where the individual cuts are designed to engage chisel -pointed pins in high-security locking systems manufactured by Medeco and Emhart. These angled cuts are designed to lift each tumbler to a predetermined height to the shear line and to rotate them to a specific angle to engage a sidebar mechanism (Medeco) (this is also used in Schlage Primus) or to line up an interlocked pin to such

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1254-399: Is a type of safe that is designed to protect its contents from high temperatures or actual fire . Fire resistant safes are usually rated by the amount of time they can withstand the extreme temperatures a fire produces, while not exceeding a set internal temperature, e.g., less than 350 °F (177 °C). Models are typically available between half-hour and four-hour durations. In the UK,

1311-834: Is the entry level security rating offered by Underwriters Laboratories and it has its own standard: (UL 1037). The standard originally had one level, now known as RSC Level I. The standard was expanded in 2016 providing a greater range of security options. This standard also involves a drop test for products weighing not more than 750 pounds, simulating attempting to gain entry by dropping the safe. Safes at this level are typically, but not exclusively, used for commercial applications such as jewelers and coin dealers. These ratings are granted to combination locked safes that successfully resist when attacked by two technicians with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and pressure applying devices or mechanisms. In addition to those requirements,

1368-719: The British Government to announce a competition to produce a lock that could be opened only with its own key. Chubb developed the Chubb detector lock , which incorporated an integral security feature that could frustrate unauthorized access attempts and would indicate to the lock's owner if it had been interfered with. Chubb was awarded £100 after a trained lock-picker failed to break the lock after 3 months. In 1820, Jeremiah joined his brother Charles in starting their own lock company, Chubb . Chubb made various improvements to his lock: his 1824 improved design did not require

1425-528: The 17th-18th century, although potentially older as similar locks date back to the 14th century, can be found in the Beguinage of the Belgian city Lier . These locks are most likely Gothic locks, that were decorated with foliage, often in a V-shape surrounding the keyhole. They are often called drunk man's lock , as these locks were, according to certain sources, designed in such a way a person can still find

1482-465: The 6th century BC. 'The Romans invented metal locks and keys and the system of security provided by wards.' Affluent Romans often kept their valuables in secure locked boxes within their households, and wore the keys as rings on their fingers. The practice had two benefits: It kept the key handy at all times, while signaling that the wearer was wealthy and important enough to have money and jewellery worth securing. A special type of lock, dating back to

1539-508: The BS EN-1047 standard is set aside for data and document safes to determine their ability to withstand prolonged intense heat and impact damage. These conditions are maintained for the duration of the test. This is usually at least 30 minutes but can extend to many hours depending on grade. Both kinds of safe are also tested for impact by dropping from a set height onto a solid surface and then tested for fire survivability once again. In

1596-459: The Egyptian lock. Despite some improvement in key design since, the majority of locks today are still variants of the designs invented by Bramah, Chubb and Yale. A warded lock uses a set of obstructions, or wards, to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has notches or slots that correspond to the obstructions in the lock, allowing it to rotate freely inside

1653-685: The Greek goddess of witchcraft known as Hecate . The Palestinian key is the Palestinian collective symbol of their homes lost in the Nakba , when more than half of the population of Mandatory Palestine was expelled or fled violence in 1948 and were subsequently refused the right to return . Since 2016, a Palestinian restaurant in Doha , Qatar , holds the Guinness World Record for

1710-657: The United States, both the writing of standards for fire-resistance and the actual testing of safes is performed by Underwriters Laboratories . An in-floor safe installed in a concrete floor is very resistant to fire. However, not all floor safes are watertight; they may fill with water from fire hoses. Contents can be protected against water damage by appropriate packaging. Reinforced, fireproof cabinets are also used for dangerous chemicals or flammable goods. Wall safes are designed to provide hidden protection for documents and miscellaneous valuables. Adjustable depth allows

1767-419: The assigned Class rating or ratings; Class 350 for paper, Class 150 for microfilm, microfiche other and photographic film and Class 125 for magnetic media and hard drives. Enclosures of this type are typically rated to protect contents for 1 ⁄ 2 , 1, 2, or 4   hours; they will not protect indefinitely. They may also be rated for their resistance to impact should the safe fall a specified distance onto

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1824-475: The bolt to slide past. Lever locks are commonly recessed inside wooden doors or on some older forms of padlocks, including fire brigade padlocks. A magnetic keyed lock is a locking mechanism whereby the key utilizes magnets as part of the locking and unlocking mechanism. A magnetic key would use from one to many small magnets oriented so that the North and South poles would equate to a combination to push or pull

1881-474: The bolt, allowing it to move. When the key was removed, the pins fell part-way into the bolt, preventing movement. The warded lock was also present from antiquity and remains the most recognizable lock and key design in the Western world. The first all-metal locks appeared between the years 870 and 900, and are attributed to English craftsmen. It is also said that the key was invented by Theodorus of Samos in

1938-714: The car door can be opened with either a valid code by radio transmission, or with a (non-electronic) pin tumbler key. The ignition switch may require a transponder car key to both open a pin tumbler lock and also transmit a valid code by radio transmission. A smart lock is an electromechanics lock that gets instructions to lock and unlock the door from an authorized device using a cryptographic key and wireless protocol. Smart locks have begun to be used more commonly in residential areas, often controlled with smartphones . Smart locks are used in coworking spaces and offices to enable keyless office entry. In addition, electronic locks cannot be picked with conventional tools. Locksmithing

1995-424: The counter, have a slit opening for dropping valuables into the safe without opening it, and a time-delay combination lock to foil thieves. One significant distinction between types of safes is whether the safe is secured to a wall or structure or if it can be moved around. The first known safe dates back to the 13th century BC and was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II . It was made of wood and consisted of

2052-405: The data-rated (Class 125) structures, these vault systems employ ceramic fiber insulation and components rated to meet or exceed the required level of protection. In recent years room-sized Class 125 vaults have been installed to protect entire data centers. As data storage technologies migrate from tape-based storage methods to hard drives, this trend is likely to continue. A fire-resistant safe

2109-463: The design of early 20th century key duplicators. Key duplication is available in many retail hardware stores and as a service of the specialized locksmith, though the correct key blank may not be available. More recently, online services for duplicating keys have become available. A keyhole (or keyway ) is a hole or aperture (as in a door or lock) for receiving a key. Lock keyway shapes vary widely with lock manufacturer, and many manufacturers have

2166-439: The fitting and replacement of keys remains an important part of locksmithing, modern locksmiths are primarily involved in the installation of high quality lock-sets and the design, implementation, and management of keying and key control systems. Locksmiths are frequently required to determine the level of risk to an individual or institution and then recommend and implement appropriate combinations of equipment and policies to create

2223-518: The keyhole in the dark, although this might not be the case as the ornaments might have been purely aesthetic. In more recent times similar locks have been designed. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century and the concomitant development of precision engineering and component standardization, locks and keys were manufactured with increasing complexity and sophistication. The lever tumbler lock , which uses

2280-519: The lock and, following some argument about the circumstances under which he had opened it, was awarded the prize. Hobbs' attempt required some 51 hours, spread over 16 days. The earliest patent for a double-acting pin tumbler lock was granted to American physician Abraham O. Stansbury in England in 1805, but the modern version, still in use today, was invented by American Linus Yale Sr. in 1848. This lock design used pins of varying lengths to prevent

2337-413: The lock from opening without the correct key. In 1861, Linus Yale Jr. was inspired by the original 1840s pin-tumbler lock designed by his father, thus inventing and patenting a smaller flat key with serrated edges as well as pins of varying lengths within the lock itself, the same design of the pin-tumbler lock which still remains in use today. The modern Yale lock is essentially a more developed version of

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2394-421: The lock's internal tumblers thus releasing the lock. An electronic lock works by means of an electric current and is usually connected to an access control system. In addition to the pin and tumbler used in standard locks, electronic locks connect the bolt or cylinder to a motor within the door using a part called an actuator. Types of electronic locks include the following: A keycard lock operates with

2451-411: The lock, the horizontal grooves on the blade align with the wards in the keyway allowing or denying entry to the cylinder . A series of pointed teeth and notches on the blade, called bittings , then allow pins to move up and down until they are in line with the shear line of the inner and outer cylinder, allowing the cylinder or cam to rotate freely and the lock to open. An additional pin called

2508-417: The lock. Warded locks are typically reserved for low-security applications as a well-designed skeleton key can successfully open a wide variety of warded locks. The pin tumbler lock uses a set of pins to prevent the lock from opening unless the correct key is inserted. The key has a series of grooves on either side of the key's blade that limit the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into

2565-407: The master pin is present between the key and driver pins in locks that accept master keys, to allow the plug to rotate at multiple pin elevations. A wafer tumbler lock is similar to the pin tumbler lock and works on a similar principle. However, unlike the pin lock (where each pin consists of two or more pieces) each wafer is a single piece. The wafer tumbler lock is often incorrectly referred to as

2622-402: The maximization of usable space when installed in different wall thicknesses. Some wall safes have pry-resistant recessed doors with concealed hinges. A painting can be hung over a wall safe to hide it. Small safes may be fixed to a wall to prevent the entire safe being removed, without concealment. Very small secure enclosures known as key safes, opened by entering a combination, are attached to

2679-499: The necessary depth of the cut. Many lock companies use their own proprietary code system. Depending on the maker, the bitting sequence can be from bow-to-tip (the bow being the larger, handle portion of the key), or can be from tip-to-bow. A smaller number is typically a shallower cut on the key, but not always. Assa bitting codes are reversed, where the higher the digit, the shallower the cut. One American manufacturer, Eagle Lock Company, used letters exclusively for bitting codes. This

2736-660: The safe must weigh at least 750 pounds or come with instructions for anchoring, and have body walls of material equivalent to at least 1" open hearth steel with a minimum tensile strength of 50,000   psi. The UL Standard for tool-resistant safes and above are governed by UL Standard 687. Depending on the usage, the European Committee for Standardization has published different European standards for safes. Testing and certification according to these standards should be done by an accredited certification body, e.g. European Certification Body . For fire-resistant safes

2793-688: The safe on top; this may cause the locking pin to budge, opening the safe . Physicist Richard Feynman gained a reputation for safe-cracking while working on the Manhattan Project during the Second World War . He did this for recreation, describing his experiences and methods in detail in his book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! . He made the point that the secure storage he successfully opened clandestinely (to which he would have been given access if he asked) contained contents far more important than any thief had ever accessed, all

2850-582: The same year Bramah started the Bramah Locks company at 124 Piccadilly, and displayed the "Challenge Lock" in the window of his shop from 1790, challenging "...the artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock" for the reward of £200. The challenge stood for over 67 years until, at the Great Exhibition of 1851, the American locksmith Alfred Charles Hobbs was able to open

2907-439: The secrets of the wartime atomic bomb project. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing certifications are known to be some of the most rigorous and most respected in the world. UL provides numerous ratings, the most common security and fire ratings as discussed below. UL ratings are the typical rating standards used for safes within the United States. They are only matched by B.T.U/VDMA certifications (Germany). UL provides

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2964-470: The temperature paper chars is approximately 451 degrees Fahrenheit. UL standards are one of the principal North American protection standards. The resistance time limit specifies "tools on the safe" time without access to contents. The test might take hours to run and can be repeated as many times as the UL staff feel necessary to ensure that all prospective avenues of attack have been thoroughly explored. This

3021-432: The use of movable levers, but Joseph Bramah , a prolific inventor, developed an alternative method in 1784. His lock used a cylindrical key with precise notches along the surface; these moved the metal slides that impeded the turning of the bolt into an exact alignment, allowing the lock to open. The lock was at the limits of the precision manufacturing capabilities of the time and was said by its inventor to be unpickable. In

3078-401: The vast majority of locks are repaired through like-for-like replacements, high-security safes and strongboxes being the most common exception. Many locksmiths also work on any existing door hardware, including door closers, hinges, electric strikes, and frame repairs, or service electronic locks by making keys for transponder-equipped vehicles and implementing access control systems. Although

3135-441: The wall of a building to store the keys allowing access, so that they are available only to a person knowing the combination, typically for holiday lets, carers, or emergency use. Safe-cracking is opening a safe without a combination or key. There are many methods of safe-cracking ranging from brute force methods to guessing the combination. The easiest method that can be used on many safes is "safe bouncing", which involves hitting

3192-422: The world's largest key – 2.7 tonnes and 7.8 × 3 meters. Bit (key) Bitting is the depth of key cuts on a cylinder key for a pin tumbler lock , often expressed as a number. Bitting also refers to the combination of key cuts on a bit key for a warded lock or lever tumbler lock . The exact geometry of modern keys is usually described by a code system. The bitting instructs a locksmith how to cut

3249-444: Was able to be safely secured with a lock and key and also able to maintain organization by offering different slots to organize important papers. Specifications for safes include some or all of the following parameters: It is often possible to open a safe without access to the key or knowledge of the combination; this activity is known as safe-cracking and is a popular theme in heist films . A diversion safe , or hidden safe,

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