The Schlage locks company was founded in 1927 near San Francisco , California . Named after Walter Schlage, a German immigrant, who is credited with the invention of several new lock designs in the preceding years. Schlage is credited as a great American inventor for his pioneering work in creating several new lock designs, including a door lock that turned the lights on and off when manipulated and, around the year 1920, the first of its type, Schlage keypad locks. To this day their locks are still among the best pin tumbler locks available, posing a serious obstacle to anyone who tries picking Schlage locks.
Most Schlage locks feature a number of innovations that, although not unique to Schlage, do create problems for anyone hoping to pick them. These include keys with abnormal shapes, bittings on multiple faces of the keys, and tubular locks, which have the pins located radially around a cylindrical keyway. Most conventional lock-picking methods will fail on these locks, such that picking Schlage locks requires specific knowledge and specialized tools.
One of Schlage's most popular models today is their Primus line, which features a C-shaped keyway and bittings on the key on two faces. Conventional picks and key-rakes are rarely able to make the required manipulations of the pins to successfully pick Primus Schlage locks. It is the side-bitting on Primus keys in particular that create the problem as they are inaccessible with normal picks.
One technique used by locksmiths and lock-picking enthusiasts that is incredibly effective against all pin tumbler locks is called "bumping". Bumping involves inserting either a good set of picking rakes or, more likely, a blank key that matches the lock type being used and gently knocking the key while turning it. With the right blank bumping opens most pin tumbler locks within seconds. Schlage locks were among the first to reliably resist these attacks with locks that were available at affordable consumer prices although they were not alone in this innovation.
Initially it was thought that this type of lock might revolutionize the lock industry, however, this was not to be. It was later found that the side-bittings were not unique to each lock, nor did they have to be. If you buy Schlage locks at hardware stores for DIY installation you will likely be given a lock that has side a bitting common to the whole state or even whole countries. If you have discount locksmith install Schlage home door locks, discount bargain prices will also likely get you one of these locks. A professional locksmith will likely install locks in your home that have side bittings common throughout your house but not to any other lock. Finally, if you require a corporate scale installation you'll pay for premium locks in your offices which each have unique side bittings. Because the bitting in the lesser locks are common to certain areas many locksmiths have access to this information, as their business requires, and thus, a blank which will enable the bumping technique to be used can be produced. Even still, any Schlage lock represents a real obstacle to picking and is far more resistant to conventional techniques than most other locks.
