Locksmith Glossary

Locksmith Phoenix Glendale AZ Areas. We serve the entire Phoenix AZ Metro area. Our Locksmith Glossary has been provided to help our customers better understand terms and terminology employed by Professional Locksmiths.

access control

ace lock

action

Active door – Also named ‘Active Leaf.’ This is 1 door of a pair of doors where only 1 door is first operational. This initial operational door is the active door. The second door is called the passive door. Most often the active door will also house the locking device of the double doors.

Adjacent key cut – This is an individual cut in the blade of a key where there are 2 or more cuts in place. This cut will be next to another cut.

alike change

all to pass

anti-friction latch

anti-pick latch

Anti-shim springbolt – See ‘Deadbolt’

anti-thrust bolt

anti-thrust plate

Associated Locksmiths of America

automatic deadlatch

Automotive Locksmith – A certified locksmith who is capable of addressing all motor vehicle locksmithing issues.

B

backplate

backset

bar

barrel and curtain

barrel bolt

barrel key

bathroom lock

berlin key

bicycle lock

bi-lock

Birmingham bar – A security device most often attached to the frame of a door on the inward side. This greatly helps to defend the door against ‘kick in’ attack type illegal entry.

bit key

bit key lock

bitting

blade

blank

Bobby pin – See ‘Hair pin’.

bolt

bolt head

bolt hole

bolt stump

bow

Bramah lock

break (locksmithing)

bump Key

burglar bars

By-pass tool – Any tool that is used in order to gain entry in any way other than using the actual locking mechanism.

C

cabinet lock

cam

Cam lock – A locking mechanism designed cylindrical. The bolt will be the cam of the device.

cap (of the lock)

car locksmith

case

Casement door – A single or double door that constructed housing large panes of glass. A double door assembly is called a ‘French door’.

casement window

case ward

Certified Master Locksmith

Certified Professional Locksmith

chain bike lock

chain door lock

chamber

change index

change key

change key locks

cheap locksmith

claw blot

clutch headed screw

close shackle padlock

code

collar

combination lock

commercial locksmith

concealed fixing (of locks or latches)

Control key – A device used to remove or replace a core cylinder allowing this to be removed without changing the entire device.

control shear line

control sleeve

cover

cross-bore

cross differ

cross rail

cut cabinet lock

cuts

cylinder

cylinder housing

cylinder key

cylinder lock or latch

cylinder rose

D

dead bolt

deadlatch

deadlock

deadlocking

deadlocking latch

depth

depth key

differs

disc lock

disc tumbler lock

door chain

door closer

door viewer

double-acting lever tumbler

double-bitted key

double cylinder

double cylinder deadlock

double feather spring

double locking

drilled-through spindle (for lock furniture)

drill-pin (sometimes pin)

drivers top pins

drop arm

E

external relocker

F

forced locking key

H

hair pin

household hardware

household items

I

ignition lock

interchangeable core

internal relocker

J

jimmy

jimmy proof lock

j lock

K

key

key code

key blank

key control

key relevance

key retainer

keys made

key switch

keycard lock

keyhole

L

lock

lock bumping

lock bypass

lockout

lockout service

lock picking

lock snap gun

locksmith

locksport

M

magnetic keyed lock

maison key system

master key

master keyed

master pins

mobile locksmith

mortise

mortice lock

motorcycle locksmith

N

The National Locksmith

National Safeman’s Organization

nightlatch

nozzle

O

one-sided lock

one-way action

P

pan

peg ward

pins

pin stack

pin tumbler

pipe key

plug

portable lock

R

rack bolt

Registered Locksmith

residential locksmith

re-keying

re-locking device

reversed bolt

rim lock

roller bolt

S

safe lock

safe-cracking

sash lock

servant key

scotch spring lock

shackle

shank

shear line (locksmithing)

shell

shim (lock pick)

shoot

shoulder

side wards

single-acting lever tumbler

skate key

skeleton key

sliding grilles

sliding lever

slim jim (lock pick)

snap gun

snib

spindle

spiral spring

spool pin

spoon

spring-loaded

spring shackle padlock

springbolt

springlatch

stile

stop knob

stop button(s)

straight cabinet lock

striking plate

sub grand master key

sub master key

suite (of locks)

T

talon

Throw – When a key is engaged in a deadbolt lock the deadbolt moves a particular distance in relationship to the turning of the key. This distance of movement is named the ‘throw.’

Till lock – An automatic cabinet locking system. The cabinet will immediately engage the locking mechinism when shut and requires a key to open each time.

Time lock – An electronic or mechanical device that allows the lock to be opened only during certain set times of the day or night.

Tip – Pertaining to a standard key. The very end or first part of a key that enters into a locking device.

Toe (of a shackle) – Portion of a padlock that may be taken from the lock.

Top master key – Master keyed locking system where separate keys are exclusive to differing lock systems except for the top master key. This keying device operates every separate lock on whichever level.

top pins

Tubular key cylinder – Any key cylinder where the tumblers have been designed in a circular fashion. This device will be operated only by a matching tublar key.

tubular lockset

tumbler

U

u lock

V

vehicle locksmith

X

Xena disc lock

Z

Z-Wave door locks – Electronic locking devices that eliminate the need of actual keys