The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing - Sixth Edition - Comprehensive guide to locks and locksmithing

Sep 15, 2026

Comprehensive locksmithing reference covering the history of locks, essential trade tools, and the major types of locks and keys. Explores working principles and practical repair knowledge for warded locks, lever tumbler locks, disc tumbler locks, and pin tumbler locks, including disassembly, assembly, and keying concepts. Addresses high-security mechanical locks, masterkeying and coding systems, detention locks and hardware, plus guidance on buying, selling, and installing safes and selecting keyed padlocks, making it suitable for professional practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages602

Reading Time3 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. A Short History of the Lock

Who Invented the Lock?

Egypt

Greece

Rome

Europe

England

America

Early American Lock Companies

A Brief History of Automobile Locks in the United States

Chapter 2. Tools of the Trade

Electric Drills

Cordless Drills

Key Cutting Machines

Workbench

Chapter 3. Types of Locks and Keys

What Is a Lock

Lock Names

Lock Grades

Key Types

Key Blank Identification

Key Blank Examples

Look-Alike Keys

Neuter Bows

Chapter 4. Warded Locks

Types

Construction

Operation

Repair

Warded Keys

Chapter 5. Lever Tumbler Locks

Parts

Operation

Repairs

Varieties of Lever Tumbler Locks

Lever Tumbler Lock Keys

Chapter 6. Disc Tumbler Locks

Operation

Disassembly

Keying

Security

Cam Locks

Reading Disc Tumbler Locks

Double-Bitted Disc Tumbler Locks

Chapter 7. Pin Tumbler Locks

Construction

Disassembly

Assembly

Choosing a Pin Tumbler Lockset

Pin Tumbler Cylinder Mortise Locks

The Cylinder Key

Chapter 8. High-Security Mechanical Locks

Underwriters Laboratories Listing

Key Control

Lock and Key Patents

Types of High-Security Mechanical Locks

Chapter 9. Masterkeying

Coding Systems

Master Key Systems

Masterkeying Warded Locks

Masterkeying Lever Tumbler locks

Materkeying Disc Tumbler locks

Masterkeying Pin Tumbler Locks

Developing the Master Key System

Master Key System Variations

A Simple Master Key System

Chapter 10. Detention Locks and Hardware

Types of Locks

Electric Strikes

Choosing the Right Equipment

Chapter 11. Buying and Selling Safes

Types of Safes

Safe Styles

Installing an In-Floor Safe

Moving Safes

Special Safe Features

Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safe Ratings

Underwriters Laboratories Burglary Safe Standard

Selling More Safes

Chapter 12. Keyed Padlocks

Choosing a Padlock

Warded Padlocks

Wafer Disc Padlocks

Pin Tumbler Padlocks

The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing Bill Phillips Sixth Edition McGraw-Hill New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2005 by Bill Phillips. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 0-07-158896-5 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: 0-07-144829-2. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs. For more information, please contact George Hoare, Special Sales, at george_hoare@mcgraw-hill.com or (212) 904-4069. TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work. Use of this work is subject to these terms. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hill’s prior consent. You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited. Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms. THE WORK IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. McGraw-Hill and its licensors do not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free. Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom. McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work. Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise. DOI: 10. 1036/0071448292 Professional Want to learn more? We hope you enjoy this McGraw-Hill eBook! If you’d like more information about this book, its author, or related books and websites, please click here. Contents Foreword by Greg Mango, Editor, The National Locksmith ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xii Chapter 1. A Short History of the Lock 1 Who Invented the Lock? 1 Egypt 1 Greece 2 Rome 2 Europe 5 England 6 America 9 Early American Lock Companies 12 A Brief History of Automobile Locks in the United States 13 Chapter 2. Tools of the Trade 15 Electri

FAQs

What does the book cover about the history of locks?

It traces the development of locks from early origins through major historical periods, then includes a brief history of automobile locks in the United States.

How are different lock types organized in the book?

The book presents major lock categories—such as warded, lever tumbler, disc tumbler, and pin tumbler—and details their operation along with relevant construction or servicing topics like repair, disassembly, assembly, and keying.

What topics related to high-security and key control are included?

It covers high-security mechanical locks, Underwriters Laboratories listing concepts, and masterkeying, including coding systems and ways to develop master key systems.

Sep 15, 2026

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