Locksmith Terms – Part 4

We are happy to bring back the fourth installment of our locksmith terms glossary. Check out the up-to-date list of locksmith industry terms from Phila-Locksmith. We are glad to provide clarification to all interested in what is currently going on in the locksmith industry as well as customers who want to understand our services better.
Blade – the part of the key inserted into the lock cylinder
Chamber – the holes in the cylinder where the springs and pins are located when the lock is in the unlocked position
Control key – a key that can be used to remove the inner part of a lock cylinder that can be then be used to re-key
En suite – refers to a lock that is in a master lock system
Grand master key – when a master key system is installed and there are more than two access keys, the key which can open every lock in the system is the grand master key
Jamb – the vertical inside part of the door
Key shoulder – edge sticking up towards the handle of the key that prevents the key from being shoved too far into the lock cylinder
MLA – Master Locksmith Association; the largest association of locksmiths in the United Kingdom
Mortise – a hole cut into the side of the door in order to place a mortise lock or latch
One-way action – a lock where the follower will only turn in one direction
Relocker – a lock mechanism within a safe that will automatically re-lock the bolt work in the case that there is an attempted forced entry
Sash lock – a mortise lock which has a key operated bolt as well as a latch
Sub master key – a key within the master key system that can open an entire set of locks within a complex but not all of the locks in the complex
Throw – the distance that a bolt travels when it moves from the unlocked to locked position or vice versa
We at Phila-Locksmith will continue to update our list of locksmith terms so that we are your go to choice for information on locksmiths as well as the locksmith industry. Still have questions that are unanswered? Call or e-mail us with your question and we will respond as quickly as possible.