That's because Defiant locks are actually made exclusively for Home Depot by the Taiwanese manufacturer “Taiwan Fu Hsing Ind. Co. Ltd”, and have been for almost 25 years, according to one of the brand's promotional videos.
I was very surprised to see 3 security pins in the Defiant, which is more than the Kwikset. It also performed better than the Kwikset in almost every test. The security pins made it extremely hard for me to pick and even the raking took much longer than I expected.
Once you have a kit, you will be able to rekey your lock anytime. To rekey a Defiant lock, you will need its original key. Other than that, the rekeying process is similar to rekeying any other lock type.
Kwikset is an American lock and lockset manufacturer owned by Spectrum Brands Hardware and Home Improvement Group (HHI), a Division of Spectrum Brands. Originally Gateway Manufacturing Company, Kwikset was founded in California in 1946 by Adolf Schoepe, and Karl Rhinehart.
Bottom line: Schlage is the most secure; as well they should be at twice the price of Defiant. They are even more costly than that because they only come with two keys while Defiant comes with four keys and anybody with a family needs at least four keys.
Defiant locks share the same type of keyway with the Kwikset brand, which means that a Defiant key will fit into a Kwikset lock and vice versa. If all the locks on your house are Kwikset locks, you can still buy a Defiant lock and match it to work with your current house key.
NOTE: Baldwin Prestige series keyed locks use a Kwikset keyway and cannot be keyed alike Reserve or estate series door hardware from Baldwin. Parts are also not interchangeable between Prestige series and Reserve or Estate Series products.
Baldwin and Kwikset are part of Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI), a major manufacturer and supplier of residential locksets, residential builders' hardware and faucets with a portfolio of renowned brands, including Kwikset®, Weiser®, Baldwin®, National Hardware®, Stanley®, Pfister™ and EZSET®.
Kwikset®, a Black & Decker® company, has been a leader in the lockset industry for 60 years. Kwikset manufactures and markets several full lines of door hardware, including handlesets, knobs, levers, deadbolts, and pocket door accessories, for residential and light commercial markets.
2003 – Black & Decker purchases Baldwin Hardware and Weiser Lock from the Masco Corporation in October, expanding their bath and door hardware collections to encompass four major brands, Kwikset, Price Pfister, Baldwin Hardware and Weiser Lock.
The key alike number is basically a marketing code to help the consumer select locks in the store that are keyed alike. There is no way to trace the key alike number to the actual pins code. Defiant has over 7,000 key codes. Other brands like Kwikset also offer 7,000 key codes.
Basically, you cannot re-key the lock from Schlage to Kwikset, but you can change the lock cylinder from Schlage to Kwikset. A locksmith will be able to do it for you. Changing the lock cylinder will still cost less from changing the lock itself.
Assa Abloy is acquiring Spectrum Brands 'Hardware & Home Improvement' (HHI) division, including lock and security fixture brands Kwikset, Baldwin, and Weiser, in a $4.3 billion USD deal.
The brands are Kwikset Security®, Kwikset Maximum Security® and Kwikset UltraMax Security®, presenting the consumer with a move-up strategy. The Titan product line is re-branded to the UltraMax product line.
Kwikset locks have roughly 3,000 different possibility's , the chance of someone having the same key in your area is very slim. Regarding the rekey kits, its usually the same thing as the lock, the first couple keys are probably the same as each other. Most locksmiths wouldn't recommend Kwikset smartkey.
This is because Schlage and Kwikset locks are not compatible with the same type of key. Their keyways are made differently, therefore you will either want to have all Schlage locks or all Kwikset locks. When you're at home, you don't want to use different keys for each lock you own.
Schlage, Baldwin Estates, Baldwin Reserve, and Emtek can all be keyed to the same key. Kwikset, Yale, and Baldwin Prestige can all be keyed to the same key. 6.
SmartKey is an advanced security breakthrough which allows you to rekey the lock in seconds. To rekey your lock with an entirely new key, simply insert the functioning key, turn a quarter turn clockwise, insert the learning tool, remove the existing key, and insert a new key.
Baldwin Images & Estate locks utilize what is called a C-keyway. Baldwin Prestige utilizes a K-keyway design with SmartKey® Re-key Technology. To determine if your non-Baldwin lock uses a C-keyway, a K-keyway, or other try inserting the Baldwin key into your existing lock.