Kwikset currently has manufacturing facilities in Denison, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Mexicali, Mexico.
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.
Also in the non-forced entry category, there is no doubt Schlage is better. With a better, more precise manufacturing process and 2 additional security pins than the Kwikset deadbolt, Schlage locks are significantly harder to pick, bump or compromise in non-destructive ways.
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.
Kwikset's door products offer reasonable quality, superior lock bumping technology, and attractive style. It is one of the most common residential locks on the market. Kwikset is headquartered in Orange County, California. It is a part of the Hardware and Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands.
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.
Kwikset door knobs are also a zinc die cast. Similar to Schlage and Weiser they are quite adjustable to whatever you need or are replacing.
Baldwin Hardware was founded in 1946, when Severin Fayerman bought Newark-based Baldwin Tool and Die. Fayerman moved the company's manufacturing facility to Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1956. Stanley Black & Decker acquired the company in 2003 and, in 2012, moved manufacturing to Nogales, Mexico.
This deadbolt set is NOT the reliable high quality Schlage to which everyone is accustomed and upon which Schlage has built their reputation. Not only is it made in China, but it is very noticeably lighter in weight than standard deadbolt lock sets.
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.
New Britain, Conn. -based Stanley Black & Decker Corp., which bought Baldwin in 2003, said Baldwin's customer- and consumer-services team, numbering about 35, would remain in the Reading area at a location not yet identified.
Schlage was acquired by Ingersoll Rand, a Fortune 150 manufacturer of industrial, mining and construction equipment. As a result of the acquisition, Schlage became part of the Ingersoll Rand Door Hardware Group.
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®.
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.
Kwikset smartkey locks are certified Grade 1 security for residential use by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association and are advertised by Kwikset as being invulnerable to being hacked with wires, screwdrivers, or anything else inserted in the keyway.
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.