A mortise lock (also spelled mortice lock in British English) is a lock that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the edge of the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted.
A pin-tumbler mortise lock is the most common type of mortise lock available. These Locks are very simple to operate and are fairly inexpensive. However, they are easily picked and are less secure than other types of locks. They are commonly found in older homes and apartments.
There are two sizes of mortice locks: 21/2” and 3”. If you are installing a mortice lock to a door with a narrow frame, or any door for that matter, it's very important to know what size lock you need. The size of the mortice lock refers to how far the keyhole will be from the edge of the door.
For a Mortice Deadlock you should only require the measurements of the Backset or the Case. This is the measurement from the front plate to the back of the lock case or the back of the slot the lock fits into in the door. If you have the old lock this measurement can be easily taken with a ruler or tape measure.
Mortice locks are generally available as either a deadlock or sashlock. A deadlock is operated by a key only and is sometimes used alongside a Nighlatch to provide additional locking in the centre of the door. You don't need to use a handle with a deadlock, turning the key or thumbturn retracts the centre deadbolt.
Are mortise door locks universal? Yes, a mortise lock set and mortise door lock is universal and can easily be used to replace most other lock sets, especially on an older door.
Whether your lock is broken and needs replacing or you're just ready for an updated look, mortise locks are generally simple to remove and replace; standard mortise lock replacement parts made by Emtek, Juralco, Pado, Papaiz or new-style Wright are easily interchangeable.
Its designed to make lock picking and drilling difficult, making it a popular choice of lock for meeting home insurance security requirements. You can often identify a five lever mortice deadlock by the following: The words '5 Lever' engraved on the internal faceplate of the lock. Mostly found on wooden doors.
Full Mortise - A lock whose body is entirely mortised into the wood. Half Mortise - A lock mounted into a shallow mortise in the back of the work. Surface mounted - A lock that is screwed to the back of the work with no mortising required.
It's a difficult game, and most pro locksmiths will drill a curtain mortice lock (drilling can be done in such a way the lock can be reused) but as far as picking goes, it's an incredible skill that will give you an incredible buzz.
However, you will find them very easy to handle and a joy to use. Now available in sizes 1/8" - 1/2" by 1/16". It is perfectly acceptable to just have one mortise chisel ( 1/4" or 3/8" being the most common) and size all your mortises accordingly.
When choosing your 5 lever lock, make sure it is stamped or kitemarked with BS3621 - this is a lock standard rating given by British Standards for thief-resistant locks. 5 lever locks are also generally sold in two sizes: 2.5 inch and 3 inch case sizes. These translate to 44mm and 57mm backset measurements.
Normal mortise view. The entire mortise joint space should be of uniform width, ≤4 mm (light gray). The distal tibiofibular joint (dark gray) should be only slightly wider than the mortise joint space, ≤5.5 mm. The tibiofibular overlap should be >1 mm on the mortise view.
Mortise locks were typically used before 1950, and tubular locks after 1950. Read on for a quick explanation on the differences between these two types of door locks.
Kwikset Standard Deadbolt
The standard Kwikset deadbolt is the most common lock in America.
Mortise lock cutouts may weaken the structure of the door– yet mortise locks are mysteriously stronger than bored cylindrical locks! They give more leverage and last longer than cylindrical locks, and their versatility allows more architectural conformity to existing security hardware.
Price. Mortise locks cost more because they are more durable, secure and offer more functions than cylinder locks. Plus they come with extra installation costs. On the other side, cylinder locks are more economical and convenient for locations with minimal security needs.
So, if it isn't clear yet, the reason you should use mortise locks is if you want a lock that requires little to no maintenance, if you require standard or custom functions including deadbolts, and if you want more lever and trim design options.
Deadbolt Lock
Deadbolts are unarguably one of the most popular type of door locks, and they are widely used for residential properties. They are opened by turning a knob or key without the use of a spring.
Deadbolt door locks are the most secure type of key lock and are commonly used on exterior house doors. Single and double cylinder locks are classified by strength from Grade 1 to Grade 3. Grade 1 is the highest and provides the best security.
Featuring five parallel levers that all need to be lined up by turning the key to allow the bolt stop to come across, it's an exceptionally difficult lock to pick. That's not to say that it can't be picked, as there are doubtless experienced locksmiths that have the required skill, but they're still highly secure.
Mortise locks can be replaced with standard cylinders. Mortise lock is the name given to the large, rectangular locks that fit into a slot, or "mortise" in the edge of the door. These locks were common at the turn of the twentieth century and are still in use today. The cylinder lock is the modern standard.
Replacing a full mortise lockset:
This can usually be done by removing a few screws in the door knobs, around the face plate, and the lockset. Fit the new lock body into the old mortise.
- Select Finish: Brass (03), Satin Chrome (26D), or Duronodic (46). - Special Ordering: See below for Special Order information (i.e., ordering cylinders keyed to existing key number). - Delivery: The Ilco 7165-KW1 Kwikset Mortise Cylinder is in stock and available to ship.