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.
A Little background. Before we dive into the comparison, it's important to understand that Schlage and Kwikset are just brand names and not specific lock models. Both companies, Schlage and Kwikset make many different types of locks, such as residential doorknobs, deadbolts and keypads.
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 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 subsequently became part of the Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI) Group of Stanley Black & Decker, which also owns lockset manufacturers Weiser and Baldwin.
As a brief background, Kwikset Corporation is a manufacturer of locksets. It had marked these products as “Made in the USA,” even though some of its locksets contained screws or pins made in Taiwan and some subassemblies were manufactured in Mexico.
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.
These sets use a Kwikset "Smartkey" and can be all keyed alike to each other, but not to Baldwin locksets that use a Baldwin stamped key.
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.
Our Pick: Schlage
Even if you have to pay a little more for Schlage locks, the added features and functionality of those models makes them stronger and better to use overall than Kwikset counterparts. Gain peace of mind from anywhere with the innovative Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt.
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.
Emtek's products are a cut above in terms of craftsmanship and design. Each order is custom assembled in our Southern California facility. There is no predetermined combination of knobs, levers, rosettes and finishes; we let you mix and match according to your own taste.
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 locks have a turn button lock. Emtek door knobs are made of solid brass which gives them a heavier higher end feel. Emtek does not have adjustable backsets so you will need to know what you have before ordering.
Baldwin Touchscreen Deadbolt can connect with most Z-Wave Smart Home Hubs/Controllers on the market. With the changes in technology, our engineers are always working to update the product to function with as many systems as possible.
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.
A Kwikset SmartKey tool (One should've came with your lock, but if not, you can buy one on Amazon). The new (or rather, old) key that you want to use instead. This must be a Kwikset key, as Kwikset and Schlage keys are totally different from one another (and won't work in each other's locks).
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.