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 mortice lock is so called because of a mortice (also known as a pocket, or simply a chiselled away section) that is cut inside the edge of the door in order to accommodate the lock case.
Mortise Locks of the U.S. Industrial Era
A new cylinder mortise lock was patented by Linus Yale, Jr. in 1865, with the support of four Connecticut building hardware companies: P. & F. Corbin, Russell and Erwin Manufacturing Co., Sargent and Company, and Yale's own Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co.
In a mortise lock you can unlock both the latch and deadbolt locks by turning only one lever, but in cylindrical locks you have to lock and unlock the deadbolt and the latch separately.
A tubular lock has its latch bolt and dead bolt in two separate holes. In a mortise lock, both bolts are encased in a steel box that fits in one hole.
A mortise refers to the pocket cut into the door where the lock is fitted. Therefore, a mortise lockset cannot be installed on just any door. They are great for replacing the hardware on homes built before 1950.
Unlike the mortise lock which requires a rectangular pocket to be cut into the door, the deadbolt requires 2 cylindrical holes to be cut into the door (bored cylindrical mounting).
Examine the length of the door that lines up with the strike plate. More specifically investigate where the deadbolt and/or latch bolt extends from. If the size of the faceplate is approximately the size of your hand then that is an indication that it uses a mortise cylinder.
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.
Mortise locks are one of the most secure forms of residential hardware available today. What makes mortise locks so much more secure than their cylinder counterparts? A pocket cut into the short edge of the door, allows a longer and thicker mortise box to slide into the door itself, providing superior protection.
In lock: Development of modern types. … in England, patented a double-acting tumbler lock. A tumbler is a lever, or pawl, that falls into a slot in the bolt and prevents it being moved until it is raised by the key to exactly the right height out of the slot; the key then slides the bolt.
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.
5 lever mortice deadlocks are a type of lock that is installed into the door material. The lock can be locked and unlocked using a key, and it has 5 levers to make it more secure. 5 lever mortice dead locks are available in a range of finishes, it can be used on both internal and external doors throughout a building.
One of the most readily available and secure types of lock is the mortice lock. These earned their name thanks to the pocket (or mortice) that the bolt slots into, which is cut into the internal face of the doorframe. When the bolt is in the mortice, the door is unable to move and is securely locked.
In 1865, Linus Yale, Jr. patented the cylinder mortise lock, which would revolutionize the industry. It used a pin tumbler cylinder with a series of spring-loaded pins that had to be raised to an exact height by the notches on a flat key before it would turn to operate the deadbolt (see opposite).
Most residential locksmiths agree the average lock's lifespan is about seven years.
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. Go for it.
Kwikset/Schlage 1-1/8" 5 Pin Mortise Cylinder.
#1 – The Mortise Lock Defined
If you want to improve your door security, just know that this type of lock offers far better protection against intruders than the common cylinder locks.
A deadlatch is a locking mechanism that locks automatically without having to turn a knob or use a key. It rests against a metal strike plate mounted on a door frame. The deadlatch works by using a bolt to block the door from opening, giving your door extra security.
A - The Case Depth
There are many different case depths but the most common sizes are 64mm and 76mm. This is the metric equivalent to 2.5" and 3" lock cases from back in the imperial days.
An easy way to choose which latch you need is to measure from the edge of your door to the centre of your door Stile. Choose the Backset which is closest to this measurement, and the handle will be as central as possible to the Stile on your door.