History and Usage
– Warded locks have been found in ancient China and Rome.
– During the Middle Ages, warded locks were commonly used in monasteries.
– Warded locks are still used in the UK and Ireland for low-security purposes.
– Heritage sites like ancient monuments and churches use warded locks to preserve original features.
Design
– Warded locks have obstructions that block the rotation of keys not designed for that lock.
– The number and complexity of wards can vary in warded locks.
– Grooves on the key’s blade limit the type of lock the key can slide into.
– Warded locks can be single-sided or double-sided.
– When the correct key is inserted, it clears the wards and allows rotation.
Mechanism
– The key enters the lock through a keyhole.
– A cavity in the key’s tip fits over a cylindrical post inside the lock, providing a pivot point.
– The notches in the key align with the obstructions, allowing rotation.
– The key may activate a lever or sliding bolt to open the lock.
– Double acting lever locks have an additional spring-loaded lever.
Vulnerabilities
– Well-designed skeleton keys can bypass the wards in warded locks.
– Warded lock mechanisms are generally used in low-security applications.
– Many keys can open doors they were not designed for due to limited unique key combinations.
– Lever tumbler locks were invented to address these vulnerabilities.
– Lever tumbler locks require each lever to be lifted to a certain height for operation.
Related Concepts
– Skeleton keys
– Lever tumbler lock
– Padlocks
– Mortise lockSources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warded_lock
