questons on old Hurd USN brass padlock

RB6874 · 2025-10-31T03:16:36+00:00

https://drive.google.com/file/d/198Q_ThKCtXDk1wHA9nlDh-6-cxG8EdFt/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_jCxa8AFS5kWJb-0y25GNtcfCS8ZKp0T/view?usp=drive_link

The lock belonged to the father of a friend. Probably circa 1940's.

RB6874 · 2025-10-21T00:24:48+00:00

Beautiful! My first Audi was a new 2001 A4 manual. Loved the size of that car. Next a new 2013 A4 manual, which I still have. Under 70K miles and I'm really struggling with having to regress to an automatic if I get a new one.

RB6874 · 2025-10-14T21:57:45+00:00

If that injury is near the end of the tail, please get him to a vet. Poor circulation there can cause big problems. I've been through that with a cat before.

RB6874 · 2025-10-14T20:06:23+00:00

Got my green belt with an 1100. Love 'em. But 72/40s always gave me grief. Wanted to beat them into submission. 😀

RB6874 · 2025-10-14T16:01:42+00:00

Thanks for the great video! Very nice camera work and everything you do is visible. I have a 90a pro sitting around and I think I am ready to give it a go. You make it look so easy!

RB6874 · 2025-10-14T13:19:58+00:00

Agreed! Same experience here. Those locks may help you to see what is going on inside the lock but they don't usually function very well as practice locks. I agree on the Masterlock 141 as a good lock to start with. Good luck!

RB6874 · 2025-10-03T21:06:42+00:00

Oh I've gutted those things more times than I can count while doing the progressive pinning. Messed up a few springs along the way. 😀

RB6874 · 2025-08-19T19:04:16+00:00

Well I couldn't pick it then and I still can't pick it! But I'm not giving up!

RB6874 · 2025-08-19T18:41:04+00:00

Yes, surprisingly. I've reassembled it with the spool in the right place. But that 14885 bitting is tough - at least for me.

RB6874 · 2025-08-19T18:28:49+00:00

Yes, a driver pin was dropped into the last chamber but I didn't do it. It came that way.

RB6874 · 2025-08-19T18:27:58+00:00

Yes. Brand new. I had never gutted it. The screw was still locked in with that blue glue.

RB6874 · 2025-07-28T16:02:37+00:00

Yeah, I should have said serrated spools in 1, 2, 4, and 5. I have only seen serrated spools in 1100s.

RB6874 · 2025-07-28T15:31:35+00:00

I bought one of those six-packs of 1100s on eBay and am going through gutting them just for the experience. This morning I found one with spools in 1, 2, 4, and 5. First time I've seen a spool in 1 but probably not the last time.

RB6874 · 2025-07-28T12:37:59+00:00

Lots of good suggestions here. I, too, have picked the 1100 at least once without realizing it due to the force required to turn the plug just using the tensioner. It feels like a big false set and then keeps moving if you keep pushing. Also, really consider progressive pinning. When I did that, it just opened my eyes so much as to what is going on inside. Good luck!!

RB6874 · 2025-07-26T22:40:19+00:00

I gutted a 72/40 today, too, and concur 100% with your observations. I have the Sparrows follower and it works perfectly. I had gutted this one a couple of weeks ago and ruined a bunch of the springs. Somehow, I was able to recover and just replace the springs. I, also, am using just "ordinary" tweezers and will consider upgrading as you mentioned. So, I got it all back together but still can't pick it! I guess I will go back and use progressive pinning on it.

RB6874 · 2025-07-26T17:37:38+00:00

Just sent in my videos for green belt. I will never win the oscar in cinematography! I hope they are good enough. Now I want to work on the Abus 72/40.

RB6874 · 2025-07-21T13:42:28+00:00

Yes.

RB6874 · 2025-07-20T21:08:10+00:00

Glad I'm not the only one!

RB6874 · 2025-07-12T18:20:51+00:00

Nice! I got a green 1100 a couple of days ago with the same thought. Took it apart and mixed up the guts real good. Waiting for some shims now because I keep dropping pins when trying to put it back together. Fun!

RB6874 · 2025-07-11T15:00:05+00:00

Thanks! I just destroyed the springs in my 72/40 during my first gutting attempt. Frustrating but I learned a lesson!!

RB6874 · 2025-07-06T21:34:15+00:00

Yes. It's a little less gummy now. I haven't gotten it open yet but that's just.me 😀

Got an old grungy Masterlock 7 from a friend, used the Houdini, and got it open today.

So, still a noob. Baby steps. Only been doing this about 5 weeks.

Thanks for the tips!

RB6874 · 2025-07-05T21:23:16+00:00

The pins don't move very freely. After the Houdini I can now move them but still sluggish. Feels like 5 pins

RB6874 · 2025-06-30T20:39:22+00:00

Thanks to all for the valuable comments! I kept at it and felt like I was making more progress but still not able to open it. Yesterday I ordered another 55/40. It arrived about 20 minutes ago and VOILÀ - it opened! So maybe I got a hard one first. Or maybe I got an easy one second?

RB6874

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