Residential & Commercial Security - Locks, Keys & Dead Bolts - Help! Locked door / no key!

Hi,

I have just moved into a house which has a locked door between the entrance hall and the main living room. The previous owner had lost the key to this door so I have no means of opening it. Luckily there is another door to the living room so I can get to both sides of the locked door.

Does anyone have any idea how to get this door open? Forced or otherwise?

The lock appears to be an old deadlock with a skeleton key (the sort with a cylindrical shaft and a single flat, rectangular tooth. Maybe mortise? I cannot tell without opening the door. The bolt is flat on both sides and therefore a credit card won't do the trick!

Options available seem to be:

- Have the lock picked. Can this be done by a locksmith?
- Drill the lock? No idea where to start with this.
- Remove the hinges? The pins won't budge, but I could potentially drill / cut along the hinge? Does not look easy and is likely to damage the door/frame.
- Crowbar that door frame? Likely to split the frame and even then may not work.
- Kick the door VERY hard. 8-) Though don't really want to go down this route if I can help it!

Apart from a locksmith, none fo the other options are straightforward. Any advice appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!

Hi Flattie,

And welcome to the board. From what you posted, I believe you have an old Mortis style lock, where the body of the lock is inside the door, and not visible. If that is the case, yes, it can be picked by a locksmith. The method I use on these is, I have groups of the old skeleton keys, and simply try to find one that works. (I use this method as it is easier). Once I find a working key, I usually just give it to the customer so they have a key for it. Give your local locksmith a call. They can help with this situation.

cuedude

I would call a locksmith, they should be able to get this open for you.

Skelton keys are available at most hardware stores.

Skeleton keys are a myth....they do not exist!

They are a term that was once used to describe a modified key that worked in some styles of old fashioned mortice locks.

You definitely have a mortice lock here...either surface mounted(RIM) or in the body of the door.

Most residential quality 'old fashioned' mortise locks are the 2 or 3 lever variety.

I would presume you have the 2 lever variety.

The lock is quite simple to manipulate (pick). I do recommend that you call your local locksmith, as more than likely he/she will be able to perform the task quickly.

I dont think this is the appropriate forum to describe exactly how to manufacture a pick tool for these locks (altho it is simple - and very inexpensive)

I could send you a PM i suppose.

Since this was an interior door, accessible from both sides, the hinge pins could be removed and the door lifted out.

Since this was an interior door, accessible from both sides, the hinge pins could be removed and the door lifted out.

Original post already stated "The pins won't budge."

Since you have access to both sides of the door, doesn't one side have screws holding it all together? (you will probably also have to remove the knobs to get the plates off.)

Once you have unscrewed and removed the sides, you should be able to twist the center to withdraw the bolt. (If I remember correctly, it has been years since I took one of these apart.)

Sorry Ubob,

I dont think this will solve the problem as even by removing the lock furniture, the actual rectangular deadbolt below the latch will still be extended into the strike plate.


If you were to take a wire coathanger and bend the end into an "L" shape or even slightly into a "U"....the length of the small end of the "L" will need to be about 1/2"...

You could attempt to insert the end of the hanger as you would a key...and attempt to turn in the unlocking direction.

But, I really suggest you call your local locksmith.

Good Luck

GlobalLocky: My intent was that with the rest of the door mechanism off, and out of the way, the bolt could be retracted.

Since Flattie has not posted back, we may never know if anything helped. I wondered, being an older house, if the hinges had screw on finials. If so, they wouldn't just "tap" out but would first need to be unscrewed.

GlobalLocky: My intent was that with the rest of the door mechanism off, and out of the way, the bolt could be retracted.


What door mechanism do you mean?
I presumed you meant the actual lever handle furniture. Once removed, the door would still be locked.

The lock requires to be picked...the only way to do that is the lift the levers inside the keyhole and retract the bolt simultaneously.