We are replacing both our front door and rear door in our house and I need to get new locksets for both. I plan to get them from Lowes or HD as I get the 10% Veteran discount.

I'd like to get two sets that I can use the same key on. Not really interested in any of the keyless type stuff, it's just one more thing to break or have a battery die on us at the wrong time, plain old key type is what we want.

Is there a brand that would be recommended over others? Looking right now at Kwikset brand but if there is a better brand that you all could recommend, I'd look that that.

Again, I'm going to Lowes or HD so it has to be a brand they carry.

Pretty sure all the doors in my current & former house were Kwikset & had the 'rekey' function where you can key multiple to the same key.
Never had any problems out of any of them.

Edit, ours are Schlage, not Kwikset.

I have had better results with Schlage vs Kwikset.

I’ve heard Schlage is steps above kwickset. Not a locksmith.

I'm not a key lock guy, but I too would likely lean towards Schlage vs. Kwikset.

Whatever it is you're looking at, Grade 1 locks are the best option from a strength and longevity standpoint.

Think we got the Schlage commercial model. Heavier duty and by matching numbers on the boxes you can buy multiple knob sets and have them keyed alike. Very happy with the results after some years of use. Bought at Lowes

It depends on what you are trying to do.

Kwikset is cheap and works.
low cost and quality of materials. Finish not so great after a few years of use.

Schlage is a solid step up for the quality of materials. Still will look worn after a few years.

Between them, they have 95% of the retail market.

Baldwin is a step up again in materials.
Cost more, lifetime warranty. They sent me parts on a 30-year-old lock that broke. Looks like the day it was installed.

Kwikset and Baldwin are owned by the same company.

Locksmiths sell the higher quality Schlage and Baldwin.

You don't usually get what you don't pay for.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I’ve heard Schlage is steps above kwickset. Not a locksmith.

Agree, Schlage is better ... and my neighbor and friend is a locksmith of many years also agrees.

It is great to key all locks with the same key except in certain security scenarios but overall yes.

It’s been many years, but I’ve had Kwik-Set, Schlage, and Baldwin from Home Depot. From a materials and quality standpoint, Baldwin was the best followed by Schlage then Kwik-Set.

Kwik-Set is as cheap as you can go and still have a lock set that functions. Think Hi-Point.

Schlage is a step up. Good enough for most people. Think Glock.

Baldwin, at least when I bought ours, was old school with solid, machined parts instead of stamped parts. Think P-series Sig.

Got Schlage at HD for both of our bock doors with matching numbers on the box so they're all keyed alike. Have had them in for 27 years now and all four lock sets, knobs and dead bolts still function just fine. I guess I'd do Schlage again if I was renewing.

IMO Run away from Kwikset brand.

About 15 years ago bought a Kwikset brand lockset for the front door from HD. Less than 2 years later came home to find it popped apart not doing its job.. A very very thin clip held the assembly together had broken. After looking it over I never imagined someone would make such a lousy door lock.

Just remember, as we like to say in the police biz- Locks keep honest people out. So buy what you like that will stand up to the weather, both finish and mechanism. But don't count on them to keep bad guys out-
I recently went with Kwikset, but am disappointed as the finish (brushed nickel) didn't hold up well and the outer coating peeled and it started yellowing underneath.

Not a locksmith either ... but as an old retired LEO I am happy with Baldwin. More importantly is replacing the shorter screws in the latch plates with long ones that go all the way into the framing, same with replacing some of the screws on the hinge side.

All Schlage at my house, all keyed the same.

Have Baldwin locksets and Schlage, depends on the door location, front entrance is Baldwin, it's held up well, better made, weathers good.

Kwikset and Baldwin are owned by Black and Decker both are made in Nogales Mexico...

Kwikset is 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®, FANAL®, Pfister™ and EZSET®.

B&D bought Baldwin in 2003 and in 2012 shuttered the PA factory, fired 159 people and moved production to Mexico. FYI for those that like to know these things.

Link

Schlage and Kwikset are not part of the same company, Schlage has a plant in Colorado, they are owned by an international conglomerate Allegion out of Ireland who bought Ingersol Rand, which, bought Schlage in the 70's.

For a lock set all you really care about is that it holds the SFIC (The actual lock part) and it holds your door lock secure from physical attacks. Brute force stuff.

For the lock itself at least make sure that you get good bitting with at least one security pin in the stack that prevents bumping. That will prevent most common attacks.

We use proprietary, serialized keys from our local locksmith. Very little chance of a bump key being available. (Although I have one. lol)

It’s truly ridiculous how low security residential door locks are. Even commercial ones. You’re using 150-year-old technology with pins and tumblers. Electronic locks are no better because of induction/trans-conductance, and other cool vulnerabilities.

Schlage is is then!

Thanks everyone

Baldwin is supposedly better, but I've had to repair one at my father's a couple times now. Yes they send him the parts, but perhaps it's just because you paid for them up front.

Medeco HIGH SECURITY LOCK. Since we are using gun analogies try ED Brown 1911.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Medeco HIGH SECURITY LOCK.

And neither are sold at Lowes or HD…

Please read the OP