When a Grade-2 Schlage isn't enough. Medeco 3, Mul-T-Lock MT5+, Schlage Primus, ASSA Abloy Protec2 — restricted-keyway high-security locks for homes, offices, jewelry stores, gun rooms.
High-security locks install + service in PSL — Medeco 3, Mul-T-Lock MT5+, Schlage Primus, ASSA Abloy Protec2. Restricted keyways prevent copying at Walmart or Ace.
Cost: $200-320 install per cylinder + hardware ($120-280). Restricted-keyway key duplication $20-40 each (signed authorization required).
ANSI Grade 1 + UL 437 anti-pick / anti-bump / anti-drill ratings. The serious upgrade for front-door priority installs.
Three standards combine to define a high-security lock:
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 — cycle life (1,000,000), strike resistance (10 strikes at 75 lbs), 5+ pin minimum.
UL 437 listing — laboratory-tested pick resistance (10+ minutes), drill resistance (5+ minutes), pull / forcing resistance.
Restricted keyway — the key blank is patent-controlled by the manufacturer and only sold to authorized dealers. Customers cannot have keys copied at hardware stores; copies require the original purchase card and dealer authorization.
All four brands we install (Medeco 3, Mul-T-Lock MT5+, Schlage Primus, ASSA Abloy Protec2) meet all three standards. The differences come down to keyway feel, key control (how restricted the duplication process is), and price.
Medeco 3. Industry-standard for high-security residential. Sidebar mechanism rotates pins as well as elevating them — most pick-resistant cylinder commonly available. Authorized dealers track keys by signature; copying requires the original card. Hardware $180-280 per cylinder.
Mul-T-Lock MT5+. Israeli design, similar pick resistance to Medeco 3. Slim profile cylinder works in mortise applications where Medeco won't fit. Restricted keyway. Hardware $160-260.
Schlage Primus. Mainstream high-security option. Slightly easier to pick than Medeco / Mul-T-Lock but still resistant beyond what 99% of intruders will attempt. Better integration with Schlage commercial systems if you already have Schlage. Hardware $120-220.
ASSA Abloy Protec2. European-designed. Found more on commercial than residential in the US. Hardware $200-320.
For most PSL residential installs, Medeco 3 is the default recommendation. Mul-T-Lock if you have a mortise lock that doesn't accept a Medeco cylinder. Schlage Primus if you want to stay consistent with existing Schlage commercial hardware.
| Service | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medeco 3 deadbolt install | $220 - $320 | Plus hardware ($180-280). |
| Mul-T-Lock MT5+ deadbolt install | $200 - $300 | Plus hardware ($160-260). |
| Schlage Primus deadbolt install | $180 - $280 | Plus hardware ($120-220). |
| ASSA Abloy Protec2 install | $240 - $360 | Plus hardware ($200-320). |
| High-security rekey (per cylinder) | $60 - $90 | Restricted keyway pinning. |
| Restricted-keyway key cut | $20 - $40 | Per key, authorization card required. |
| Master key system - restricted keyway | $120 - $180 per cylinder | For commercial / portfolio. |
| Comparison | Medeco 3 | Mul-T-Lock MT5+ | Schlage Primus | Grade 2 Schlage / Kwikset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UL 437 listing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Restricted keyway (no Walmart copies) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pick resistance | Highest | Very high | High | Low-medium |
| Drill resistance | Hardened steel | Hardened steel | Hardened steel | Standard |
| Per-cylinder hardware cost | $180-280 | $160-260 | $120-220 | $25-80 |
| Replacement key cost | $25-40 | $20-35 | $20-30 | $2-6 |
Real person on the phone in under 2 rings. Locksmith on-site in 15-30 minutes. Honest price before any tools come out.
Call (772) 284-5142Depends on your threat model. For most PSL homes, Grade-2 Schlage / Kwikset is enough — the lock is rarely the failure point in a break-in (the door frame is, usually). High-security locks make sense for: front-door priority installs, jewelry stores, gun rooms, professionally-targeted commercial properties, and homes that have been broken into before. The restricted-keyway feature (no copies at hardware stores) is sometimes worth it for shared-key situations (rental properties, vacation homes where contractors / cleaners need temporary access).
Properly installed Medeco 3 with hardened cylinder requires specialized tools and 10+ minutes of work by an expert — and even then, success isn't guaranteed. The pin-rotation sidebar mechanism is what makes it pick-resistant. In practice, this means drilling becomes the more reliable approach for a locksmith trying to enter — but drilling destroys the cylinder, so you'd replace ($280-480). For a homeowner this is GOOD — it means the cylinder genuinely raises the bar.
Only at authorized dealers who have the restricted blank stock. Hardware stores cannot copy them. You'll need the original authorization card (you signed at install) showing you're the authorized purchaser. This is intentional — the restricted keyway is the security feature.
Medeco 3 deadbolt cylinder $180-280. Medeco 3 mortise cylinder $220-340. Medeco 3 cam lock (for cabinets / safes) $80-140. Medeco 3 padlock $180-260. Plus install ($200-320 per cylinder for deadbolts).
Physically yes — the install procedure is similar to standard deadbolts. But you can't BUY Medeco / Mul-T-Lock / Schlage Primus retail — they're sold through authorized dealers only, who fill out the authorization card with you. The card stays with you for future key copies.
The lock will survive — but the door frame might not. Most kick-in failures happen at the strike plate / jamb, not the lock. We always install reinforced strike plates (3" screws into studs) with high-security locks. Even better: a Mag Plate or Don-Jo box strike that wraps around the door edge. Doubles or triples the effective kick resistance.
High-security installs cluster in newer custom-builds (Veranda Bay, Telaro, custom Magnolia Lakes), in commercial accounts requiring restricted keyway (jewelry stores, medical practices with controlled substances), and in homes recovering from a prior break-in.
Last updated: 2026-05-17