Rim Locks and their Uses

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While there are many different types of locks currently in use today in homes and apartments all around the country, some provide much better security than others. You can see doors with rim locks, dead bolts, and mortise locks, but which of these really offer the best security?

Rim locks were very commonly used in past centuries, and they were made by locksmiths who were, at one time, very revered for their ability to provide safety and security to the lords and ladies of the earlier centuries. A rim lock attaches to the inside of a door, with a smaller rim with a keyhole attached to the outside of the door. The door is opened from within by turning a latch, and from outside by opening with a key.

However, these days, rim locks do not provide sufficient security to a home. They are more often referred to as auxiliary locks, as they should be used in conjunction with another type of lock to provide optimum security. When it comes to prying open a lock, the rim lock is one of the easiest to open and it is possible to even open it with something as common and as small as a credit card! Thus you should always add on a deadbolt or some other equally secure lock to your door.

The reason they are still in common use is because they are some of the most decorative door locks around, and they really do add to the overall charm and appeal of an external door or even a gate. Some of the nicer, and most popular rim locks are those that are fashioned after the locks of the earlier centuries. There are many replications of old-style rim locks for sale, you can easily pick them up on line for a very reasonable price. No matter what your home's décor is like, you should be able to find a rim lock that fits right in.

If you are seriously interested in old-style rim locks and antiques, you can also very often pick these up on line for fairly reasonable prices. You should expect to pay anywhere from around $75 to $200 for an antique rim lock that dates back to the 19^th century. Of course, the older the lock, the more expensive it will be. Many of these antique locks have been restored, and their inside parts have also been repaired and restored so that they work as they were meant to.

If you want to dress up your front door, you really should look into the more decorative styles of rim locks available. They are not expensive, and they really can give your home an added lift, without costing you a lot of money.