introduction

Definition of a Locksmith: Someone who works on locks, keys, security systems is known as a locksmith.

As a locksmith, you play an essential role in keeping people’s homes and businesses secure. You help people in emergencies, and you also help them prevent those emergencies from happening in the first place. However, have you ever stopped to think about the history of locksmithing? The evolution of locks and keys is a fascinating topic, and it’s one that every locksmith should know.

the beginning

One of the world's oldest archaeological evidence of a mechanical lock with a key dates back over four thousand years. It was found in the rubble of an ancient pharaonic palace. The discovery included a door latch similar to the common latch of the time, with some minor modifications, including several small, loose pegs positioned at the top of the latch's interior and a hollow center to accommodate what looked like a key. The following images are a simulation of a similar ancient discovery.

The earliest examples of locks in Egypt date back to around the second millennium BC, particularly during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. These locks were found in tombs, storehouses, and official buildings, demonstrating the pharaohs' awareness of the need for security and the preservation of property.

Despite its simplicity, this lock is effective, using a large latch to secure the door. Roller pin locks consist of two parts: a wooden post and a wooden latch. When the door is closed, wooden pins fall into the holes, ensuring a tight seal. A large wooden key, resembling a toothbrush, lifts a set of wooden pins. The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians cherished this pin lock because it was used to protect their doors and valuables of religious significance. This lock proved extremely effective and reliable for many at the time. Furthermore, it helped them feel more secure without the need for a guard stationed at their door.

There is a large wooden key similar to a toothbrush lifting a set of wooden pins.  Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians treasured such a pin lock because they could use it to safeguard their religious significance’s doors and valuables.

Such a lock proved to be incredibly handy and reliable for a lot of people back then. Moreover, it helped them feel more secure without having any stationed guards in front of their doors.

Khorsabad's palace ruins were the site of discovering one of the earliest pinlocks in Mosul, Iraq. Norway, Japan, and the Faroe Islands are examples of locations where people could find similar locks.

The development of the lock industry

The first stage:

The first locks consisted of a knot made of ropes, and the manufacture of locks evolved and became made of wood and metal.

The second stage:

With the development of metal tools, metal locks began to appear in ancient civilizations, especially in Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

The nature of Egyptian locks

The ancient Egyptians made significant improvements to wooden locks using partially metal mechanisms. The key was long and heavy, often made of bronze or copper.

Locks were mostly made of wood and consisted of a large wooden latch fixed to the door. The key was a long piece of wood that fit into the holes in the latch to move it and open the door. The first types were documented in ancient Egypt, about 6,000 years ago, where a wooden tumbler lock was attached to the door.

The Egyptian civilization was almost a pioneer of inventions. The ancient Egyptians invented many machines and tools that were not known before.

One of the most important inventions made by the ancient Egyptians was the first lock (latch) for doors, which was initially used in temples, markets, and the homes of the notables.

The first locks consisted of a knot made of rope, and lock making evolved and became made of wood and metal.

The first types were documented in ancient Egypt nearly 6,000 years ago, where a wooden tumbler lock was attached to a door.

The ancients came up with the idea at a time when door locks did not exist. In 4000 BC, the pin lock, which closely resembles the modern lock, was first created. This lock consists of a hollow bolt containing pins that can be removed by inserting a key. The key pushes these pins off the bolt shaft.

Due to the lack of polishing, the locks of this time were much larger than modern locks. These ancient Egyptian locks were over half a meter in size, and were heavy and rather cumbersome to carry.

The lock consists of three wooden pieces, one of which has several protrusions or pins, and another piece with a number of holes equal in size and number to the pins. The pins of the first piece are dropped into the holes of the second piece, and the door closes. The third piece is the key, and it has protrusions the same size as the pins. The key is inserted through a gap under the pins that have fallen into the holes, and then it is lifted, and these pins are lifted, and the door opens.

Structure and design

The pharaohs used wooden locks based on a simple but effective mechanical system. The lock consisted of a wooden box containing pegs that were moved by a special key with protrusions that matched the positions of the pegs.

However, some advanced models – especially those for royal tombs or temples – contained metal components such as copper or bronze, to increase durability.

When the key is inserted into the lock slot, its protrusions raise the pegs to specific positions, allowing the latch to be released and the door to be opened. This concept is considered a primitive precursor to modern locking systems.