Restricted keyway
A keyway whose blanks are sold only to licensed locksmiths under a controlled distribution agreement. Prevents unauthorised key duplication.
A restricted keyway is one where the manufacturer or its licensed importers control who can buy blanks for it. Hardware stores can’t stock the blanks; only licensed locksmiths registered with the manufacturer can order them, and orders typically require a signatory agreement linking each blank to a specific authorised customer.
This is the central security feature of commercial master keying. A non-restricted system (Schlage C, Kwikset KW1) can be duplicated at any locksmith with the right blank — the bitting is in the cuts, the blanks are commodity. A restricted system requires both the bitting and the legal-process access to the blanks, which makes unauthorised duplication a crime, not just a technical exercise.
How restriction is enforced
Restricted keyways combine three layers:
- Patent protection on the blank profile (typically 20 years from filing). Only the manufacturer or licensees can legally produce blanks.
- Distribution control — manufacturers ship blanks only to registered locksmiths, against a registered customer list.
- Compliance documentation — the locksmith maintains a key register tied to each customer, showing which keys exist, who they were issued to, and when. This is the handover record that ships with every Keyzee restricted-keyway system.
Restricted keyway compliance for locksmiths
Restricted-keyway suppliers (Lockwood Master Key, EVVA, ABLOY, Mul-T-Lock, Schlage Primus, BEST, Medeco) require licensed locksmiths to keep an auditable handover record per system. The record includes system ID, keyway platform, authorised signatory list, full key register snapshot, locksmith licence number, and customer acknowledgement.
Failure to maintain compliance can mean loss of the supplier licence, loss of access to restricted blanks, and (in jurisdictions where locksmithing is licensed) regulatory consequences.
Examples of restricted keyways
| Keyway | Manufacturer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lockwood 570 | Lockwood (AU) | Default AU commercial |
| EVVA EPS | EVVA (AT) | Side-bar restricted, common AU import |
| Schlage Primus | Schlage (US) | UL437, side-bit |
| Medeco Original | Medeco (US) | Angled-cut + side-bar, UL437 |
| Mul-T-Lock Classic | Mul-T-Lock (IL) | Pin-in-pin |
| ABLOY Classic | ABLOY (FI) | Disc-detainer |
Related
→ Keyway — the underlying concept restricted-keyways extend → Key blank — what licensed locksmiths order under restriction → TMK — the apex key whose security depends on restriction