Lockwiki - User contributions [en]

NATO Mersey

2021-07-14T16:51:54Z

Gravitykarma: /* Key security features */

= NATO Mersey =
{{Lock model
|name = NATO Mersey
|Img = File:Mersey_Lock_04.jpg
|maker =
|lock_type = [[Safe|Safe lock]]
|lock_design = [[Lever]]
|years_produced = 197x - 199x
|patent =
|related =
| spec_on = true
| spec_comptype = [[lever]]
| spec_comp = 10 or 14
}}

The '''Mersey''' is a [[lever]] lock made by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Ministry of Defense (MOD). It features a distinct puck shaped housing which is designed to fit on [[safe]]s used by the MOD. The Mersey can also be identified by its V shaped key which actuates two independent sets of levers inside the lock.

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== General ==

The NATO Mersey exists in two distinct guises, each with some evolutionary revisions: the 10 lever variant and the 14 lever variant. Both locks share a number of common security features having a common ancestry. Made for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) during the 1970’s through to the 1990’s, these locks use a unique V-shaped key.<ref>[https://abbeygatelocksmiths.co.uk/our-collections/ Abbeygates online lock and locksmiths museum]</ref>

In some instances, the keys for the Mersey were stored in a key safe protected by a [[Mark IV Manifoil]] combination lock.<ref>[https://blackbag.toool.nl/?p=77#comment-188055 BlackBag comment from "John"]</ref><ref>[https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=47771#p410754 LP101 comment from "twixt3&20characters"]</ref>

== Key security features ==

The principle security features are common to both the 14 and the 10 lever. They are:
* Two stacks of levers that are operated in parallel. Both of these must be set before the stump will pass the true gates
* The majority of levers have at least 1, if not 2, false gates.
* The stump and the false gates are made in such a way as to lock firmly together
* The bolt locking mechanism.

It is the last of these that is reasonably unique to the NATO Mersey locks

== The 14 lever variant ==

<center><gallery>
File:Mersey Lock 04.jpg| Lock with top cover on and key inserted.
File:Mersey Lock 02.jpg | 14 lever key.
File:Mersey Lock 08.jpg | 14 lever lock with back removed.
File:Mersey Lock 09.jpg | 14 lever lock showing blocking mechanism. Note that the curtain is missing and the 14 lever does not have the extra locking mechanism of the later model mersey 10 levers also of note is the lead plate incorporated into the bolt to provide protection from radiological decoding.
File:Mersey Lock 07.jpg | 14 lever key and curtain in the back-plate of the lock.
File:Mersey_Lock_03.jpg
</gallery></center>

== The 10 lever variant ==

The 10 lever variant of the Mersey exists in at least three iterations. There are those early models where the lever pivot bolt is free to slide along a captive slot, in later models this slot becomes a round hole and finally square. The ability of the lever pivot is a key part of the bolt blocking mechanism.

==References==
<references />

==External Links==
* [https://www.nato.int/nato-welcome/index.html What is NATO?]

== See also ==
* [[Lever]]
* [[Safe]]

[[Category:Lever locks]][[Category:Lock models]][[Category:Safe locks]]

NATO Mersey

2021-07-14T16:44:59Z

Gravitykarma: /* The 10 lever variant */

= NATO Mersey =
{{Lock model
|name = NATO Mersey
|Img = File:Mersey_Lock_04.jpg
|maker =
|lock_type = [[Safe|Safe lock]]
|lock_design = [[Lever]]
|years_produced = 197x - 199x
|patent =
|related =
| spec_on = true
| spec_comptype = [[lever]]
| spec_comp = 10 or 14
}}

The '''Mersey''' is a [[lever]] lock made by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Ministry of Defense (MOD). It features a distinct puck shaped housing which is designed to fit on [[safe]]s used by the MOD. The Mersey can also be identified by its V shaped key which actuates two independent sets of levers inside the lock.

__TOC__
<br clear=all>

== General ==

The NATO Mersey exists in two distinct guises, each with some evolutionary revisions: the 10 lever variant and the 14 lever variant. Both locks share a number of common security features having a common ancestry. Made for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) during the 1970’s through to the 1990’s, these locks use a unique V-shaped key.<ref>[https://abbeygatelocksmiths.co.uk/our-collections/ Abbeygates online lock and locksmiths museum]</ref>

In some instances, the keys for the Mersey were stored in a key safe protected by a [[Mark IV Manifoil]] combination lock.<ref>[https://blackbag.toool.nl/?p=77#comment-188055 BlackBag comment from "John"]</ref><ref>[https://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=47771#p410754 LP101 comment from "twixt3&20characters"]</ref>

== Key security features ==

Add to me!

== The 14 lever variant ==

<center><gallery>
File:Mersey Lock 04.jpg| Lock with top cover on and key inserted.
File:Mersey Lock 02.jpg | 14 lever key.
File:Mersey Lock 08.jpg | 14 lever lock with back removed.
File:Mersey Lock 09.jpg | 14 lever lock showing blocking mechanism. Note that the curtain is missing and the 14 lever does not have the extra locking mechanism of the later model mersey 10 levers also of note is the lead plate incorporated into the bolt to provide protection from radiological decoding.
File:Mersey Lock 07.jpg | 14 lever key and curtain in the back-plate of the lock.
File:Mersey_Lock_03.jpg
</gallery></center>

== The 10 lever variant ==

The 10 lever variant of the Mersey exists in at least three iterations. There are those early models where the lever pivot bolt is free to slide along a captive slot, in later models this slot becomes a round hole and finally square. The ability of the lever pivot is a key part of the bolt blocking mechanism.

==References==
<references />

==External Links==
* [https://www.nato.int/nato-welcome/index.html What is NATO?]

== See also ==
* [[Lever]]
* [[Safe]]

[[Category:Lever locks]][[Category:Lock models]][[Category:Safe locks]]

NATO Mersey

2021-07-03T08:16:11Z

Gravitykarma: Created page with "= NATO Mersey = {{Lock model |name = NATO Mersey |Img = File:Mersey_Lock_04.jpg |lock_maker = Chubb |lock_type = Safe lock |lock_design = Lever |years_produce..."

= NATO Mersey =
{{Lock model
|name = NATO Mersey
|Img = File:Mersey_Lock_04.jpg
|lock_maker = [[Chubb]]
|lock_type = [[Safe|Safe lock]]
|lock_design = [[Lever]]
|years_produced = 1970 - 1990
|patent =
|related =
}}

The following text and images were submitted to LockWiki by Gravitykarma, 3 July 2021:

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<br clear=all>

== General ==

The Nato Mersey exists in two distinct guises, each with some evolutionary revisions. The 10 lever variant and the 14 lever variant. Both locks share a number of common security features having a common ancestry. These locks were produced for the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) during the cold war in the 1970’s through to the 1990’s. There are similarities to the Chatwood Milner Manifoil, having been produced by the same manufacturer and both were in common use by the SSG(the group wich secures the MOD(Ministry Of Defence) of the UK).

The mersey keylock and the manifoil mark IV are used in combination on MOD safes and/or strongrooms etc.

The lock has an unusual “V” shaped brass key (earlier models had a plastic key that was prone to breaking). The lock also has a plastic cover locked into place by the mechanism itself and can only be taken off using the key - the reason was to stop the lock being tampered with between manufacturing and fitting.

== Key security features ==

== The 14 lever variant ==

<gallery>
File:Mersey Lock 04.jpg| Lock with top cover on and key inserted.
File:Mersey Lock 02.jpg | 14 lever key.
File:Mersey Lock 08.jpg | 14 lever lock with back removed.
File:Mersey Lock 09.jpg | 14 lever lock showing blocking mechanism. Note that the curtain is missing and the 14 lever does not have the extra locking mechanism of the later model mersey 10 levers also of note is the lead plate incorporated into the bolt to provide protection from radiological decoding.
File:Mersey Lock 07.jpg | 14 lever key and curtain in the back-plate of the lock.
</gallery>

== The 10 lever variant

[[Category:Chubb]][[Category:Lever locks]][[Category:Lock models]][[Category:Safe locks]]