Thu Sep 21, 2017 3:59 am by Patrick Star
Oh, those things are fun! I still have to achieve a decent time on mine, though it seems I got the most evil version (top and side pins take turns binding totally randomly, one or at most two pins each time).
Regardless of the version, just to get it down to Youtube-friendly time is very good picking!
As to your question why they switched pins - the new style barrel pins are supposedly easier to pin up automatically and works with standard pinning machines.
I can easily imagine why, though I'm not exactly qualified to give expert opinions on lock manufacturing so don't listen too much to me.
It seems they decided to standardize on them across the entire range so they can use the same machines/procedures.
I kinda think the corresponding counter-milling (more like threading than a deep cut) is easier to make as well.
ASSA has started to make quite a few dumb decisions...
Like d12, their new standard lock to replace 700, that doesn't have any impressioning protection at all.
Or Triton/Neptun, their new high security locks that are just d12 with a Twin Combi side mechanism bolted on.
While not exactly easy to pick, the Combi mechanism has lots of issues (small keyspace, no master keying, reliability issues). The DP mechanism would have been a much better option, but I assume it would be more expensive or something.
Hell, the DP sidebar would make a pretty darn good lock on it's own even...