Locking In

Padlocks were used throughout the centuries to lock prisoners and possessions. They were usually made of iron, bronze, or brass, and were rugged in construction. However, internal locking mechanisms were often fairly simple and easy to defuse.

This massive Russian padlock shown here was meticulously hand-forged early in the reign of the last Czar, Nicholas II (1895-1918). The large circular ring on the top is the "handle" or bow of a threaded key which is rotated into the keyhole to disengage the locking mechanism. When the shackle is in the locking position, the key is removed, and the plug is inserted to give the illusion that there is no keyhole. The threaded portion of the key is then screwed into its protective cover.