A homeowner in Memphis’ 38125 zip code reached out with a complicated situation. Their home had older-style Schlage locks—well-built, smaller bore cylinders not typically found in modern hardware stores. After decades of key copies and wear, the current key barely worked. The locks needed to be rekeyed to restore proper operation.
But that wasn’t all.
The front door had begun to sag. It scraped the frame, had to be forced closed, and required full-body effort to open. This wasn’t just inconvenient—it was a safety hazard, especially during an emergency.
They also had a beautiful imported armoire that had been locked for years. The original skeleton key had been lost in transit, and they wanted access without damaging the cabinet.
At GI Locksmith, we’re one of the few locksmiths in Memphis who specialize in antique furniture locks and can work on warded key systems and skeleton key mechanisms. We accepted the challenge.
Here’s what we did:
- Rekeyed their older Schlage cylinders with a fresh pinning job, restoring function without replacing the hardware.
- Swedged the door hinges to realign the door, eliminating the jam and making it close and open properly.
- Picked open the armoire’s antique lock and consulted with the customer about replacement skeleton-key systems that respect the antique style.
We took photos throughout the process, including before-and-after shots of the door alignment and the lock internals.
This Memphis homeowner walked away with rekeyed locks, a safer front entry, and access to a long-locked heirloom cabinet. All without losing the integrity of their original hardware.
If you have an older home with aging locks, antique furniture that needs careful handling, or a door that just won’t close right—GI Locksmith is ready to help. Call us today for any of your old locks needing rekeyed or antique furniture locks!
Tools Used:
- Various sized Allen keys
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Schlage pinning kit
