Rim locks, for example, are not usually the only lock that you would put on a door as while they do offer some security, it is not a whole lot.  For that reason, they are often referred to as an auxiliary lock. There are different types of rim locks, with some being more secure than others.

The basic rim lock is attached to the inside of a door.  You usually turn a knob or a lever to open the door from the inside and it snaps shut behind you. To open this type of lock from the outside, you use a key. The rim and keyhole can is usually placed on the other side of the interior section, often below the door chime. This is the least secure type of rim lock. You can also find a rim lock deadbolt style lock which works like a standard deadbolt lock. This door is locked from the outside with a  key, and naturally a key is needed to unlock the door and go inside.  This type of rim lock actually does afford pretty good security, and they are fairly difficult to break into especially if you have another type of lock on your door as well.

The deadbolt lock offers the best security of any lock, and it is highly recommended that you attach one to your external doors. The only way to open this type of lock is by turning a lever on the inside of the door, or by using a key on the outside door. The bolt actually locks the door onto the frame, thus deterring any would be burglars from being able to pry the door open.  You can have single or double cylinder deadbolts, although some building and safety codes do not permit the use of double cylinder deadbolts due to the potential danger of not being able to open the door (due to needing a key to open on both sides of the door) in an emergency.

Another popular and secure lock that is currently in use is the mortise lock. This has a rectangular box that actually fits inside of the door, and a knob or other method of opening is on either side of the door. There is a latch that operates from either side of the door, except when the door is actually locked from the outside.  There is also a deadbolt that can be latched from the inside. These are in common use, and do provide very good safety for homes.

If you are concerned about your home security, make sure that you find and attach the right locks to your external doors.  Remember, rim locks alone will not give you the best security, so even though they look great and you can find many decorative style rim locks such as a brass rim lock or a Victorian rim lock, that really do look nice on a front or back door, attach another lock as well. Rim locks are auxiliary locks, and they should not be used to provide the main security for your home.

Having said that, however, many of the decorative rim locks currently on sale online are often replications from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Many are made in the classic metals used at that time, such as brass, wrought iron or bronze. I recently saw a beautiful decorative rim lock designed from oak, with black bands across it and a black carved door knob. It was classic, clean and really would look perfect on an inside door. I also really like the brass rim lock.

If you are wondering where to purchase these antique or antique reproduction decorative rim locks, a simple search online should turn up quite a few, as they are becoming very popular to use for decorating homes these days. There are many offered for sale on eBay, where you can find a lot of actual real collector’s items, or genuine antique rim locks for sale. Of course, prices vary according to the condition of the rim lock, the metal it is made from and the actual age of the piece.  It is nigh impossible to find an antique wooden lock, however, as these usually deteriorate with age unlike the metal locks that actually can last for centuries, such as the Victorian rim lock.

If you are looking for decorative reproduction rim locks, there is a great selection available on Amazon. Prices for these reproductions are usually quite a bit cheaper than for the original antique rim locks, although they are usually a bit pricier than your standard rim lock that you would buy from the hardware store.

One thing to keep in mind when using rim locks is that they are not the most secure types of lock. Even though the lock you buy may be a very large reproduction from the days of Queen Victoria, it still will not be near as secure as a modern day lock. If you want to use these older style rim locks, especially on any of your external doors, you should also attach some other kind of modern day front door locks to fully securitize your home.  You can find fairly unobtrusive locks that you can add to your door, which will complement the overall rustic or antique look you are trying for without being standing out and detracting from your décor.

Decorative locks also look great inside the house.  You can find some delightful reproductions that suit perfectly on bedroom doors, and you can even buy some with a little peephole, if you want that naughty, ‘looking through the peephole’ style!  A decorative lock also always looks great on a kitchen door, especially if you have an old-style, or cottage type décor in your kitchen.

As everybody is most likely aware, rim locks are not the most secure locks even though some of these old-time replications look like you would need a crowbar to get them to budge at all. So, if you do end up putting one on your external doors, be sure to add additional lock on the inside as well so that you can properly secure your home.

Earlier rim locks, made during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, were mainly made from either wrought iron or brass. It wasn’t until later in the 19^th century that cast iron locks were added to the selection. Some of the most ornately crafted keys were made during the Renaissance, when locksmiths were called on to design locks for the wealthy all across Europe.  They not only made locks and keys, but very often each key was a work of art in itself, as were many of the locks. They were often designed with either the coat of arms on the lock, or carvings or engravings of different animals and other symbols.

If you are interested in a restored rim lock, you can find them very easily online. Often the copies are made according to the way they were made in the past, when originally created. One such method is sand-casting. Using this method, the metal of choice is melted and then poured into a mold that is actually drawn into sand. Once the metal hits the sand it hardens into its proper form.  When it has cooled down,  the works is then finished off by hand.  This method is often used for making reproduced bronze, iron and the brass rim lock.

In order to get specific designs, patterns are copied from old original locks, and are drawn directly into the mold made from sand thus it is possible to get the exact details and the same final texture and finish as the original lock had.

If you are interested in actual genuine antique rim locks, you are usually able to find some dating back to mid 1800’s.  Prior to 1830, all locks were imported into the US from Europe or England, and those locks are almost impossible to come by. However, it is possible to find locks dating from around 1850 on, in perfectly restored condition. Prices usually depend on the age of the lock, its condition, and the material that it was made from. You could expect to pay up to $200 for an antique rim lock set, though cheaper sets can be bought for under $100.

One step up from this, the deadlock night latch is a rim lock with an additional latch that deadlocks.  While it still locks automatically, it can only be opened with a key from both the inside and the outside. This definitely adds a lot of security, but if that is still not enough for you, the third type of rim lock, which is much more secure, is the  rim deadlock latch which works just like a regular deadbolt, only the casing is attached on the inside of the door. This type of lock will not automatically latch behind you–it needs to be both opened and closed with a key.

There are pro’s and con’s to installing a rim deadlock latch. It definitely adds additional security to your home, providing that you remember to lock the door with the key. I have seen a number of unfortunate incidents happen when the person leaving forgot to actually lock the door with the key–thinking that it would automatically latch behind them. By the same token, I have also seen a few people locked out of their home because they lost their key, or left it somewhere, and it was the only key, thus no one could unlock the door from the inside. Of course, there is usually more than one way to enter a house, but on this one particular occasion that I remember the person lived in an apartment and there was actually only one entrance!

When it comes to styles of rim locks, you have a lot more diversity.  For example, there are the standard type rim locks that can be found in any hardware store.  These are secure to varying degrees, with some brands being much more secure than others. In one country I was living in, the local brand of rim locks were made in such a way that a key from one lock could often unlock a different lock. While it was very bad for home security, I have to admit it did come in handy a few times when someone else locked themselves out of their house or apartment.

One of the fun features with rim locks is that there are now a lot of different ornamental rim locks being marketed. Quite a few of these are actually based on patterns or styles from Victorian or earlier lock patterns that have been found. The Victorian rim lock looks great, and it can really add a very unique touch to your home. If you are interested in adding a rim lock to your door to add to your décor, you could look into the brass rim lock, ornamental rim locks and even iron rim locks.

Whereas they were once the sole method of securing a home, they are not in common use these days when it comes to providing security to a home. While they may still be used, they are often used on outer doors in conjunction with another, more secure style of lock, such as a deadbolt for example. The reason for this is simple; it is  much easier for a burglar to force open a door secured with a rim lock, with many of these types of locks even being able to open just by sliding a credit card or other similar item in. Thus they should not be used alone for front door locks.

While they may not be such popular locks when it comes to security, many people love to add them to their inside and outside doors and gates, for decorative purposes. There are many different types of decorative rim locks to choose from, including copies of the Victorian rim lock, the brass rim lock and fancy patterned rim locks. Some sport very elaborate designs and are very artistic, adding a real touch of elegance to any home.

While the standard rim locks are available from most hardware stores, or from home depot type shops, the more decorative rim locks are usually found more easily on line. Other great places for finding real bargains when it comes to decorative or old style antique type rim locks are second-hand stores.  You are also often able to pick these up for free if you see an old house being demolished or remodelled. Many times those working on these houses are more than happy to let you have the old locks for next to nothing. Make sure you get the key too, if possible, otherwise you will not be able to lock them. Part of their charm, anyway, is having an old style key dangling from a hook nearby!

While we take our locks somewhat for granted these days, did you know that in earlier centuries the metalworkers or locksmiths were some of the most sought after craftsmen, who actually travelled internationally designing special locks for noblemen all over Europe, making locks for their castle doors and gates!  In fact, those days the locks were definitely works of art, with elaborate designs including coat-of-arms designs, or other symbolic shapes.  By comparison, most locks today are rather plain looking!