By: Arron Ewen

Have you called a locksmith to rekey your building to put everything on one key?

It is disheartening when the locksmith informs you that you will have to replace some of your locks because you have different formats. You may have a conventional lock on some doors that use a standard key, but an interchangeable core (check out our article on interchangeable cores for more info!) on others. When you are having to replace the entire lever to accept the new cylinder, replacing the locks can become expensive fast. Texas Master Locksmiths has a solution to this common problem!

Maybe you wanted to master key your office with a master key for the big boss?

Texas Master Locksmiths is the first-ever locksmith company to be able to offer a new key system designed by Schlage®, ‘Everest 29 Primus XP SL’ This new key system allows you to have one key for every door regardless of the format. Whether it is Small Format Interchangeable Core, Full Size Interchangeable Core, or a conventional cylinder, we can key all your doors to a single key or master key system without replacing expensive hardware. The most that will need to be replaced is the cylinders themselves. This is exceptionally common in master key systems or when a building needs to be on a single key, even when all the locks are the same format. This leads to great cost savings, especially on larger facilities.

With ‘Everest 29 Primus XP SL’, which we will refer to as ‘29SL’ for short, you gain an exceptionally high form of key control. The keys used in a 29SL system are restricted to the company you purchased them from. If an employee attempts to go to a locksmith company to have them copied, they will not be able to even acquire the blanks.

Furthermore, in order to have keys duplicated or the system modified in any way, we require a ‘Signature Card’ which limits the number of people within your company that have the ability to order keys or make changes to the system.

You can have the peace of mind knowing your employees can not get their keys copied without permission from your listed administrator.Many people assume a key stamped “Do Not Duplicate” automatically prevents unauthorized copies — but that is not always true. Restricted key systems offer a much higher level of control because the blanks themselves are protected and duplication is authorization-based.

Read our guide: Can a Key That Says “Duplication Prohibited” Be Copied?

What Types of Locks Can Be Unified Under One Key System?

One of the biggest misconceptions about master key and restricted key systems is that every lock on a property must be the same brand or hardware style to work together. In reality, many commercial properties throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area operate with a mix of lock types installed over many years due to renovations, tenant turnover, or hardware upgrades.

A properly designed restricted key system can often unite multiple lock formats under a single controlled key hierarchy — helping businesses improve convenience, reduce key clutter, and strengthen overall security without replacing every lock on the property.

Depending on the existing hardware and security goals, a unified key system may support:

• Storefront door locks
• Mortise cylinders
• Cylindrical locks
• Interchangeable core systems (SFIC and LFIC)
• Panic bar trim and exit devices
• Office suite locks
• Padlocks and gate locks
• Cabinet and desk locks
• Utility room and maintenance area locks

For many businesses, this means employees no longer need large keyrings filled with different keys for different doors. Instead, access can be organized through carefully planned master key levels that improve both efficiency and accountability.

At Texas Master Locksmiths, we often help commercial clients throughout DFW evaluate whether their current lock hardware can be incorporated into a restricted key system before recommending full hardware replacement. In many cases, strategic cylinder upgrades can provide modern key control while preserving much of the existing door hardware investment.

Why Businesses Eventually Outgrow Traditional Key Systems

Basic lock-and-key systems may work well for small operations in the beginning, but as businesses grow, security challenges often become more difficult to manage. Over time, uncontrolled key duplication, employee turnover, and operational expansion can create serious gaps in accountability.

We commonly see businesses throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area run into issues such as:

• Former employees still possessing working keys
• Unknown duplicate copies made over the years
• Maintenance vendors sharing keys without authorization
• Managers carrying large rings of individual keys
• Difficulty tracking who has access to sensitive areas
• Expensive rekeying after staff changes
• Multiple properties using inconsistent hardware

These problems are especially common for:

• Property management companies
• Churches and nonprofit organizations
• Retail businesses
• Medical offices
• Warehouses and industrial facilities
• Multi-tenant commercial buildings
• Growing office environments

A restricted master key system helps solve many of these issues by creating structured access levels and controlling how duplicate keys are issued. Instead of relying on “Do Not Duplicate” stamped keys that may still be copied, businesses can implement authorization-based key control that limits duplication to approved individuals only.

For organizations looking for even greater control, restricted key systems can also serve as a bridge toward electronic access control solutions by helping standardize security policies and access management procedures across the property.

Restricted Key Systems vs Standard Master Key Systems

Not all master key systems provide the same level of security or duplication protection. While traditional master key systems improve convenience by allowing one key to open multiple doors, many still rely on standard keys that can potentially be duplicated at hardware stores or unauthorized locations.

Restricted key systems take key control several steps further by using patented or controlled keyways designed to limit unauthorized duplication.

Restricted systems often include features such as:

• Dealer-restricted key blanks
• Signature authorization requirements
• Patent-protected keyways
• Controlled duplication records
• Custom master key hierarchies
• Higher resistance to picking and bypass attacks

For many commercial properties, schools, churches, and property management companies, restricted key systems provide a better long-term balance between convenience, accountability, and physical security.

If you are unfamiliar with the differences between restricted keys and standard “Do Not Duplicate” keys, we also recommend reading our article:
Can a Key That Says “Duplication Prohibited” Be Copied?

Texas Master Locksmiths and Security Solutions, LLC is currently the only company to have this innovative and revolutionary key system in the world. Whether you are looking for key control for your small business, or a complex master key system in a high rise, 29SL can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in hardware replacement costs.

Call us at (972) 914-9446 and to gain back control of your keys!