The history of Locksmithing

Whether it was the olden days when security meant locking your doors with a thick padlock and hoping for the best or today, the 21st century when state of the art security systems help keep intruders out, Locksmiths have existed to help us secure our homes and work establishments.

It is not clear where exactly locksmithing first began but the profession dates back to decades ago. The reason there is no concrete area for where locksmithing began is because there is no agreement about which part of the world the first lock was invented in. There are no records about where a lock or key were first used but it is generally accepted that keeping valuables and people safe is a concept that people recognised a long time.

It is generally accepted that locksmith methods were invented at the same time in various parts of the world and different civilisations devised their own locking methods. The civilizations of the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks are among history’s oldest and that lock systems came to the fore in all these civilizations are around the same period.

Archaeological findings tell us that the oldest lock discovered belonged to Khorasabad in Niveveh. The lock that has been discovered has been used in the houses of the Egyptians for ages. This is essentially a wooden cylindrical lock, the likes of which are still used in some parts of the world.

In comparison, the Roman clocks tend to be made more of metal than of wood. Slowly, locksmith techniques developed and today we have intricate, complicated lock and security system but the humble lock is where it all began.