So, You Call Yourself A Locksmith? | Locksmith Blog

We all refer to ourselves as locksmiths but the definition of the trade has changed considerably since the days of building locks in your garden with huge lumps of machinery.

The term 'locksmith' nowadays has a  broader definition.

Of all the locksmiths I currently know the more successful locksmiths generally fall into one of these categories:


1/ The Established Locksmith Shop Owner

These are usually the oldschool locksmiths that have been around longer than most and built a business on reputation and have a good highstreet presence that attract the bulk of their custom.

2/ The Warrant Locksmith / Sub Contractors

The majority of the warrant locksmiths work is on behalf of or for another company under an agreed contract usually in the form of Energy Company runs or for national locksmith chains.

3/ Specialist Locksmiths

As well as general locksmith work these locksmiths specialise in a particular niche area of the trade such as Safe opening and repairs and key programming or Access control and electronic hardware.

4/ Locksmith Trainers

Alongside their own locksmith work, train new locksmiths with basic to advanced skills for training agencies and back to work programmes.

5/ Part Time Locksmiths

As well as their main locksmith work also have a little something on the side generally related to the trade such as tool production, websites and seo services or completely different trades such as plumbing and heating. These locksmiths make up the main bulk of the mobile locksmith community.

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Of course none of the above are any more successful and the different branches suit different home circumstances and personalities moreso than others.

You will often find members of the oldschool mentality and certain organisations shunning a particular sub section of the locksmith community for selling out or taking away part of their work.
This kind of viewpoint can be intimidating to newcomers and is generally frowned upon by the majority.

Locksmithing has evolved considerably over the years and has grown many more branches than the few I have mentioned and will continue to do so as technology and demand for the services change in the future.