BEST 5C Series High Security 6...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$94.00
$85.59
BEST 5C Series High Security 6-Pin Cylinder Core

BEST 5C Series High Security 6-Pin Cylinder Core

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Model: BES-5C6A1605
From the Standard Cores Collection
$94.00
$85.59
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$94.00
$85.59
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BEST 5C Series High Security 6-Pin Cylinder Core

Professional High Security Cylinder Core Solution

The BEST 5C Series High Security 6-Pin Cylinder Core delivers professional-grade security for demanding commercial applications. This high security core requires long blade keys and is specifically designed for compatibility with high security mortise cylinders. Engineered to the same strict tolerances and high standards as BEST patented systems, this core provides the durability and performance trusted by security professionals for nearly 100 years.

Professional Features & Benefits

  • High Security Design: 6-pin configuration with specialized long blade key requirement provides enhanced security protection for critical access points.
  • Mortise Cylinder Compatibility: Specifically engineered for use with high security mortise cylinders for professional lock system integration.
  • Precision Manufacturing: Built to the same strict tolerances and high standards as BEST patented systems ensuring consistent quality and reliable performance.
  • Masterkey System Ready: Supports precise, carefully managed masterkey applications that make BEST an industry leader for commercial masterkeying solutions.
  • Proven Durability: Nearly 100 years of BEST engineering excellence provides security, durability and performance across a wide range of commercial applications.
  • Continued Support: Active support for new and existing BEST Standard systems ensures long-term system viability and service availability.

Technical Specifications

  • Collection: Standard Cores
  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Department: Door Hardware
  • Parts and Accessories Type: Replacement Parts
  • Product Attribute: Parts and Accessories
  • Product Category: Mechanical Locks
  • Product Group: Parts and Accessories
  • Product Subgroup: Cylinders
  • Product Type: Cylinders
  • Series: Standard & Premium Cores
  • Subcategory: Parts and Accessories

Installation & Operation

This cylinder core is designed for use with compatible BEST high security mortise cylinders. Refer to the parent cylinder installation instructions and manufacturer documentation for proper integration. Ensure compatibility with existing hardware and verify long blade key requirements before installation.

Professional Applications

  • Commercial Office Building Security Systems
  • Educational Facility Access Control
  • Healthcare Institution Security
  • Government and Municipal Buildings
  • Industrial Facility High Security Areas
  • Multi-Tenant Commercial Properties
  • Financial Institution Security Systems

Why Choose BEST Quality?

BEST cylinder cores deliver professional-grade security with precision manufacturing built to the same strict tolerances as patented systems. For nearly 100 years, BEST has provided security, durability and performance trusted by commercial security professionals. Engineered for demanding applications where reliable access control and masterkey system compatibility are essential.

Manufacturer Resources

Premium Cores and Keys

Product Specs

Product Group:
Parts and Accessories
Series:
Standard & Premium Cores
Product Subgroup:
Cylinders
Product Type:
Cylinders
Subcategory:
Parts and Accessories
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Collection:
Standard Cores
Parts and Accessories Type:
Replacement Parts
Product Attribute:
Parts and Accessories
Product Category:
Mechanical Locks
Department:
Door Hardware

BEST BES-5C6A1605 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the difference between ordering a BEST 5C core combinated versus uncombinated?
Combinated means the BEST 5C 6-pin core arrives already pinned to a key combination. Uncombinated means it ships unpinned, for a locksmith or in-house shop to pin to an existing masterkey system. If you run your own BEST key system and have the pinning kit and key blanks, order uncombinated. If you want it ready to drop in and turn, order combinated.
2) Which keyway do I need to order for a BEST 5C high security core?
It has to match the keyway already in use on your BEST system, or your existing keys will not enter. The 5C core is offered in A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, R, TB, TC, TD and TE. Pull a key from an existing door and check the keyway stamp before you order, since a core in the wrong keyway cannot be re-keyed into a different family.
3) Does the BEST 5C core work with a standard mortise cylinder housing?
The 5C is a high security core intended for high security mortise cylinders, and it takes a long blade key. Do not plan on dropping it into a standard-length housing sized for a conventional BEST core; confirm the housing is the high security mortise type before you order.
4) Can I swap a BEST 5C core into a Schlage full size interchangeable core housing?
No. The 5C is a BEST high security core for BEST high security mortise cylinders and uses BEST keyways. For a Schlage FSIC opening, use a Schlage FSIC part such as the 20-057 convertible tailpiece rim cylinder or the 20-057-C core in C keyway with 643E aged bronze finish.
5) What is the closest equivalent to a BEST 5C 6-pin core in another brand's interchangeable core system?
The nearest peer is the Schlage Commercial 20-057-C, a full size interchangeable core in the Schlage C keyway supplied in 643E Aged Bronze. Like the BEST 5C core it is a removable core that drops into a compatible housing rather than a complete cylinder. The difference is the keying platform: the BEST 5C core is ordered in BEST keyways A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, R, TB, TC, TD or TE, either combinated or uncombinated, so it fits an existing BEST masterkey system, while the 20-057-C is keyed to Schlage C. Cores are not cross-compatible between the two platforms.
6) I need a complete mortise cylinder, not just a core. What should I order instead?
The BEST 5C 6-pin item is a core only, meant to be installed into a compatible high security mortise cylinder housing. If you need a complete mortise cylinder assembly, the Corbin Russwin 1000 Grade 1 mortise cylinder is offered in a 1-1/2 inch length with an A02 straight cam, and the Corbin Russwin 1070 Grade 1 housing comes in 1-1/4 inch with an A01 cloverleaf cam. Adams Rite also offers the 4036 mortise cylinder with five-pin security, rated Grade 1, for doors 1/2 inch and up. Match cam style to the lock body before ordering.
7) Will a BEST 5C core work in a rim exit device, or do I need a rim cylinder?
A rim application needs a rim cylinder or a rim housing, not a mortise core on its own. For rim work the Schlage 20-021 is a 6-pin rim cylinder with a vertical tailpiece cam and the 20-022 is the same cylinder with a horizontal tailpiece cam; the Schlage 20-057 is a 6-pin FSIC rim cylinder with a convertible tailpiece cam. Corbin Russwin also offers the 3070 6-pin rim cylinder housing with a 1-7/8 inch tailpiece. The BEST 5C core is built for high security mortise cylinders.
8) Can I add BEST 5C cores to an existing master key system in my building?
Yes, that is the normal use. BEST cores are built for managed masterkey applications, and ordering uncombinated lets your locksmith pin each core to your existing top master and change key schedule. Give your keying schedule and the keyway when you order so every door in the fleet keys the same way.
9) What finishes do BEST 5C cores come in so they match the rest of my door hardware?
Eight finishes: 605 bright brass, 606 satin brass, 611 bright bronze, 612 satin bronze, 613 satin bronze oil-rubbed, 625 bright chrome, 626 satin chrome, and 690 statuary dark bronze. The core face is the visible piece in the cylinder, so pick the number that matches your existing lever or mortise trim, most commonly 626 on commercial openings.
10) I need a 6-pin mortise cylinder but I do not run a BEST interchangeable core system. What should I look at instead?
An interchangeable core only helps if you have the housings and a control key for it. For a straight mortise cylinder, the Corbin Russwin 1000 Grade 1 mortise cylinder is offered in 1-1/2 inch length with an A02 straight cam, and the Corbin Russwin 1070 Grade 1 housing comes in 1-1/4 inch, 6-pin, with an A01 cloverleaf cam. For a Schlage C keyway opening, the Detex MC65 is a 1-1/8 inch 6-pin mortise cylinder.
11) Is a 6-pin BEST core more secure than a 5-pin core?
The extra chamber gives more key differs and more masterkeying room, which is why 6-pin is the usual choice on larger commercial systems. The 5C adds a long blade key requirement on top of that, so a standard-length BEST blade will not operate it. Note the chamber count has to match your system: a 6-pin core will not accept a key cut on a 5-pin schedule.
12) What do I use to rekey a knob or lever lock rather than a mortise cylinder?
Key-in-knob and key-in-lever locks take a KIK cylinder instead of a mortise core. The Kaba Ilco 1539 is a universal key-in-knob and lever cylinder, the 1579 is a knob and lever cylinder made for Sargent locks, and the 1599 is a key-in-knob replacement cylinder. Falcon offers the A23161-05 G key in lever cylinder, a 6-pin G keyway unit keyed different and supplied with 2 cut keys. The BEST 5C 6-pin core is intended for high security mortise cylinders.
13) What goes in a deadbolt instead of the BEST 5C core?
Deadbolts use their own cylinder types. The Kaba Ilco 1549 is a key-in-deadbolt cylinder listed with a deadbolt function, and Medeco offers the 1012040, a 6-pin lazy motion rim cylinder for Kwikset single cylinder deadbolts, plus the 1075127 5-pin rim type lazy motion single cylinder for handlesets and deadbolts. The BEST 5C is a 6-pin interchangeable core for high security mortise cylinders and is chosen when the opening is already on a BEST masterkey system.
14) Is the Corbin Russwin 1080 LFIC cylinder a substitute for a BEST 5C core?
No. The Corbin Russwin 1080 is a Grade 1 1-1/2 inch large format interchangeable core mortise cylinder, 6-pin, built for Schlage L9000 mortise locks with an A01 Schlage L cam - it is a housing that accepts an LFIC core. The BEST 5C is the core itself, a 6-pin high security core requiring long blade keys, ordered in a BEST keyway and either combinated or uncombinated. If you are replacing only the core in an existing BEST housing, the 5C is the item; if you are replacing the whole cylinder on a Schlage L9000 lock, the 1080 is the housing to look at.
15) How does the Detex MC65 mortise cylinder compare with a BEST 5C core for an exit device opening?
The Detex MC65 is a complete commercial grade mortise cylinder, 1-1/8 inch, 6-pin, in the Schlage C keyway - a fixed cylinder keyed to Schlage C. The BEST 5C is a removable 6-pin core for high security mortise cylinders, ordered in one of twenty BEST keyways and available combinated or uncombinated so it can be pinned into an existing masterkey system and swapped later without pulling the lock apart. Choose by whether the site is standardized on interchangeable cores or on conventional cylinders.
16) My opening is an Adams Rite narrow stile aluminum door. Can I use the BEST 5C core?
Narrow stile aluminum storefront hardware from Adams Rite uses its own cylinder pulls and mortise cylinders. The 4024 cylinder pull mounts with a trim plate for MS1847 deadlock and deadlatch systems, the 4025 is a five pin tumbler cylinder pull using through-screws for the same MS1847 locks, and the 4036 is a Grade 1 mortise cylinder with five-pin security for doors 1/2 inch and thicker. For wood doors with the Adams Rite 5017 deadlock, the 4026 five pin tumbler cylinder pull applies. The BEST 5C core is made for high security mortise cylinders on commercial door hardware.
17) Is the BEST 5C core rated for commercial use or is it a residential part?
Commercial. It is catalogued for commercial applications and used on offices, schools, healthcare, government buildings, industrial high security areas, multi-tenant properties and financial institutions.
18) Do BEST 5C cores come with keys?
Order the core combinated if you need it pinned to a combination; uncombinated cores ship unpinned for your own shop to set up. Key blanks for the long blade high security key are a separate line item, so add them to the order if your system does not already have them on hand.
19) For a residential-style handleset with an Emtek or Arrow lock, what cylinder replaces the BEST core?
Those openings take their own retrofit cylinders. The Emtek CY4 is a single cylinder sold each, and Medeco offers the 1065140, a 5-pin retrofit cylinder for the Arrow JL interconnected lock and for Emtek handleset and deadbolt outside cylinders, along with the 1065244, a 5-pin rim lazy motion cylinder supplied with an Emtek tailpiece. The BEST 5C 6-pin core is a commercial item built for high security mortise cylinders and masterkeyed systems.
20) I need the core finish to match the rest of the trim. How do BEST 5C finishes compare with the peer cylinders?
The BEST 5C core is offered in eight finishes: 605 bright brass, 606 satin brass, 611 bright bronze, 612 satin bronze, 613 satin bronze oil-rubbed, 625 bright chrome, 626 satin chrome and 690 statuary dark bronze, so it can be matched across mixed trim in a building. Among the interchangeable core peers, the Schlage 20-057-C full size interchangeable core is listed in 643E Aged Bronze. If a specific BHMA number is on the drawing, order the 5C in that number.
How fast can I get the BEST BES-5C6A1605 delivered?
Most orders ship the same day from our distribution partners, with quick delivery throughout the continental U.S. Need it urgently? Contact Us for expedited shipping options.
Can I return it if it doesn’t work for me?
Yes—ZenSupply offers a hassle-free return policy. If the product isn’t the right fit, reach out to our support team for a return authorization or setup a return by following our return instructions.
Does the BEST BES-5C6A1605 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The BEST BES-5C6A1605 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
How do I get technical support or installation help for the BEST BES-5C6A1605?
You can call, text, or email our expert support team for fast answers. We’re here to help with product selection, installation tips, and troubleshooting. Contact Us
Why buy the BEST BES-5C6A1605 from ZenSupply?
ZenSupply makes it easy to get the commercial door hardware you need—fast shipping, expert support, and rewards on every order. Our team is always ready to help you choose the right product for your project.
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