TownSteel MSE Series ANSI Grad...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$668.00
$663.91
TownSteel TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory/Exit Function - Heavy Duty Standard Escutcheon Mortise Lock, Single Cylinder TWS-MSE-12

TownSteel MSE Series ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Mortise Lock with Single Cylinder Escutcheon Trim for Dormitory/Exit Applications

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Model: MSE-R-T-12-630
$668.00
$663.91
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$668.00
$663.91
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TownSteel MSE Series ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Mortise Lock with Single Cylinder Escutcheon Trim for Dormitory/Exit Applications

The TownSteel MSE Series is an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock built for single-opening dormitory and exit function applications, whether installed as a stand-alone unit or integrated into a larger access control system. This single cylinder keyed escutcheon trim lock features a 2-3/4" backset, a 3/4" projection stainless steel split anti-friction latch bolt, and a solid brass escutcheon measuring 10-9/16" x 2-3/8" x 9/32" for commercial-grade durability and a refined trim profile.

Key Features

  • Precision Backset: 2-3/4" backset ensures accurate door preparation and reliable alignment during installation.
  • Heavy-Duty Latch Bolt: 3/4" projection stainless steel, split, anti-friction latch bolt delivers smooth and secure latching action.
  • Stainless Steel Faceplate: 1-1/4" x 8" stainless steel faceplate provides a durable, corrosion-resistant finish for long-term performance.
  • Solid Brass Escutcheon: 10-9/16" x 2-3/8" x 9/32" brass escutcheon trim delivers a substantial, commercial-grade appearance.
  • Forged Lever Construction: Forged brass/cast zinc lever parameters, plated to match finish symbols, support long-lasting daily use.
  • Stainless Steel Guard Bolt & Rocker Stop Works: Stainless steel guard bolt and rocker-type stop works add tamper resistance and dependable mechanical operation.
  • ANSI Strike Plate: ANSI strike, plated stainless steel, is designed for precise, secure frame engagement.
  • Access Control Ready: Stand-alone operation with optional REX (request-to-exit), PRIV (privacy), DAJ (door ajar), and MKO (mechanical key override) status sensors for integration into sophisticated access control systems.

Certifications & Compliance

  • ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Rated
  • 2-Year Manufacturer's Warranty

Technical Specifications

  • Product Group: Mechanical Locks
  • Product Subgroup: Mortise Locks and Trim
  • Product Type: Mortise Locks
  • Subcategory: Mortise Locks
  • Keyed Function: Single Cylinder
  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Keyed: Yes
  • Lock Function: Single Cylinder
  • Product Attribute: Mortise Locks
  • Electronic: No
  • Product Function: Apartment/Dormitory
  • Product Category: Mechanical Locks
  • Department: Door Hardware

Typical Applications

  • Educational Facilities
  • Multi-Tenant Residential Properties and Dormitories
  • Commercial Office Buildings
  • Healthcare Institutions
  • Government and Municipal Buildings
  • Apartment Complexes

Why TownSteel MSE?

TownSteel MSE Series mortise locks combine forged brass/cast zinc lever construction with a stainless steel latch bolt, guard bolt, stop works, and faceplate to deliver dependable, ANSI Grade 1 heavy-duty performance. Engineered for demanding dormitory, exit, and commercial applications, these locks are built for stand-alone use or seamless integration into sophisticated access control systems.

Product Specs

Series:
MSE Series
Product Group:
Mechanical Locks
Product Subgroup:
Mortise Locks and Trim
Product Type:
Mortise Locks
Subcategory:
Mortise Locks
Keyed Function:
Single Cylinder
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Lock Type:
Mortise
Keyed:
Yes
Lock Function:
Single Cylinder
Grade:
Grade 1
Duty Level:
Heavy Duty
Product Attribute:
Mortise Locks
Electronic:
No
Product Function:
Apartment/Dormitory
Product Category:
Mechanical Locks
Department:
Door Hardware

TownSteel MSE-R-T-12-630 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) What does the dormitory/exit function do on the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
The MSE Series dormitory/exit lock is built for apartment and dormitory openings: the outside lever is keyed by a single cylinder, and a thumb turn on the inside sets the outside lever. Inside egress is always free. That is why it is the standard choice for corridor doors into dorm rooms and apartments, where the resident controls whether the outside lever is locked and nobody can be trapped inside.
2) Do I have to specify handing when ordering a TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
Yes, handing is a required selection: LH, RH, LHR, or RHR. Stand outside the door, on the side the key goes in. If the hinges are on your left and the door pushes away, it is LH; hinges left and the door pulls toward you is LHR. Get this wrong and the lever and anti-friction latch face the wrong way.
3) Can I get these dorm locks keyed alike across a building, or use my own small format cores?
Both paths are open. Keying is a required choice: KD key different (standard), KA keyed alike for multiple locks on the same key, or a specific key code you supply. For a facility that already keys its own hardware, order the SFIC prep less core version and drop in your own small format interchangeable cores; the Standard cylinder option ships as a conventional cylinder instead.
4) Is this mortise lock heavy duty enough for a dormitory corridor door?
It is an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock built for commercial use, which is the top grade for durability and strength and the normal specification for high-traffic corridor and residence hall doors. Wear parts are stainless: split anti-friction latchbolt, guard bolt, faceplate, and rocker-type stop works.
5) What is the closest equivalent to the TownSteel MSE dormitory/exit mortise lock from another manufacturer?
The Sargent 7925 is the nearest match: it is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock with a corridor/dormitory function and a single cylinder deadbolt, the same dormitory/exit arrangement the TownSteel MSE covers at Grade 1 heavy duty. The main difference is trim style - the Sargent 7925 is furnished with rose trim, while the MSE uses escutcheon trim in either a low or regular escutcheon profile. If the door already has escutcheon cutouts or the rest of the building is trimmed with escutcheons, the MSE keeps the look consistent; if the openings run rose trim, the 7925 matches.
6) I need a mortise lock for a classroom, not a dorm room. What should I use instead?
The TownSteel MSE is built for an apartment/dormitory function, where the occupant secures the door from inside and exiting retracts everything. For a classroom opening, look at the Corbin Russwin ML2003, a Grade 1 mortise classroom lockset for 1-3/4 inch doors, or the Cal-Royal NM8070, a Grade 1 heavy duty classroom mortise lockset for 1-3/4 inch doors. The Marks USA LA318GJ is a Grade 1 classroom security indicator mortise lockset if you also want visual status at the door.
7) We want keypad access on dorm doors instead of keys. What mortise lock does that?
The TownSteel MSE is a mechanical, keyed single cylinder lock with no electronics, so access is by key only. For keypad entry in a mortise prep, the Alarm Lock DL3500CR is a Grade 1 electronic mortise lock with 300 user codes and classroom function for 1-5/8 to 1-7/8 inch doors, and the BEST 45HZ EZ Series is an electronic keypad mortise lock with key override. The Dormakaba E-Plex 5086 is a Grade 1 pushbutton and card entry/egress mortise lock if you want credentials as well as codes.
8) The opening needs to tie into access control. Is the TownSteel MSE the right choice?
The TownSteel MSE is a mechanical lock, not an electronic one, though it is offered with status sensor options including request-to-exit, privacy, door ajar and mechanical key override for monitoring. If the opening needs to be released electrically, look at the Command Access ML190, a heavy duty motorized mortise lock with field selectable fail safe or fail secure operation on 24VDC in a storeroom function, the BEST 45HW wired electromechanical mortise lock at 12V or 24V, or the Schlage L9092EU with electric unlock outside lever, keyed outside, request to exit, 12/24VDC for 1-3/4 inch doors.
9) Does the TownSteel MSE work on an aluminum storefront door?
The MSE is a heavy duty Grade 1 mortise lockset with a 1-1/4 by 8 inch faceplate and a 10-9/16 inch escutcheon, sized for a standard commercial mortise prep rather than a narrow aluminum stile. For storefront and glass openings, the Dormakaba E-Plex 2066 is a wide stile electronic pushbutton mortise lock, the Alarm Lock DL1300NW is a Networx wireless electronic mortise lock built for Adams Rite deadlatches, and the Kaba Ilco BR Series is a glass door bottom rail lock.
10) What is the difference between the MSE low and regular escutcheon, and how much door face does it cover?
The escutcheon plate is brass and measures 10-9/16 x 2-3/8 x 9/32 inches, offered as MSE - Low or MSE - Regular. Both are the tall plate style that covers the lever and the thumb turn or cylinder on one trim piece, so you need roughly 2-3/8 inches of flat door face free of glass stops or narrow stile. If the door has a narrow stile or you want a compact trim, a rose-trim mortise lock like the Sargent 7925 dormitory exit lock is the alternative.
11) What finishes and lever styles can I get to match the rest of my building?
Seven finishes are offered: 605 bright brass, 606 satin brass, 622 matte black, 625 bright chrome, 626 satin chrome, 629 bright stainless, and 630 satin stainless. Levers come in eight styles, Artistic, Congr, Gala, Imperial, Quest, Regal, Sentinel, and Tango, forged brass or cast zinc plated to match the finish symbol. 626 satin chrome and 630 satin stainless are the usual commercial defaults for matching existing corridor hardware.
12) Is this an electronic or access control lock?
No. The MSE Series lock as configured here is a mechanical keyed mortise lock, not electronic. If you need a standalone credential or keypad lock in a mortise pocket, look at the Schlage CO-100 standalone electronic mortise lock or the Alarm Lock DL3500 Trilogy Grade 1 keypad mortise lock instead.
13) I need a storeroom or classroom function instead of dormitory. What should I buy?
This MSE configuration is the dormitory/exit function, so it is the wrong pick for a room that must stay locked at all times or for a classroom. For storeroom use, the Cal-Royal NM8080 Grade 1 storeroom mortise lockset or the Accentra 8805FL Grade 1 storeroom mortise lock cover it. For classroom, the Cal-Royal NM8070 or the Corbin Russwin ML2003 Grade 1 classroom mortise lockset are the equivalents.
14) Does the MSE mortise lock include a strike, and what else do I need to order?
An ANSI strike in plated or stainless steel is part of the lock, along with the stainless faceplate, guard bolt, brass thumb turn and rocker-type stop works. What you still decide on the order is handing, keying, cylinder type, escutcheon height, lever style and finish. If you pick the SFIC prep version, you supply the small format cores separately.
15) Is the BEST 45H public entrance mortise lock a substitute for the TownSteel MSE?
Not a direct one. The BEST 45H is a heavy duty mortise lock body with a public entrance function, and it is sold as a lock body - trim is specified separately. The TownSteel MSE is a complete dormitory/exit lockset furnished with escutcheon trim, a lever, and a thumb turn, and it is ordered by handing and keying. Function differs as well: public entrance is an always-latched entry arrangement, while the MSE is the apartment/dormitory pattern. If you are only replacing a failed case behind existing trim, a lock body like the 45H is the right shape of part; if you are trimming the opening complete, the MSE is.
16) What is a simpler mortise lock if the door does not need to be keyed?
The TownSteel MSE is a keyed single cylinder lock, which is more than a closet or corridor pass-through door needs. For non-keyed openings, the Hager 3810E is a Grade 1 passage mortise lock with escutcheon trim and a 2-3/4 inch backset for 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inch doors - the same escutcheon look and the same 2-3/4 inch backset the MSE uses. The Schlage PM010 is a Grade 1 non-keyed passage latch mortise lock for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Falcon MA101 is a Grade 1 heavy duty fire rated mortise passage lock with field reversible operation.
17) For a bathroom or bedroom door in the same building, what mortise lock matches instead of the dorm function?
Use a privacy function rather than the dormitory/exit function of the TownSteel MSE. The Cal-Royal NM8440 is a Grade 1 heavy duty privacy mortise lockset with a deadbolt for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Hager 3840S is a Grade 1 privacy mortise lock with a 2-3/4 inch backset for 1-3/4 to 2 inch doors - the same backset the MSE uses, so the door prep carries over.
18) I ordered a Sargent 130KB thinking it was the same kind of part. Is it?
No. The Sargent 130KB is a standard duty mortise thumbturn - the inside turn piece alone, not a lock. The Sargent 130W is likewise a mortise thumbturn with a round backplate. The TownSteel MSE is a complete Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lockset that already includes a brass thumb turn along with the escutcheon, lever, latch bolt and ANSI strike. Order a 130KB or 130W only when you are replacing a damaged turn piece on an existing lock.
19) Can I use a Sargent 4874 mortise deadbolt in place of the TownSteel MSE?
Only if the opening also has separate latching hardware. The Sargent 4874 is a double cylinder mortise deadbolt with a 2-3/4 inch backset - deadbolt only, keyed both sides, no lever and no latch. The TownSteel MSE is a single cylinder lockset with a 3/4 inch projection anti-friction latch bolt, guard bolt and lever trim, so it both latches and secures the door on its own. The Kaba Ilco 185 Series is likewise a deadbolt function mortise lock, not a lever lockset.
20) What mortise lock should I use for an apartment entry door instead of the dormitory function?
The Baldwin 6301LS is an entry/apartment lever by lever mortise lock body with a 2-1/2 inch backset for doors 1-3/4 inch and over, and the Baldwin 6301 is the same function in a knob by knob configuration. Both differ from the TownSteel MSE in backset - Baldwin's 2-1/2 inch versus the MSE's 2-3/4 inch - so confirm the existing door prep before swapping. The Cal-Royal NM8050 is a Grade 1 heavy duty office/entrance mortise lockset with auxiliary deadlatch for 1-3/4 inch doors if you want a heavy duty commercial entry instead.
21) We are standardizing on small format interchangeable cores. Which mortise locks support that?
The TownSteel MSE can be ordered with an SFIC prep less core, so you can install your own cores and keep the facility on one core system; a standard cylinder configuration is also available. Among comparable Grade 1 heavy duty mortise locksets, the Cal-Royal NM8080 storeroom lockset is offered with an interchangeable core option for 1-3/4 inch doors. Keying on the MSE is selected at order as keyed different, keyed alike, or to a supplied key code.
22) We need a mortise lock on a hospital or behavioral health door. Is the MSE appropriate?
The TownSteel MSE uses lever trim in eight lever styles, which is not the right shape for a ligature resistant opening. The Marks USA 5PDN is a Grade 1 hospital passage mortise push/pull paddleset that is ligature resistant and ADA compliant in satin stainless steel. The BEST 45HCA with intruder function is another heavy duty mortise lock body worth reviewing where the room has to be secured from inside.
23) What does the anti-friction latchbolt do for a heavy dorm door?
The MSE latchbolt is stainless steel, split, and anti-friction, with 3/4 inch projection. The anti-friction feature retracts the latch as the door meets the frame, which matters on doors with a closer or positive pressure, where a plain latch drags on the strike lip and the door fails to latch. The separate guard bolt deadlocks the latch against carding once the door is closed.
24) Is an Emtek mortise entrance lockset an alternative to the TownSteel MSE?
They are not interchangeable. The Emtek 3019 Brisbane, 3102 Memphis, 3104 Hamilton and 3106 Manhattan mortise entrance locksets are dummy function - trim only, with no latching or locking mechanism. The TownSteel MSE is a Grade 1 heavy duty commercial keyed mortise lockset with a working latch bolt, deadbolt-style dorm function and ANSI strike. Use an Emtek dummy on an inactive leaf; use the MSE where the door has to lock.
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Does the TownSteel MSE-R-T-12-630 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The TownSteel MSE-R-T-12-630 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
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