TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$631.00
$627.13
TownSteel TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory with Deadbolt Function - Heavy Duty Standard Escutcheon Mortise Lock, Single Cylinder TWS-MSE-21

TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory Mortise Lock with Deadbolt Function, ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Escutcheon Trim, Single Cylinder

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Model: MSE-R-T-21-626
$631.00
$627.13
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$631.00
$627.13
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TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory Mortise Lock with Deadbolt Function, ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Escutcheon Trim, Single Cylinder

The TownSteel MSE Series Dormitory Mortise Lock with Deadbolt Function is an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lockset engineered for single opening, stand-alone dormitory and apartment applications, with the flexibility to integrate into sophisticated access control systems. This single cylinder configuration features a 2-3/4" backset, a 10-9/16" x 2-3/8" x 9/32" brass escutcheon trim plate, and a 3/4" projection stainless steel split anti-friction latch bolt for dependable operation in high-traffic commercial environments.

Key Features

  • Backset & Latch Bolt: 2-3/4" backset with a 3/4" projection stainless steel, split, anti-friction latch bolt for smooth, reliable latching.
  • Heavy Duty Escutcheon Trim: 10-9/16" x 2-3/8" x 9/32" brass escutcheon plate provides durable coverage for the strike and lever hardware.
  • Reinforced Faceplate: 1-1/4" x 8" stainless steel faceplate resists corrosion and wear in commercial settings.
  • Stainless Steel Guard Bolt: Deters tampering and reinforces overall lock security.
  • Forged Lever Construction: Forged brass/cast zinc lever, plated to match finish symbols, for long-lasting commercial-grade durability.
  • Classic Visible Thumb Turn: Brass thumb turn provides intuitive single cylinder deadbolt operation from the inside.
  • Rocker-Type Stop Works: Stainless steel rocker-type stop works ensures consistent, reliable function cycle after cycle.
  • Access Control Ready: Optional REX (request-to-exit), PRIV (privacy), DAJ (door ajar), and MKO (mechanical key override) status sensors are available for integration into sophisticated access control systems.
  • ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Rating: Built to ANSI Grade 1 standards for superior strength and longevity in dormitory, apartment, and other commercial applications.

Certifications & Compliance

  • ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Mortise Lock
  • 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

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

Why TownSteel MSE?

TownSteel MSE Series mortise locks deliver professional-grade reliability with ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty construction, stainless steel latch and guard bolts, and a forged brass/cast zinc lever built to withstand demanding commercial use. Designed for single opening dormitory and apartment applications with the flexibility to expand into full access control systems, the MSE Series is engineered for dependable, long-term performance.

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-21-626 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will the TownSteel MSE Series dormitory mortise lock fit my existing door prep with a 2-3/4 inch backset?
The MSE Series mortise lock is built to a 2-3/4 inch backset, which is the standard commercial mortise backset, and it uses a 1-1/4 x 8 inch stainless steel faceplate. If your existing pocket was cut for a standard ANSI mortise body at 2-3/4 inch backset with that faceplate size, it drops into the same prep. The escutcheon trim measures 10-9/16 x 2-3/8 x 9/32 inches in brass, so confirm your stile has room for that trim plate before you order.
2) What does the dormitory with deadbolt function actually do on a student housing or apartment door?
It is a single cylinder apartment/dormitory function: the key operates the lock from the outside, and the deadbolt is thrown from the inside by a brass thumb turn. The inside lever always retracts both bolts for free egress. That is the standard arrangement for dorm rooms and apartment entries where the resident wants to secure the room from inside without a key.
3) Do I have to specify handing when ordering the MSE Series mortise lock?
Yes, handing is required. Choose LH, RH, LHR or RHR. Reverse bevel openings (doors that swing out toward you from the secure side) take LHR or RHR. Get this wrong and the lever and latch orientation will be backwards on the opening.
4) Will this TownSteel mortise lock latch into my existing ANSI strike?
It ships with an ANSI strike in plated or stainless steel, and the latch bolt is a stainless steel split anti-friction bolt with 3/4 inch projection. Against a standard ANSI 4-7/8 inch frame prep, the existing strike cutout will accept it. The anti-friction design helps the latch seat on doors under closer pressure or slight misalignment.
5) Can I key multiple TownSteel MSE locks alike for a building, or use my existing small format interchangeable core?
Both are covered at order time. Keying choices are keyed different (standard), keyed alike for multiple locks, or a specific key code you supply. For cylinders, you can take the standard cylinder or an SFIC prep supplied less core, which lets you install your own small format interchangeable cores and keep the building on one system.
6) What is a comparable dormitory function mortise lock from another brand if I need to match an existing specification?
The closest equivalent in another line is the Sargent 7925, a Grade 1 heavy duty corridor/dormitory function mortise lock with a single cylinder deadbolt, though it comes with rose trim rather than escutcheon trim. If your opening needs privacy with a deadbolt instead of a keyed dorm function, the Cal-Royal NM8440 is a Grade 1 privacy mortise lockset with deadbolt for 1-3/4 inch doors. For a keyed apartment function in a decorative line, Baldwin's 6301 lever by lever mortise body is an entrance/apartment function but uses a 2-1/2 inch backset, so it will not drop into a 2-3/4 inch prep.
7) What is the closest equivalent to the TownSteel MSE dormitory mortise lock with deadbolt from another manufacturer?
The Sargent 7925 is the nearest match in function. It is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock with a dormitory exit function and a single cylinder deadbolt, in the 7900 Series. The TownSteel MSE is likewise a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock with an apartment/dormitory function and single cylinder keying. The main difference is trim: the Sargent 7925 uses rose trim, while the MSE is built around escutcheon trim, offered in MSE Low and MSE Regular escutcheon heights.
8) For a dorm room door that needs to lock behind the occupant without a key, is there a storeroom alternative to the TownSteel MSE?
Yes. The Accentra 8805FL is a Grade 1 storeroom mortise lock with the Arcadia lever, and the Cal-Royal NM8080 is a Grade 1 heavy duty storeroom mortise lockset with an interchangeable core option for doors 1-3/4 inch thick. Storeroom function keeps the outside lever locked at all times with key entry only, whereas the TownSteel MSE dormitory function pairs the latch with a single cylinder deadbolt the occupant throws from inside by thumb turn.
9) I have Best SFIC cylinders standardized across the building. Does the TownSteel MSE work, or do I need a different lock?
The TownSteel MSE is offered in an SFIC prep, less core version alongside the standard cylinder version, so it can be ordered ready to accept your existing small format cores. Among comparable mortise locksets, the Cal-Royal NM8080 Grade 1 heavy duty storeroom lockset also offers an interchangeable core option, though that one is a storeroom function on 1-3/4 inch doors rather than a dormitory function with deadbolt.
10) Is the TownSteel MSE mortise lock heavy duty enough for a high traffic dormitory corridor?
It is an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty commercial mortise lock, which is the highest ANSI/BHMA durability tier and the usual specification for institutional and multi-family corridor doors. The lock body internals use stainless steel for the latch bolt, guard bolt and stop works, with a rocker type stop works.
11) What lever styles and finishes can I get so the new locks match the rest of my building?
Eight lever designs are offered: Artistic, Congr, Gala, Imperial, Quest, Regal, Sentinel and Tango, in forged brass or cast zinc plated to match the finish. Finishes are 605 bright brass, 606 satin brass, 622 matte black, 625 bright chrome, 626 satin chrome, 629 bright stainless and 630 satin stainless. 626 and 630 are the two most common commercial standards, so those are usually the match on existing institutional openings.
12) Is this TownSteel lock electronic, or can it be tied into an access control system?
This MSE dormitory lock is a mechanical, key operated mortise lock, not an electronic one. If the opening needs credential access or audit trail, look at an electrified or standalone alternative instead: the BEST 45HW wired electromechanical mortise lock runs on 12V or 24V, and the Schlage CO-100 standalone electronic mortise lock uses a keypad reader. For a wireless credential opening, the Schlage LEMD-GRW is a Grade 1 ENGAGE wireless mortise lock with a 125kHz proximity reader.
13) Should I use a mortise lock like this or a cylindrical lockset on a dorm room door?
A mortise lock requires a pocket machined into the door edge, but it puts the latch and a separate deadbolt in one body, which is why dorm and apartment entries are usually specified this way. A cylindrical lock only needs a bored hole and is quicker to install, but you lose the integral deadbolt. If the door is already bored rather than mortised and the function does not need a deadbolt, something like the Schlage PC10 Grade 1 cylindrical lock is the simpler retrofit.
14) I need a mortise lock for an apartment entry but do not need a deadbolt in the lock body. What should I look at instead?
The Baldwin 6301 is an entry/apartment function mortise lock body without the deadbolt feature, offered as knob by knob or as lever by lever in the 6301LS, both with a 2-1/2 inch backset and rated for doors 1-3/4 inch and over. The TownSteel MSE dormitory lock includes a deadbolt with single cylinder keying and uses a 2-3/4 inch backset, so the Baldwin is a different door prep, not a drop-in swap.
15) What is the difference between the TownSteel MSE dormitory lock and a privacy mortise lock with deadbolt like the Cal-Royal NM8440?
The Cal-Royal NM8440 is a Grade 1 heavy duty privacy/bed/bath 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. Privacy functions are non-keyed. The TownSteel MSE is keyed with single cylinder operation, so it suits an apartment or dorm entry where staff need key access, while the privacy units suit interior bath and bedroom doors.
16) We want keypad access on dorm doors instead of keys. What electronic mortise locks compare to the TownSteel MSE?
The TownSteel MSE is a mechanical lock, not electronic. For keypad credentials on the same mortise prep, the Alarm Lock DL3500CR is a Grade 1 Trilogy electronic mortise lock with 300 user codes and classroom function for doors 1-5/8 to 1-7/8 inch, and the BEST 45HZ EZ Series is an electronic keypad mortise lock with key override. The Schlage CO-100-MS is a Grade 1 heavy duty standalone electronic mortise lock with a keypad reader in privacy function for 1-3/4 inch doors.
17) Is the Sargent 4874 mortise deadbolt a substitute for the TownSteel MSE dormitory lock?
No. The Sargent 4874 is a double cylinder mortise deadbolt with a 2-3/4 inch backset and no latch or lever trim, so it only secures the door and cannot be used as the operating lockset. The TownSteel MSE combines a latch bolt with the deadbolt in one heavy duty Grade 1 mortise body and includes escutcheon lever trim. The 4874 backset does match the MSE at 2-3/4 inches if you are adding a separate deadbolt above an existing lock.
18) What mortise options exist if the opening needs no locking at all, just a latch?
For passage openings, the Schlage PM010 is a Grade 1 non-keyed passage latch mortise lock for 1-3/4 inch doors, the Falcon MA101 is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise passage lock with field reversible operation and a fire rating, and the Hager 3810E is a Grade 1 passage mortise lock with escutcheon trim and a 2-3/4 inch backset for doors 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inch. The Hager 3810E shares the escutcheon trim style and 2-3/4 inch backset of the TownSteel MSE, without the keyed deadbolt.
19) Can I use a Baldwin 6310 mortise body in place of the TownSteel MSE dormitory lock?
They are not interchangeable in the door. The Baldwin 6310 is an entry/storeroom function mortise lock body with a 2-1/2 inch backset for doors 1-3/8 inch and over, offered knob by knob or as the 6310190RRLS right hand reverse lever by lever version. The TownSteel MSE uses a 2-3/4 inch backset with an 8 inch faceplate, so the cross bore and pocket locations differ, and the MSE carries a dormitory with deadbolt function rather than entry/storeroom.
20) What should I order if the dorm doors need to run on a wireless access control system rather than keys?
For networked or wireless credentials, the Schlage Electronics LEMD-GRW is a Grade 1 ENGAGE Series wireless mortise lock with a 125kHz proximity reader, mobile enabled deadbolt with LED and Greenwich trim in right hand, carrying a 3 hour fire rating. The Alarm Lock DL1300NW is a Trilogy Networx wireless electronic mortise lock with keypad for Adams Rite deadlatches. The TownSteel MSE is the mechanical Grade 1 equivalent for the same openings and is built to be integrated into access control systems at the opening level.
21) Our spec calls for a lock body only, no trim. Does the TownSteel MSE fit, or is there a better pick?
The TownSteel MSE is furnished as a complete lockset with escutcheon trim, levers and thumb turn. If the drawing calls for a bare mortise lock body, the BEST 45H Series is a heavy duty mortise lock body in public entrance function with field reversible operation, and the BEST 45HCA is a heavy duty mortise lockbody with intruder function.
22) What is the difference between the MSE low and regular escutcheon options?
The escutcheon is the long trim plate that carries the lever, cylinder and thumb turn. Two profiles are offered, MSE Low and MSE Regular, so you can pick the plate height that suits the door and the look of the other openings. Both are escutcheon trim rather than separate roses, which is what you want if you are covering an older escutcheon prep.
23) What is the difference between the TownSteel MSE escutcheon trim and ordering a separate mortise thumbturn like the Sargent 130KB?
The Sargent 130KB and 130W are standard duty mortise thumbturns sold as trim pieces, the 130KB from the 8200 Series and the 130W with a round backplate from the 7800 Series. They do not include a lock body. The TownSteel MSE ships as a complete heavy duty Grade 1 mortise lockset with a brass thumb turn in the Classic Visible style already part of the escutcheon trim, which measures 10-9/16 by 2-3/8 by 9/32 inch.
24) Are the Emtek mortise entrance locksets an alternative to the TownSteel MSE for apartment doors?
Not for a locking apartment entry. The Emtek 3019 Brisbane, 3102 Memphis, 3104 Hamilton and 3106 Manhattan mortise entrance locksets are all dummy function, meaning they are non-operating trim for inactive leaves. The TownSteel MSE is a keyed Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock with a dormitory with deadbolt function, available in seven finishes from bright brass through satin stainless steel and eight lever styles.
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Does the TownSteel MSE-R-T-21-626 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The TownSteel MSE-R-T-21-626 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
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