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MSE Series - ANSI Grade 1 Heavy Duty Mortise Lock
Description
MS Series Motorized mortise lock is designed to handle single opening, stand-alone applications, or can be readily integrated into sophisticated access control systems.
Features:
- Escutcheon trim
- Single opening
- Stand-alone applications
- Ready for access control system integration
- Optional status sensors: REX(request-to-exit), PRIV(privacy), DAJ(door ajar), MKO(mechanical key override)
- 2-year manufacturer’s warranty

Backset
- 2-3/4"
Strike
- ANSI strike, plated\stainless steel
Latch Bolt
- 3/4" projection, stainless steel, split, anti-friction
Guard Bolt
- Stainless steel
Faceplate
- 1-1/4" x 8", stainless steel
Escutcheon
- 10-9/16" x 2-3/8" x 9/32", brass
Lever Parameters
- Forged brass\cast zinc, plated to match finish symbols
Thumb Turn
- Brass, Classic Visible standard
Stop Works
- Stainless Steel, Rocker Type
RESOURCES
- Template: MSS Template
Manufacturer Resources
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:
- Entrance/Office
- Product Category:
- Mechanical Locks
- Department:
- Door Hardware
TownSteel MSE-R-T-04-626 – Frequently Asked Questions
1) Will the TownSteel MSE mortise lock work in a standard 2-3/4 inch backset mortise pocket?
Yes. The MSE Series mortise lock is built on a 2-3/4 inch backset, which is the standard commercial mortise backset, and it ships with an ANSI strike in plated or stainless steel. The faceplate is 1-1/4 by 8 inch stainless steel, so if the existing pocket was prepped for an ANSI mortise lock it should drop in without new routing. The escutcheon trim measures 10-9/16 x 2-3/8 x 9/32 inches in brass, so confirm the door stile can carry that plate.
2) What does the Entry/Office function do on the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
Entrance/office function: the outside lever is locked or unlocked by the key from outside, and the inside lever always retracts the latch for free egress. It is a single cylinder lock, keyed outside only, with a brass thumb turn on the inside in the Classic Visible style. That is the right function for a tenant suite door, a private office, or a manager's door where staff need to leave the door unlocked during business hours and secure it on the way out.
3) Do I have to specify handing when ordering the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
Yes, handing is required. Four choices: LH (left hand), RH (right hand), LHR (left hand reverse), and RHR (right hand reverse). Reverse handing applies to doors that swing out toward you from the secure side, which is common on exterior and stairwell openings. Get it wrong and the lever and latch bevel face the wrong way, so stand on the outside of the door, note which side the hinges are on and which way the leaf swings, before you order.
4) Can I key several TownSteel MSE locks alike across a building?
Yes. Keying is a required selection: KD (keyed different) is standard, KA (keyed alike) groups multiple locks to one key, and a Key Code option lets you order to an existing key code so new locks match the keys already in circulation. For a property manager standardizing a floor or a building, KA or a specified key code is how you avoid re-keying later.
5) Does the TownSteel MSE mortise lock take a small format interchangeable core?
It can. The cylinder choice is either Standard or SFIC prep less core. The SFIC version arrives prepped but without a core, so if your facility is already running small format interchangeable cores you order that version and drop in your own keyed core. If you have no SFIC program, take the Standard cylinder version.
6) Is the TownSteel MSE mortise lock rated for high traffic commercial openings?
It is an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty mortise lock built for commercial use. Grade 1 is the top ANSI/BHMA durability tier and the level normally specified for schools, healthcare, government and multi-family corridor doors. Working parts back that up: stainless steel split anti-friction latch bolt with 3/4 inch projection, stainless guard bolt, and stainless rocker-type stop works.
7) What is the closest Grade 1 entrance/office mortise lockset to the TownSteel MSE if I need a different brand on the same opening?
The Cal-Royal NM8050 is the direct functional equivalent. It is a heavy duty Grade 1 mortise lockset with entrance/office function and an auxiliary deadlatch, and it is listed for 1-3/4 inch doors. The TownSteel MSE is also a Grade 1 heavy duty entrance/office mortise lock, keyed single cylinder, with escutcheon trim. The practical difference for a specifier is trim style: the MSE is built around escutcheon plates in low and regular heights with eight lever designs, while the NM8050 is ordered as a lockset in its own trim range.
8) The opening needs to stay locked at all times with key entry only - what should I order instead of the entrance/office MSE?
Entrance/office function means the outside lever can be left unlocked, which is wrong for a storeroom condition. For always-locked key-only entry, the Accentra 8805FL is a Grade 1 storeroom mortise lock in the 8800 Series, and the Cal-Royal NM8080 is a heavy duty Grade 1 storeroom mortise lockset with an interchangeable core option for 1-3/4 inch doors. The interchangeable core point matters if you are standardizing on SFIC - the TownSteel MSE offers that through an SFIC prep, less core cylinder option.
9) Is there a non-keyed mortise lock with escutcheon trim if the door does not need a cylinder?
Yes. The Hager 3850E is a Grade 1 office mortise lock with lever and escutcheon, non-keyed, on a 2-3/4 inch backset for doors 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inches thick. For a pure passage opening, the Hager 3810E is a 3800 Series Grade 1 passage mortise lock with escutcheon, also 2-3/4 inch backset. Both share the 2-3/4 inch backset used by the TownSteel MSE, so the mortise pocket prep is the same, but the MSE is keyed single cylinder and those two are not.
10) We are adding access control to the entry doors - should I still use the mechanical MSE or go electrified?
The TownSteel MSE is a mechanical, non-electronic mortise lock, so on a credentialed opening it would need an external reader and strike. If you want the electrification in the lock body, the Command Access ML190 is a heavy-duty motorized mortise lock with field selectable fail safe or fail secure operation on 24VDC in storeroom function, the BEST 45HW is a heavy duty wired electromechanical mortise lock running 12V or 24V, and the Schlage L9092EU with 03A trim is a heavy duty electric lock/unlock outside lever mortise lock, keyed outside, with request-to-exit, 12/24VDC, for 1-3/4 inch doors.
11) The door is a residential-style entry on a 2-1/2 inch backset - is the MSE right, or should I use a Baldwin?
The TownSteel MSE is built on a 2-3/4 inch backset, which is the standard commercial mortise dimension. If your existing pocket is prepped at 2-1/2 inches, the Baldwin 6301LS is an entry/apartment lever by lever mortise lock body on a 2-1/2 inch backset for doors 1-3/4 inches and over, and the Baldwin 6310 is an entry/storeroom knob by knob mortise lock body on the same 2-1/2 inch backset for 1-3/8 inch and over. Backset is not adjustable, so measure the existing prep before choosing.
12) For a behavioral health or ligature-resistant opening, is the MSE appropriate?
No. A lever trim set like the TownSteel MSE, which uses forged brass or cast zinc levers in eight designs, presents a ligature point. For that application 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. Keep the MSE for standard commercial entrance and office doors.
13) The doors are aluminum storefront with narrow stiles - will the MSE work?
The TownSteel MSE is a heavy duty commercial mortise lock with an 8 inch faceplate and a 10-9/16 inch escutcheon, which is sized for hollow metal and wood doors rather than a narrow aluminum stile. For storefront, the Alarm Lock DL1300NW Trilogy Networx wireless electronic mortise lock is built for Adams Rite deadlatches, the Dormakaba E-Plex 2066 is listed for wide stile, and the Kaba Ilco BR Series is a glass door bottom rail lock.
14) Is a cylindrical lock an acceptable substitute for the MSE mortise lock?
Only if the door is prepped for it. The Schlage PC10 is a Grade 1 passage cylindrical lock with rose for 1-3/4 inch doors and uses a bored prep, while the TownSteel MSE requires a mortise pocket with a 1-1/4 by 8 inch faceplate and a 2-3/4 inch backset. The two preps are not interchangeable without replacing or heavily modifying the door. If you are staying mortise but want a passage latch, the Schlage PM010 is a Grade 1 non-keyed passage latch mortise lock for 1-3/4 inch doors.
15) Will the TownSteel MSE latch into my existing ANSI strike?
The MSE uses a 3/4 inch projection stainless steel split anti-friction latch bolt and comes with an ANSI strike. If the frame is already cut for an ANSI strike box, the existing prep works and you can reuse the frame cutout. The split anti-friction latch helps the bolt ride into the strike on doors with a little drag from a closer or weatherstripping.
16) What lever styles and finishes can I get on the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
Eight lever designs: Artistic, Congr, Gala, Imperial, Quest, Regal, Sentinel and Tango. Levers are forged brass or cast zinc, plated to match the finish. 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. For matching existing openings in a building, 626 satin chrome and 630 satin stainless are the usual commercial defaults.
17) Is the TownSteel MSE an electronic lock, and what should I use if I want a keypad instead?
No, the MSE is a mechanical key-operated mortise lock with no electronics. If the opening needs credentials or codes, ZenSupply carries electronic mortise locks in the same Grade 1 class: the Alarm Lock DL3500CR Trilogy with 300 user codes in classroom function, the Dormakaba E-Plex E5086 pushbutton and card lock, and the Schlage Electronics LEMD-GRW ENGAGE wireless mortise with a 125kHz proximity reader.
18) What else could I buy instead of the TownSteel MSE if I need the same entrance/office function?
The closest cross-brand match ZenSupply carries is the Cal-Royal NM8050, a heavy duty Grade 1 entrance/office mortise lockset with auxiliary deadlatch, listed for 1-3/4 inch doors. If you need lever-and-escutcheon trim with a 2-3/4 inch backset but non-keyed office operation, the Hager 3850E covers that. Both differ from the MSE mainly in trim family and lever selection rather than in grade.
19) I need a classroom or storeroom function instead of entry/office. What do I order?
The MSE on entrance/office function unlocks the outside lever by key, so it is not the right choice where the outside lever must stay locked at all times. For storeroom, look at the Accentra 8805FL Grade 1 storeroom mortise with Arcadia lever or the Cal-Royal NM8080 Grade 1 storeroom mortise with interchangeable core option. For classroom, the Corbin Russwin ML2003 Grade 1 classroom mortise lockset or the Cal-Royal NM8070 both cover it.
20) What is the difference between the Hager 3810E and 3810S if I am matching the escutcheon look of the MSE?
The two Hager 3800 Series passage locks differ in trim: the 3810E carries an escutcheon plate and the 3810S carries a rose. Both are Grade 1 passage mortise locks on a 2-3/4 inch backset for 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inch doors. If you are matching a run of TownSteel MSE openings, the escutcheon version is the visual match, since the MSE uses a brass escutcheon measuring 10-9/16 by 2-3/8 by 9/32 inches in low and regular heights.
21) Are the Emtek 3019 and 3102 mortise entrance locksets substitutes for the MSE?
No. The Emtek 3019 Brisbane and 3102 Memphis mortise entrance locksets are dummy function, meaning the trim is fixed and there is no latch operation or keying at all. They suit an inactive leaf. The TownSteel MSE is a keyed single cylinder entrance/office mortise lock with a 3/4 inch projection stainless steel anti-friction latch bolt and a guard bolt, so it is an operating, locking opening.
22) The restroom doors need privacy, not office function - what mortise lock do I use there?
For privacy openings, the Cal-Royal NM8440 is a heavy duty Grade 1 privacy mortise lockset with deadbolt for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Hager 3840S is a 3800 Series Grade 1 privacy mortise lock on a 2-3/4 inch backset for 1-3/4 to 2 inch doors. The Hager shares the 2-3/4 inch backset used by the TownSteel MSE. The MSE itself is an entrance/office function lock and is not a privacy set.
23) Do I need a full mortise lockset like the MSE if I only need a deadbolt on the door?
No. If the opening already has latching hardware and only needs auxiliary deadlocking, the Sargent 4874 is a double cylinder mortise deadbolt on a 2-3/4 inch backset, matching the backset the TownSteel MSE uses, and the Kaba Ilco 185 Series is a no-handing mortise deadbolt sold single pack. The MSE is a complete latching lockset with lever trim, escutcheon and thumb turn, so it does more than a deadbolt-only body.
24) Is the Sargent 7925 an alternative to the MSE for a dormitory corridor door?
The Sargent 7925 is a heavy duty Grade 1 dormitory exit function mortise lock in the 7900 Series with a single cylinder deadbolt, and it carries rose trim rather than an escutcheon. That dormitory/corridor function is the right call if occupants need to deadbolt from inside. The TownSteel MSE is heavy duty Grade 1 as well but is an entrance/office function single cylinder lock with escutcheon trim, so it is the choice where you want the outside lever to be left unlocked during the day.
25) Can I order just a mortise lock body and reuse the existing trim instead of a full MSE set?
Yes, if the trim on the door is sound. The BEST 45H 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. Both are bodies rather than complete sets. The TownSteel MSE is supplied as a complete escutcheon set with lever, thumb turn and ANSI strike, so it is the choice when the whole opening is being replaced.
26) We need a fire-rated mortise opening - is the MSE the right pick or should I look at another brand?
Where a fire label drives the spec, the Falcon MA101 is a Grade 1 heavy-duty mortise lock with a fire rating and field reversible operation in passage function, and the Schlage LEMD-GRW carries a 3 hour fire rating as a Grade 1 ENGAGE wireless mortise lock with a 125kHz proximity reader and Greenwich trim. Note the MA101 is passage function, so it does not lock. The TownSteel MSE is a Grade 1 heavy duty commercial mortise lock in entrance/office function - confirm the label requirement with the door manufacturer against the function you need.
27) I need matching inactive-leaf trim to pair with the keyed MSE openings - what do I order?
For an inactive leaf you want dummy trim rather than a working lock. The Schlage L0170 is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise non-keyed half dummy lever trim in the L Series for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Falcon MESC600DT is a fire rated dummy escutcheon lever trim for M9900 Series exit devices. The TownSteel MSE has escutcheon lever trim in seven finishes from 605 bright brass through 630 satin stainless steel, so match the finish code across the pair.
28) Is a Grade 2 electronic mortise lock like the Schlage LEBMB enough, or do I need the Grade 1 MSE?
They are aimed at different duty expectations. The Schlage LEBMB-ADD is a Grade 2 mobile-enabled mortise lock with push button and LED covering privacy, office and apartment functions, with a 3 hour fire rating on 1-3/4 inch doors. The TownSteel MSE is a Grade 1 heavy duty commercial mortise lock. For high-traffic entrance and office doors where an ANSI Grade 1 line item is on the spec, the MSE meets it; the LEBMB brings mobile credentialing that the mechanical MSE does not.
29) For a hotel or multifamily retrofit, what RFID mortise lock compares to the MSE?
The Dormakaba Saffire LX-I-M002 is an electronic RFID mortise lockset with BLE mobile access at BHMA Grade 2, and the Accentra nexTouch NTM623-NR is a Grade 1 mortise lock with a capacitive touchscreen keypad, no deadbolt, with cylinder override. Both replace the key at the door. The TownSteel MSE stays mechanical and keyed single cylinder, and can be ordered key alike across multiple locks if you would rather run a keyed system than a credential system.
30) What is the difference between the MSE low and regular escutcheon?
The escutcheon axis gives you MSE Low or MSE Regular. Both are the escutcheon-style plate rather than a round rose, so the trim covers a taller area of the door face. Pick whichever profile matches the other doors in the opening group, since the difference is the plate profile and not the lock function or the 2-3/4 inch backset underneath.
31) Is there a template for prepping the door for the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
Yes. TownSteel publishes the MSS template, linked from the MSE product information, which gives the door prep layout for the mortise pocket, the 2-3/4 inch backset cylinder and spindle holes, and the 1-1/4 by 8 inch faceplate cutout. Pull that before you cut a door, particularly if you are mortising a blank leaf rather than reusing an existing ANSI prep.
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Does the TownSteel MSE-R-T-04-626 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The TownSteel MSE-R-T-04-626 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty.
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