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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:
- Non-Keyed
- Commercial/Residential:
- Commercial
- Lock Type:
- Mortise
- Keyed:
- No
- Lock Function:
- Non-Keyed
- Grade:
- Grade 1
- Duty Level:
- Heavy Duty
- Product Attribute:
- Mortise Locks
- Electronic:
- No
- Product Function:
- Privacy/Bed/Bath
- Product Category:
- Mechanical Locks
- Department:
- Door Hardware
TownSteel MSE-R-T-22-626 – Frequently Asked Questions
1) Will the TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock work on a door prepped for a 2-3/4 inch backset ANSI mortise pocket?
Yes. The MSE Series mortise lock is built on a 2-3/4 inch backset with a 1-1/4 x 8 inch stainless steel faceplate and ships with an ANSI strike in plated/stainless steel. If your existing opening is already cut for a standard ANSI mortise pocket and strike prep, the lock body and faceplate drop into it.
2) Do I have to specify handing when ordering the TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock?
Handing is required, and there are four choices: left hand, right hand, left hand reverse, and right hand reverse. Reverse handing applies to doors that swing out of the room, which is common on bathrooms in commercial buildings, so check which way the door swings and which side the hinges are on before you order.
3) Is the TownSteel MSE privacy lock keyed, and how does someone get in if the bathroom is occupied and locked?
It's a non-keyed privacy function lock, locked from the inside by a brass thumb turn (Classic Visible style is standard). There is no cylinder and no key on this configuration. If you need a keyed override on the outside, this is the wrong function; look at a keyed mortise function instead.
4) What are the alternatives to the TownSteel MSE if I need a privacy mortise lock with a deadbolt instead of just a latch?
The MSE privacy configuration uses a latch bolt with a guard bolt and a thumb turn, not a deadbolt. If the spec calls for a privacy mortise lock with a deadbolt, the Cal-Royal NM8440 is a Grade 1 privacy mortise lockset with deadbolt for 1-3/4 inch doors. Hager's 3840S is another Grade 1 privacy mortise on a 2-3/4 inch backset, rated for 1-3/4 to 2 inch doors, if you need thicker door capacity.
5) What is the closest cross-brand equivalent to the TownSteel MSE Series privacy mortise lock?
The Cal-Royal NM8440 is the nearest match. It is a heavy duty Grade 1 privacy/bed/bath mortise lockset, the same grade and function as the TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock, and the NM8440 is listed for 1-3/4 inch doors. The Hager 3840S is another Grade 1 privacy mortise lock, with a 2-3/4 inch backset matching the MSE Series and a 1-3/4 to 2 inch door thickness range. The difference to confirm before ordering is trim style: the MSE privacy lock uses escutcheon trim in either a low or regular escutcheon.
6) If the opening needs to be keyed, what mortise lock should I use instead of the TownSteel MSE privacy?
The TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock is non-keyed, so it will not serve a keyed opening. For storeroom duty, the Accentra 8805FL is a Grade 1 storeroom mortise lock with the Arcadia lever, and the Cal-Royal NM8080 is a heavy duty Grade 1 storeroom mortise lockset offered with an interchangeable core option. For a classroom, the Corbin Russwin ML2003 is a Grade 1 mortise classroom lockset for 1-3/4 inch doors and the Cal-Royal NM8070 is a Grade 1 classroom mortise lockset with auxiliary deadlatch.
7) Is a TownSteel MSE mortise lock heavy duty enough for a hotel or dormitory bathroom door?
It's an ANSI Grade 1 heavy duty commercial mortise lock, which is the top grade for cycle life and strength, so it suits high traffic bathroom and bedroom doors in hotels, dorms, and multi-family. The latch bolt is stainless steel, split, anti-friction with 3/4 inch projection, and there is a stainless guard bolt as well.
8) What size escutcheon plate does the MSE mortise lock cover the door with?
The standard escutcheon is brass and measures 10-9/16 x 2-3/8 x 9/32 inches. There are two escutcheon choices, low and regular, so if you are covering an old cut-out or matching existing trim, pick based on the plate height you need.
9) Can I match TownSteel MSE privacy locks to the other lever hardware in my building?
Eight lever designs are offered: Artistic, Congr, Gala, Imperial, Quest, Regal, Sentinel, and Tango. Finishes run 605 bright brass, 606 satin brass, 622 matte black, 625 bright chrome, 626 satin chrome, 629 bright stainless, and 630 satin stainless. Levers are forged brass or cast zinc plated to match the finish symbol, so a run of bathroom doors can be specified to match the keyed openings elsewhere in the same finish.
10) Is the TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock electronic or does it need wiring?
No wiring. This configuration is purely mechanical, non-keyed privacy, so it installs like any standard mortise lock with no power supply, transformer, or access control head end. If you want an electrified privacy mortise lock, the Schlage CO-100-MS-40-KP is a standalone electronic mortise lock with privacy function and a keypad reader.
11) I need the same escutcheon look but on a passage door with no lock at all. What should I order?
The MSE privacy version locks with a thumb turn, so it's not right for a corridor or closet door that should stay free at all times. For a non-locking opening, Falcon's MA101 is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise passage lock with field reversible operation, or the Hager 3810E is a Grade 1 passage mortise lock with escutcheon trim on a 2-3/4 inch backset, which keeps the same plate style and backset as the MSE.
12) I need a mortise lock with escutcheon trim but the room does not need privacy - what else works?
For a non-locking opening, the Hager 3810E is a Grade 1 passage mortise lock with escutcheon trim and a 2-3/4 inch backset, the same backset as the TownSteel MSE Series. The Hager 3850E is a Grade 1 office function mortise lock, also non-keyed, with lever and escutcheon and a 2-3/4 inch backset. Both carry a 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inch door thickness range. The TownSteel MSE privacy version adds a brass thumb turn on the inside for bed and bath duty.
13) Is the Schlage CO-100 privacy mortise lock a substitute for the TownSteel MSE privacy lock?
Not a like-for-like one. The Schlage CO-100-MS-40-KP is a standalone electronic mortise lock with a keypad reader, heavy duty Grade 1, privacy function, for 1-3/4 inch doors. The TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock is a mechanical, non-electronic unit operated by lever and thumb turn. They share the privacy function and Grade 1 rating, but the CO-100 requires credential programming and power provisioning that the MSE does not.
14) What mortise option should I use for a restroom that needs push/pull or ligature-resistant hardware instead of a lever?
The Marks USA 5PDN is a Grade 1 hospital passage mortise push/pull paddleset, ligature resistant and ADA compliant, in satin stainless steel. It suits behavioral health and patient restrooms where a lever is a hazard. The TownSteel MSE Series privacy mortise lock uses lever trim in eight lever styles - Artistic, Congr, Gala, Imperial, Quest, Regal, Sentinel and Tango - so it is the choice where a conventional privacy lever set is acceptable.
15) We already have mortise pockets cut - do I need a full lockset or can I order just a lock body?
If the trim is staying and only the chassis is failing, the BEST 45H Series is a heavy duty mortise lock body, offered in public entrance function with field reversible operation, and the BEST 45HCA is a heavy duty mortise lockbody with intruder function. The TownSteel MSE Series privacy unit is supplied as a complete escutcheon lockset - lock body with escutcheon trim, lever, thumb turn and ANSI strike - so it is the choice when the trim is being replaced along with the lock.
16) Is a Schlage PC10 passage lock an alternative to the TownSteel MSE mortise lock?
They are different lock types. The Schlage PC10 is a Grade 1 passage cylindrical lock, non-keyed with rose trim, for 1-3/4 inch doors - it fits a bored door prep. The TownSteel MSE Series is a mortise lock requiring a mortise pocket and an ANSI strike prep, with a 1-1/4 inch by 8 inch stainless faceplate. Converting between the two means changing the door prep, so match the lock type to what is already cut.
17) Do I need a different mortise lock if the opening will tie into access control?
The TownSteel MSE Series privacy mortise lock is a mechanical, non-electronic unit. For an electrified opening, the Command Access ML190 is a heavy-duty motorized mortise lock, storeroom function, with field selectable EL/EU operation on 24VDC, and the BEST 45HW is a heavy duty wired electromechanical mortise lock running 12V or 24V. For wireless credential control, the Schlage LEMD-GRW is a Grade 1 ENGAGE Series wireless mortise lock with a 125kHz proximity reader and a 3 hour fire rating.
18) For a dormitory or corridor door, is the TownSteel MSE privacy lock the right function?
No - privacy function is intended for bed and bath openings. For a dorm room door, the Sargent 7925 is a Grade 1 heavy duty dormitory exit function mortise lock with rose trim and a single cylinder deadbolt. For an apartment entry, 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 inch and over - note that backset differs from the 2-3/4 inch backset of the TownSteel MSE Series.
19) Will the escutcheon trim on the TownSteel MSE cover a door already cut for rose trim?
The escutcheon is a full plate at 10-9/16 x 2-3/8 inches, so it covers a lot more of the door face than a round rose. Swapping from rose trim to the MSE escutcheon usually hides old fastener holes rather than exposing them. Going the other direction, escutcheon to rose, is what leaves marks showing.
20) Does the MSE mortise lock have a stop works function to hold the lever rigid?
Yes, stop works are stainless steel, rocker type. That's the internal mechanism that sets whether the outside lever is locked or free, and stainless rocker type holds up better than stamped alternatives on high-cycle bathroom doors.
21) What is the difference between the TownSteel MSE privacy mortise lock and a mortise deadbolt like the Sargent 4874?
The Sargent 4874 is a double cylinder mortise deadbolt with a 2-3/4 inch backset - deadbolt only, keyed both sides, no latch and no lever. The TownSteel MSE Series privacy lock is a latching lockset with a 3/4 inch projection stainless steel anti-friction latch bolt, guard bolt, lever trim and thumb turn on a 2-3/4 inch backset. They share backset but are not interchangeable in the same pocket prep; a deadbolt is an addition to a latching function, not a replacement for it.
22) I need matching trim on an inactive leaf next to a TownSteel MSE privacy opening - what do I order?
For a non-operating leaf, the Schlage L0170 is a Grade 1 heavy duty mortise non-keyed dummy lever trim for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Falcon MESC600DT is a dummy escutcheon lever trim, fire rated, built for M9900 Series exit devices. Neither latches. The TownSteel MSE Series privacy lock is the working half of that pair, with the thumb turn and latch bolt.
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Absolutely. The TownSteel MSE-R-T-22-626 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty.
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