- The profession of locksmithing gained momentum during the Middle Ages as a sub-category of blacksmithing, though the oldest discovered lock was created 4,000 years before in Egypt. Blacksmiths shape and refine metals for various uses, making everything from cooking utensils to horse shoes to weapons for the army. It was during the Middle Ages that they began crafting the traditional lock and key form of securing valuables, and as the technology developed the vocation of locksmithing did as well.
- A locksmith's primary job is to create and design locks. A lock is a device that is affixed to various items to keep their contents secure from unauthorized persons. Items that will often be locked include cabinets, doors, computers, cars and buildings. The lock will only allow access of contents when opened with a key. In the modern world, a key can range from the traditional utensil to an access card to a numeric combination to a biologically sensitive scan. This is why locksmiths are considered security engineers, as they design means of protecting information and goods.
- Since the Middle Ages, the design of locks has advanced and incorporated new materials, such as steel, plastic,and other synthetic materials. It has also grown to include a wide range of electric and computer-based technology. Modern locksmiths have kept pace with a range of techniques and now include keycard, key fob, and biometric access in their portfolio of available products.
- A secondary job of a locksmith is to be able to break into locks. People commonly employ locksmiths to help them if they have lost their key or have locked their key inside the locked item (such as a car). While this serves a very practical purpose most of the time, it has brought the locksmithing profession into controversy on several occasions for the potential abuse of power.
- Modern locksmiths work in a variety of specialized niches, from running shops dedicated to the trade to operating out of a vehicle to working for governments to working only with safes. Many have established themselves as security consultants who specialize in helping individuals or companies protect their assets.
