1926 — 2026
One hundred years of keys, locks, and safes.
A-1 started cutting keys in San Diego in 1926. A century later it's still family-run, and still the place North County calls when they're locked out.
Timeline
1926
Founded in San Diego
A-1 opens as a key and lock shop in San Diego, cutting keys and servicing locks for homes and storefronts across a fast-growing city.
1996
Carlsbad Security Center
The shop moves north and opens the Carlsbad Security Center, adding safes, vaults, and commercial hardware.
2026
One hundred years
A century in, still family-run, and still answering the phone when someone is locked out.
The shop today
Family-run, start to finish.
Customers mention A-1 by name in reviews — for showing up fast, explaining the options plainly, and charging a fair price.
Over the years the shop has added safes and vaults, commercial hardware, the Mailbox Medic postal division, and forensic and expert-witness work — while still cutting a single key for anyone who needs one.
- Founded
- 1926
- Serving Carlsbad
- ~1996
- Star rating
- 4.8
- Brands serviced
- 26
Brands we sell & service
Hardware we know inside and out.
- Abus
- Adams Rite
- Alarm Lock
- American Lock
- Amsec
- Arrow
- ASSA
- Baldwin
- Best
- Compx
- Corbin Russwin
- Dorma
- Emtek
- Gardall
- Ilco
- Kwikset
- Master Lock
- Medeco
- Olympus
- Sargent & Greenleaf
- Schlage
- Tri-Flow
- Von Duprin
- Weiser
- Weslock
- Yale
Need a locksmith?
Call the shop, or send a request for non-emergency work and we'll call you back during business hours.