We decided with the new house to have the locks changed. The previous owner was a contract firm fixing up the place so we wanted to make sure that there are not any keys roaming around out there. I called this morning and they were able to change the locks today at the end of the day so I only had to leave work an hour early. Now I live in Minneapolis so they are willing to come to this side of the river. Another bonus. They did an amazing job. He assessed all the deadlocks and made suggestions but never forced any decisions. It was great. Although it was not cheap. It was all worth it in the end. Now our new home is safe and sound. read more

I chose this business to rekey one of my properties based on its reputable name and standing in the community. Its Google and Yelp reviews are great and when I called them they answered all of my questions. The tech who came to rekey broke the lock during the process. He quickly told me I need a new one, there was nothing he could do and installed one he brought with him. I was put on the spot with not a lot of options, my new tenant was there and we had to get this repaired. (I was charged $65 for the lock and $65 for the labor....). Upon completion my tenant and I tried the new locks. When attempted to use the one on the front door (the one that was replaced due to being broken by the employee) we noticed the door did not operate with the same ease it had previously, with the original lock. When we brought this to the employee's attention, showed him how we had to jiggle and manipulate the door, he blamed it on age, weather, warping....etc. I did not buy this. When replacing a lock it should fit exactly how it was before, I have had this done many times before and this has never occurred. I then asked him if there was going to be a discount for these services since HE broke the lock. He said no, he was just a tech and I had to speak to a boss. I paid him and he left. When I called, I was of course given a runaround, I spoke to a manager who then told me I had to speak to the owner. The owner said he would personally come out and look at the door, saying what his employee said didnt sound right and everything should work the way it did. Then I asked about reimbursement for the damaged lock, the replacement of it the extra labor charge....he said he will not be refunding anything. When I pressed, he said fine he would refund the cost of the lock ($65) but then would not come out to verify their work AND this would now void the 1 year warranty on the actual lock, which is NEW and installed by them. After thinking about this offer and how extremely rude and offensive it was, I accepted. An extra $130 because of THEIR mistake is shocking and disgraceful. The AUDACITY of a company who has been in business for so many decades to pull a warranty on a product they forced me to install is outrageous. So inappropriate and an abuse of power. I am completely disappointed in their lack of customer service and empathy. read more

Need your faith in humanity restored, while also preserving the integrity and aesthetics of a 95-year-old door handle? Request Jose at Babcock and Son -- he's superb. Thoroughly impressed by his technical and research skills and overall professionalism in helping us extend the life of a storm door handle that cannot easily be replaced with modern hardware. He was extremely thoughtful in everything he communicated and really went the extra mile for us! read more

These guys are amazing. Spoke with David on the phone about an early-century front door handle that suddenly and inexplicably became disabled; we couldn't open our front door from either side. David was familiar with the odd programming that went with some locks of its era. For example, if someone engages the deadbolt on locks of this era it automatically disables the door handle. That's a sensible back-up system; both the deadbolt and the handle are independently secure. But there's a bug in the system (from one perspective): you cannot undo the knob-disabling by retracting the deadbolt. That's why, three nights ago a guest leaving our house mistakenly disabled our front door simply by engaging the deadbolt. That simple twist, which was reversed in milliseconds, disables the door handle - and this action can't be undone! David explained this century-old locksmith version of anti-virus software with remarkable clarity. To reset the system one need only turn the lock and a single extra full turn; this must be done from the outside of the door and with the key. Ctrl-Alt-Delete. If the door happens to be open, you can access the short-cut buttons on the motherboard embedded in its outside edge. A closed door locks you out of those buttons. The solution, David explained once he learned that I'd forgotten my password (that I'd lost the key for this lock), involves inserting a flat-head screwdriver into the lock canal just the right distance to engage the inside-handle control bar without touching the outside-handle one. Seems a while since I've needed this sort of digital precision, but I was not surprised when this precise but simple solution worked perfectly. Thank you, David, for teaching me about lock design on the way to giving me expert advice on how to unlock my door without the password. Magical lock failures are a hassle, but you don't need a magical cure if you have the Quick Startup Guide that illustrates how to program the lock-ware. That's what David and his colleagues provide: high-level, lock IT knowledge spanning the past 250 years. Very cool. read more

Best place to get your keys made, best place to get your modern box mortise locks, best place in Saint Paul, period. I've sworn off box store key cutting forever. read more

Excellent. Had my locks changed on new house. Recommended improvements, never tried to up-sell. Very happy. Highly recommend!

I came here to have a door lock keyed. I got what I needed. The cost to rekey is high. I paid $25. I'm glad I didn't need a service call. It pays to shop around to find a better price. I just had 6 locks keyed in another state and it was $12.50 per cylinder. So here it's twice as much. Crazy. read more

I am pretty sure you don't relish the idea of having your locks changed, and neither do I. Actually, let's talk about the few reasons why anybody would need to have this service, or to call Babcock & Son in the first place. 1. Your gf/bf is psycho, and you kicked him/her out. 2. You are a dumbass and locked yourself out. 3. You don't trust anybody and want more locks. 4. You keys were lost/stolen I am sure there are more reasons, and I am sure that if you ask David when you call, he will tell you. As for my reason? None of the above, really. I got a call from "xcel energy" saying they need new keys to read/change our meters at our condo. Well, our meters are set up to read automatically and when I told him this, he got all strange and then said that they are going back to manual. Hmmmm. Strange. So, 100 keys later, and with a swift response on the part of Babcock, our buildings are secure. Oh, that and it had been like 10 years since the last re-key, and you can never be too safe these days, right? read more

Need keys copied? Go to Babcocks. They cut them correctly. Big box stores never seem to get them quite right. Babcock's costs the same or less than the alternative, and you get a better product with excellent service. Highly recommend. read more

Very friendly, quick service, felt like a warm and friendly nice family-run place where I would happily return. Had a key copied and it only took about 30 seconds with many options for keys. Highly recommend! read more

I needed a deadbolt for an out of standard thick door for my daughters apartment in Saint Paul in a hurry. Big Box and even local hardware stores didn't have what I needed in stock. Took a chance and called Babcock and Sons. The store is bright with a large selection of lock and parts and the owner was expert, friendly and personable. He assessed if the current lock was fixable but in the end I got a stronger lock that fit the door. The owner was thorough and made sure I had what I needed. Very impressed! read more

This place is awesome!! I just have to say after a lot of poor customer service experiences lately it made my day going into this store. From the woman who answered the phone to the gentleman that copied my keys damn near blindfolded I was impressed. I hope its not weird that I'm reviewing a locksmith... Even if I move far away from Highland Park I'd definitely come back to this place for all my key duplicating needs. read more

Great, reliable and knowledgeable service. Many years of practical know-how. Thank you Babcock and Son!

Jose was very nice on the phone when I called to inquire if they could help me with my toolbox on my truck. And when I got here he was just as helpful and just as nice. And did it for a reasonable price. Thank you read more

I had an older deadbolt lock repaired and rekeyed to match my newer locks. The customer service and workmanship were both excellent. I liked that they were able to fine-tune the key for smoother operation. read more

I have used BABCOCK LOCKSMITHS on S Cleveland since moving to Minnesota in 2000. They are amazing and professional. Their security advice is top notch. They have come to my house and make superb recommendations for quality products - not the cheap big box store stuff that doesn't hold. They are responsive for emergencies and even keep my ID and sig on file so if I get locked out they can make me a key. I don't know what others charge but I have always found their prices to be very reasonable. I wouldn't trust my safety to anyone else. read more

Needed key cut for a garage door, they have a large selection of keys. But like all other stores no one carried the blanks. The door manufacturer doesn't sell blanks. I went back for a inner door knob, it's a glass non. It was a custom crystal mob, when it arrived the spindle was to long. David worked hard to calculate just how much needed to be removed. It's a perfect fit and I have s happy wife. read more