About this item
The BEST 5L7RD2 is a standard cabinet lock from BEST's L Series, configured for rim mounting with a dead-locking bolt. If you searched "606 l"-you were looking for this lock by its finish code. In BEST and BHMA finish numbering, 606 is satin brass (US4), and L identifies the L Series cabinet lock family. This single product listing covers both the 626 satin chrome and the 606 satin brass finish options. Pick the finish that matches the rest of your hardware.
What the 5L7RD2 Model Code Means
Every position in the code is a configuration decision.
5L = standard L Series cabinet lock (3L is the coin box version)
7 = 7-pin SFIC housing, accepts all BEST cores
R = rim mounting
D = dead-locking bolt
2 = vertical hand
Change any one position and you get a different product. 5L7RD5 is inverted hand. 5L7MD2 is mortise mount instead of rim. 5L7RL2 is latchbolt instead of dead-locking. The system is modular-once you know the pattern, you can build any configuration.
Dead-Locking vs Latchbolt: Which One This Is
The D means dead-locking. A dead-locking bolt only moves by key-it extends when you turn the key to lock, and retracts when you turn the key to unlock. There's no spring. The cabinet doesn't catch itself closed. Nothing happens automatically.
That's the correct specification for drawers, lockers, or enclosures where you want intentional, positive key control in both directions. Nobody gets in without a key, and the bolt stays thrown until a key retracts it.
The latchbolt alternative (L in the bolt position) springs into the strike when the door closes. Easier to use for cabinets that just need to stay shut until someone opens them. But if you need the bolt to stay in position until a key moves it, that's dead-locking, and that's this product.
Vertical vs Inverted Hand
The 2 in the model code means vertical hand. It describes the rotational direction the cylinder uses to operate the bolt. Vertical (2) is the standard orientation. Inverted (5) is for applications where the cabinet orientation requires the key to operate in the opposite direction.
If you're replacing an existing lock, this matters. Pull out the old lock and check which way the key turned to unlock it. Order the wrong hand and the key turns backward.
Rim Mounting vs Mortise
Rim mounting means the lock body sits on the inside face of the cabinet door or drawer, with only the cylinder visible from the outside through a drilled hole. It's the faster installation option and works on most commercial lockers, metal cabinets, and storage units without special edge preparation.
Mortise mounting slides the lock body into a routed pocket in the door edge. More integrated, more secure, but requires additional cabinet preparation. If your cabinet already has a mortise pocket, order the mortise version (5L7MD2). If not, rim is the straightforward choice.
7-Pin SFIC Housing
This lock ships without a core. The 7-pin housing accepts any standard BEST SFIC core. That matters for large facilities running a master key system-the cabinet locks drop into the same key system as the door hardware without needing a separate cylinder family. Control keys, change keys, and master keys all carry over.
BEST SFIC cores are also cross-compatible with Best, Arrow, and other brands that share the same IC format, so integrating these cabinet locks into an existing IC system is straightforward.
Specifications
Model: BEST 5L7RD2
Series: BEST L Series Standard Cabinet Lock
Housing: 7-pin SFIC, accepts all BEST cores
Mounting: R-Rim
Bolt Type: D-Dead-locking
Hand: 2-Vertical
Finishes: 626 (satin chrome / US26D), 606 (satin brass / US4)
Mortise Version: 5L7MD2
Latchbolt Version: 5L7RL2
Inverted Hand Version: 5L7RD5
Coin Box Version: 3L7RD2
Brand: BEST Access Systems, dormakaba
American Locksets has stocked BEST L Series cabinet locks since 2001.
Trusted Since 2001
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