Let's get something out of the way first: the ABUS 55/40 is not a high-security lock. It's not going to stop a determined thief, a bored teenager with YouTube access, or anyone who's spent a weekend learning to pick. If you're here looking for the padlock equivalent of a bank vault, go read our Abloy Protec2 review and come back when your wallet recovers.
But here's the thing — the 55/40 was never supposed to be that. It's a fifteen-dollar brass padlock designed to keep honest people honest, and it does that job better than almost anything else at the price. It's also become one of the most important locks in the locksport community, sitting right at the line where beginners start to feel like they know what they're doing. And that alone makes it worth talking about.
What You're Actually Getting for $15
The ABUS 55/40 is a 40mm solid brass body padlock with a hardened steel shackle that's triple plated for corrosion resistance. The "55" is the series, the "40" is the width in millimeters. Inside, you've got a 5-pin tumbler cylinder — that's already one more pin than the Master Lock 140D, which costs roughly the same — and ABUS uses tighter manufacturing tolerances than most budget competitors. The result is a lock that feels noticeably more precise than the cheap stuff. Turn the key and it's smooth. Wiggle the shackle and there's less play. It's not luxury, but it's a clear step up.
The double-bolt locking mechanism is a nice touch at this price. If someone manages to cut through one side of the shackle, the other side stays locked. It's also self-locking — push the shackle down and it clicks shut without needing the key. Small quality-of-life feature, but when you're fumbling with a padlock in the rain it matters more than you'd think.
Solid brass, not plated zinc. You can feel the difference the moment you pick one up.
The Locksport Perspective
If you've spent any time in lock picking communities — Reddit's r/lockpicking, LockPickersUnited, or any of the dozen Discord servers full of people who spend their evenings picking locks for fun — you know the ABUS 55/40. It's a Yellow Belt lock in the LPU belt ranking system, which means it sits one notch above the absolute beginner tier. It's where you go after you've popped a few acrylic practice locks and want to feel what a real lock feels like under tension.
Most 55/40s ship with five standard brass key pins. Some units include a single serrated security pin, usually in position 2 or 3, but this isn't guaranteed — we've seen units with none at all. The paracentric keyway is tighter than a Master Lock, which means you'll want thinner picks (0.020" to 0.025"), and top-of-keyway tensioning gives you the most room to work. The brass construction provides clean, consistent feedback — you can feel each pin set with a satisfying click that teaches good habits.
A skilled picker can open the 55/40 in under five minutes. A beginner might take fifteen. Unless you're me — in which case it took three to four weeks of trying every single day before I finally got it open. Not my proudest stat.
And that's the real value here. This lock gives you honest feedback. It doesn't have the loose tolerances that let you accidentally rake open a Master Lock 3, and it doesn't have the cruel tightness of an ABUS 72/40 that'll make you question your life choices. It's the Goldilocks zone of learning locks. If you can consistently pick a 55/40, you're ready for security pins. If you can't yet, it'll tell you exactly why.
Tight tolerances for the price. Clean feedback for learning. Five pins instead of four. Hardened steel shackle. Double-bolt locking. Self-locking shackle. Available keyed alike for multi-lock setups. Solid corrosion resistance from the brass body. German-engineered and it shows.
Where It Falls Short (And Why That's Fine)
Let's be honest about the limitations. The 55/40 has no anti-drill protection. The brass body, while corrosion-resistant, is softer than steel — meaning a motivated attacker with a hammer has options. The shackle, at 6mm, is on the thin side for serious cut resistance. And there's zero key control — any locksmith or hardware store can cut duplicates from a standard ABUS blank without asking questions.
From a picking standpoint, it's also thoroughly rakeable. A city rake with light tension will pop most 55/40s open in seconds, especially if you get one without the optional serrated pin. Comb attacks aren't as much of a concern as they are with the Master Lock 140D, but this isn't a lock that's going to give anyone serious trouble.
No anti-drill protection. Soft brass body. Thin 6mm shackle won't resist serious bolt cutters. Easily raked open. No key control whatsoever. Security pin inclusion is inconsistent — some units get one serrated pin, others get none. Not a security solution. It's a privacy solution.
But again — this is a $15 padlock. Expecting drill resistance and restricted keyways from a lock that costs less than a sandwich would be insane. The question isn't whether the 55/40 is secure in absolute terms. It's whether it's the best you can get at this price. And the answer is yes, by a significant margin.
ABUS 55/40 vs. Master Lock 140D
This is the comparison that matters, because these two locks sit on the same shelf at roughly the same price. We've covered the 140D elsewhere, so here's the short version: the ABUS wins. Not close.
| Category | ABUS 55/40 | Master Lock 140D |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Solid brass | Solid brass |
| Pin Count | 5 pins | 4 pins |
| Security Pins | Sometimes 1 serrated | Sometimes 1 spool (inconsistent) |
| Tolerances | Tight — German QC | Loose — easily exploited |
| Comb Attack | Not a major concern | Vulnerable — documented bypass |
| Shackle | Hardened steel, triple plated | Hardened steel |
| Locking | Double-bolt | Dual locking levers |
| LPU Belt | Yellow | Yellow |
| Price | ~$12–$18 | ~$10–$15 |
| NoPryZone Score | 5.5 / 10 | 3.5 / 10 |
The 55/40 gives you one extra pin, noticeably better tolerances, a more resistant keyway, and no vulnerability to comb attacks — all for maybe three dollars more. If you're standing in a hardware store choosing between these two, there is no reason to pick the Master Lock. None. The ABUS is better in every measurable way.
Who Should Buy This Lock
The ABUS 55/40 makes perfect sense for gym lockers, school lockers, garden sheds, tool boxes, cable loops, gates that lead to non-critical areas, and anywhere the goal is "keep casual access out." It's also an outstanding locksport practice lock — arguably the best one under $20 — because it teaches real picking fundamentals without the frustration of advanced security features.
It does not make sense for storage units containing valuables, securing anything you'd genuinely be upset about losing, or any scenario where someone might actually try to get past it with intent. For those situations, you need to start looking at the ABUS 83/55, the Diskus 20/70, or if budget allows, the Abloy Protec2.
The Full Spec Sheet
| Category | ABUS 55/40 |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | 5-pin tumbler |
| Body Material | Solid brass |
| Body Width | 40mm (1-9/16") |
| Shackle Material | Hardened steel, triple plated |
| Shackle Diameter | 6mm (1/4") |
| Shackle Clearance | 7/8" vertical |
| Pick Resistance | Low to moderate |
| Cut Resistance | Basic |
| Key Control | None — standard blank |
| Origin | Germany (ABUS) |
| Price Range | ~$12–$18 |
| NoPryZone Score | 5.5 / 10 |
The Lock That Earns Its Keep
The ABUS 55/40 is not a lock you buy because you're worried about security. It's a lock you buy because you want the best version of a cheap padlock, and you want it from a company that doesn't cut corners even at the bottom of its lineup. Five pins, tight tolerances, solid brass, hardened shackle — it's everything a budget padlock should be and nothing it shouldn't pretend to be.
For locksport, it's essential. For everyday low-risk use, it's the obvious choice. For anything more than that, you need to step up to a different tier entirely. And that's not a criticism — it's just knowing what tool fits the job.
At fifteen bucks, the ABUS 55/40 is the hardest-working lock in the budget aisle. Buy it, use it, and if you're into picking — learn on it. You'll be glad you did.