Alternatives to Colombo Mortise Handles and Levers - Locksmith Vancouver
One of my most viewed blog articles has been about Colombo mortise locks and handles. I’ve had people contact me about them from as far as Hawaii in the West and as far as Quebec in the East. My views on the quality vs the cost of Colombo mortise locks and handles have not changed. I think they’re still one of the worst value propositions in the market. Yet, I see them all over the Lower Mainland – primarily on newer concrete condo developments.
This article will discuss alternatives to Colombo mortise handles/levers in situations where they have failed and need to be replaced. We will discuss the approximate costs for new Colombo original handles, cheaper alternatives, and the best replacement set in my opinion.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at [email protected]. Quick reminder that our online appointment booking system for our Vancouver Key store at 555 West Hastings is now up and running. The link is as follows: https://calendar.app.google/kV64JB9yHA8Y8UoL7
Due to personal circumstances, my business partner will no longer be able to attend the Vancouver Key Store full-time. As such, we highly recommend you make an appointment to avoid being disappointed and finding the store closed upon arrival.
Overview of Colombo Mortise Locks
Colombo Hardware is a relatively unknown brand from Italy that has become quite popular with some of the larger architecture firms in Vancouver. For some reason, they keep installing them in new developments all over the Lower Mainland. I’ve seen them in almost every neighborhood in Vancouver, parts of New Westminster, and so on.
If your condo’s marketing brochure says something about European door hardware, you’re probably getting a Colombo mortise lock. In addition, it’s almost always in a polished chrome finish vs the standard satin chrome or satin nickel finishes.
I will not delve too deeply about the quality of the Colombo Hardware offerings. I have written other articles about that. Suffice it to say, they used to be quite awful. After their redesign several years ago, the quality seems to have gotten better. However, I personally would rather get a Schlage L Series or a Sargent 8200 Series mortise lock instead. Not only are they slightly cheaper, the overall build quality is way better.
Colombo Mortise Handles and Levers
Colombo Mortise Locks have handle/lever designs that are quite unique. While other brands have some similar styles to Colombo, they are almost never made for mortise locks – only cylindrical.
Some of the most popular handles designs I have seen in Vancouver are called:
Taipan
Viola
Mach
Zelda
There is also an older discontinued version that looks like the Taymor Equinox Style that I don’t know the original name of. It’s commonly found in the False Creek area near Science World and Olympic Village.
If you don’t know which version you have, please send me a picture of your lever to 604-363-2760 or email me at [email protected].
Whether you are getting the round rose with the RSP102 lever assembly or the Escutcheon version with the red/black spring “chips”, all Colombo handles and levers are constructed similarly. They all share a design flaw that makes them vulnerable to breaking especially on heavy wood doors.
Basically, the handle is attached to the rose by 2 spring clips. When the first one fails, the handle will become very loose and jut out by about ⅛” from the original position. This is when most clients do or should contact us.
When the second snap ring fails, the entire handle will detach from the door. At this point, you may be stuck inside your condo and unable to leave. At this point, you have waited too long and now require an emergency service call. Meanwhile, if someone has a key, they should be able to unlock the door and push the door open. Make sure to place plenty of paper wadding into the strike box while you are waiting for the Vancouver locksmith to arrive. Better yet, tape both the strike plate and the lock with heavy duty duct tape.
I consider the Colombo levers to have a design flaw because this very expensive hardware often fails because of a $0.25 part. The part might be even cheaper. A lot of cheaper lock brands use a similar design but I would have hoped that Colombo would have found a better solution considering their price point.
As of February 2026, a new set of Colombo Mortise Lock Lever/Handles costs approximately $450 plus GST, not including labour to install. Popular models take 1 to 3 weeks to get from the central warehouse in Montreal. Less popular models may take 3 to 7 weeks to get from Italy.
Depending on the age of your mortise lock, you may also need a new RSP102 kit. This consists primarily of two metal spring cages that ensure your lever handles do not droop and stay parallel to the floor. It also reduces the strain on the mortise lockcase springs so that the lock itself lasts longer.
FYI, if you are physically less-able and find your Colombo mortise lock hard to use, you may want to consider asking a downtown Vancouver locksmith to remove the RSP102 metal spring cages from the levers. Without them, the lock becomes easier to use. However, you may notice the handles will start to sag downwards with frequent use..
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