Mortise Replacement Problem
I’m not a locksmith and I’ve gotten conflicting information from different professionals. My home was built in the 1950s, and it originally had what I was told is a mortise lock on the bottom and a deadbolt on top. I replaced the top lock with a smart lock and now want to remove the bottom locks entirely and install just a handleset.
I’ve been told they would need to put a plate on the door, but the exterior side of the door is painted black while the interior is white, and they’re only offering a black plate as an option. I actually like the look of the old hardware—so is there a replacement handleset that has the same style but without the locking function? Local locksmiths have told me there isn’t.
Photos attached, because I’m definitely out of my depth here. Thanks!
Posted Nov 14, 2025, 2:02 PM UTC