Our Company

80 Years of Security Hardware & Service Excellence

Southern Lock has been a major distributor of security products and supplies since 1946. With merchandise from more than 200 manufacturers, we maintain a large inventory of popular lines including Allegion, ASSA ABLOY, BEST Access Solutions, dormakaba, Master Lock, NSP, and more. From mechanical hardware to the latest electronic access systems, let us be your one-stop-shop for all your security needs.

Not only do we sell trusted security products, we supply extraordinary service. With three locations and a knowledgeable inside staff, we are able to achieve our simple goal of providing our customers with quality products and the best service possible. Our Electronic Access Control experts will guide you through your most difficult problems and furnish you with the best possible solutions.

Southern Lock began in the home of Bernard and May Cutson in 1946.

Two years later as their company grew, the business was moved to the family garage, then to its first storefront in south St. Petersburg, and finally to its present address, a 19,000 square foot warehouse.

In the 1970s, watts lines were installed and “S-Line” products soon followed. Southern Lock also established an in-house advertising department and yearly catalog. In the 1980s, the building was expanded to include a large Customer Service area, computer system, and Electronic Access Department. To remain on the cutting edge, Southern Lock also launched their first website.

Over the years, satellite locations have been opened in Pompano Beach, and Charlotte, NC. Marvin Cutson, son of founders Bernard and May Cutson, ran Southern Lock until 2011, when he passed the torch to Dave Matthies and his son-in-law, Dave Swartz. After dedicating 59 years to the company—starting at just 16 years old—Matthies retired in 2024. Today, ownership is proudly held by Dave Swartz and Matthies’s daughter, Jenell, who plan to continue Southern Lock's family legacy well into the future.

From the earliest days to the present, the company's goals have remained the same: to provide customers with quality products and the best service possible. Whether placing, pulling or shipping an order, our qualified group of employees work together to handle all jobs in an efficient and pleasant manner. Southern Lock stands as a leader in the security hardware industry and will continue to grow and evolve with our ever-changing world.