By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

Three 83 Series padlocks, two jobs

ABUS builds the 83 Series in a long list of bodies, shackles and core preps. We carry three of them, and they sort into two groups. The ABUS 83IC/45 is a brass padlock for indoor and general duty. The ABUS 83WP-IC/53 is the weather protected body, sold in two core preps. All three ship less core: you supply the core from your own key system. This guide helps you pick between them. It does not retell what less core means or how the two core sizes differ. Those pieces already exist, and the links are below.

The three models side by side

Model	Body	Core prep	Shackle	ABUS item no.
83IC/45	Solid brass, 1-3/4 inch wide	Small format IC (SFIC), 6-pin or 7-pin	5/16 inch hardened steel, 1 inch clearance	83718
83WP-IC/53HB63	Weather protected, hardened steel body, 2 inch wide	Small format IC (SFIC)	High, 63 mm (2-1/2 inch)	83609
83WP-IC/53 LFIC-SCHLG	Weather protected, hardened steel body, 2 inch wide	Schlage large format IC (LFIC)	5/16 inch, about 1-1/16 inch clearance	83607

Body widths and materials come from the ABUS 83 Series brochure. Shackle sizes and item numbers come from the ABUS USA price list data on our listings.

Body material: brass or hardened steel

The 83IC/45 is solid brass. ABUS calls the 45 mm brass padlock the locksmith's choice, and it is a fair description. Brass is the long-time workhorse for doors, cabinets, equipment rooms and sheds under cover.

The 83WP-IC/53 is a different build. Its body is hardened steel with ABUS's NANO PROTECT coating, which ABUS describes as extreme corrosion resistance. It is a step wider than the brass model, 2 inches against 1-3/4 inches, and ABUS lists it a little heavier: 0.617 lb for the 83WP-IC/53 against 0.586 lb for the 83IC/45. Neither is a big padlock. Both fit a hand.

Shackle: what comes on each

The 83IC/45 carries a 5/16 inch hardened steel shackle with 1 inch of vertical clearance. That suits a hasp, a cabinet staple or a gate latch with a thin bar. ABUS builds the same body with taller shackles, such as the 83IC/45HB150 with a 6 inch shackle, and lists stainless steel replacement shackles for the 83IC in 2 inch (83018), 3 inch (83019) and 4 inch (83022). If your hardware needs more reach, tell us before you order and we will look at what is available.

The two 83WP-IC/53 models do not share a shackle. The HB63 is the tall one at 63 mm (2-1/2 inches), for thick hasps and chain. The LFIC-SCHLG has the standard 5/16 inch shackle with about 1-1/16 inches of clearance. ABUS lists the 83WP shackle as hardened steel with NANO PROTECT, and says shackles on the 83IC/45 and 83WP-IC/53 can be changed in seconds with its easy shackle change tool (part 8325B).

Measure the opening before you pick. Shackle clearance is the spec buyers get wrong most often, and a padlock that does not fit the hasp is dead stock.

Weather protection: what the WP adds

This is the real difference between the brass and the steel. The 83WP body has a weather cover with a drainage system, which the ABUS brochure lists as a feature of the weather protected line. The cover keeps rain and grit off the lock, and the drainage lets water out instead of sitting in it. ABUS pitches the line for the harshest conditions.

That is a feature description, not a test rating. We have no rating to quote, so we will not make one up. What it tells you is the intended use: gates, utility enclosures, outdoor cabinets, anything that stands in weather year round. For why a weather cover matters on a gate, see our guide on weather protected padlocks for gates and enclosures.

The brass 83IC/45 has no weather cover. Hang it where it stays dry, or accept that it will see more wear outside than the WP will.

SFIC prep or LFIC prep

The 83IC/45 is small format only. ABUS lists the IC family for 6-pin and 7-pin SFIC cores. A Schlage large format core will not fit it.

If your building runs Schlage large format cores, the model we carry for that is the 83WP-IC/53 LFIC-SCHLG. It is weather protected by design, so you get the weather cover whether you need it or not.

If your building runs small format cores, you have a choice: the 83IC/45 for dry locations, or the 83WP-IC/53HB63 for outdoor ones. Choose by where the padlock will hang, not by the brand on the door lever.

The full comparison of the two weather protected preps is in our guide on SFIC prep or Schlage LFIC prep. Do not guess the format. Pull one core with the control key and look at it.

All three come less core

None of these include a core. The padlock arrives with the shackle and an empty cavity. You install a core from your own system with your control key, and the padlock is on your key system. If you have no core to fit, get one pinned to your system before you expect the padlock to work. Our guide on what less core means on a padlock covers the handoff in full.

Which one to order

1. Dry location, small format cores: 83IC/45, brass.
2. Outdoor or wet location, small format cores: 83WP-IC/53HB63, with the tall 63 mm shackle.
3. Schlage large format cores, any location: 83WP-IC/53 LFIC-SCHLG.

Before you order, check four things: the core format on your doors, a control key in hand, a core pinned to your system, and the hasp measured against the shackle you chose. If one is open, settle it first. The full lineup is on the ABUS page.

Common questions

Is the 83IC/45 weather protected?

No. It is a solid brass padlock without the weather cover. For outdoor use, step up to the 83WP-IC/53.

Can the 83IC/45 take a Schlage large format core?

No. It is prepped for small format cores, 6-pin or 7-pin. For Schlage large format, order the 83WP-IC/53 LFIC-SCHLG.

Which one is heavier?

ABUS lists the 83WP-IC/53 at 0.617 lb and the 83IC/45 at 0.586 lb. The difference is small.

Do any of these include a core?

No. All three are sold less core. You install a core from your own system.

Can I change the shackle later?

ABUS lists its easy shackle change tool for the 83IC/45 and the 83WP-IC/53, so the shackle can be swapped in seconds. Ask us before you order a different length.