Querriegel

Querriegel is a term used in locksmithing to refer to a crosswise locking bar. It consists of a rigid metal bar that slides or rotates into place across a door or gate edge. The bar is guided by a frame-mounted track and engages with strike plates or keepers set into the door jamb, securing the door against attempts to push it open. In its simplest form, a Querriegel is operated by a handle or wheel at the door edge; turning or sliding the control moves the bar into the locked position and retracts it when unlocking.

Designs of Querriegel vary: a single crossbar that spans the door width; a two-piece system with an extendable bar for wider doors; or a modular arrangement that links several bolts along the edge in a multi-point locking system. Materials are typically hardened steel or alloy, sometimes with protective coatings. The mechanism is valued for its simplicity, reliability, and resistance to prying when properly installed.

Historically, Querriegel devices have been used in residential and commercial doors, barn and shed doors, and in certain safe or vault constructions where a straightforward, manually operated crossbar offers robust security. In modern hardware, the term remains in use in German catalogs and among locksmiths to describe crossbar components within locking assemblies.

See also: Riegel, Türschloss, Mehrfachverriegelung.