ID Key Help

Brey

A friend got this on ebay and was told it was a Jailers Key.

My question: Is this even real? Looks like 2 different keys to me and I think it it had black paint on it at one point. The bow also doesn’t line up with the bit.

Are there any keys out there that look like this? Real or not what would you guess the value would be or where it was made?

Thanks for any input that you are able to give!

Gerry

can you tell us something about the size?

it looks like a furniture key.

Tom Gordon

As the key has no pipe not projecting pin I would say that it is not a genuine key.
Keys have been made with both brass and iron/steel especially for furniture but this is not one of them.

Brey

I didn’t think so…
Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that they made brass and iron/steel mixed keys.

The iron part looks like it originally was made as a real key. Would anyone agree/disagree?

Oh! I usually give measurements.

Tom Gordon

Brey wrote
I didn’t think so…

The iron part looks like it originally was made as a real key. Would anyone agree/disagree?

Disagree.
The lack of pipe or protruding pin is on the steel part.

[unknown]

Gerry

hello,

i know dutch sailors used very similar keys for their chests.
i have got one but it is a hollow shank

Brey

Ah, I see what you mean.
Thanks again!

Brey

Gerry wrote
hello,

i know dutch sailors used very similar keys for their chests.
i have got one but it is a hollow shank

Thanks for posting that pic. That’s very interesting.

[unknown]

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

Tom Gordon wrote
Disagree.
The lack of pipe or protruding pin is on the steel part.

Just curious Tom, you don’t think it could be for a lock with just an end ward?
BBE.

[unknown]

Tom Gordon

BBE wrote
Just curious Tom, you don’t think it could be for a lock with just an end ward?
BBE.

The lack of pipe (hole in the end that fits onto the locks pin) or protruding pin (to go through a hole in the back of the lockcase) means that there is no way for the key to be held in position in the lock. The warding doesnt hold it centrally in position.
Happy Xmas

[unknown]

bbcci

What about the possibility of a concentric circle cast into the back of the lock that would accept and center the key as opposed to a hole for the pin to pass through?
Instead of looking at it as a two ward bit, only the outer cut would be for a ward and the inner cut would slip over the centering circle..

Tom Gordon

bbcci wrote
What about the possibility of a concentric circle cast into the back of the lock that would accept and center the key as opposed to a hole for the pin to pass through?
Instead of looking at it as a two ward bit, only the outer cut would be for a ward and the inner cut would slip over the centering circle..

I have never seen that and it is not technically as good as having a lock pin to guide the key in and anyway I can’t see the manufacturing benefit.
Tolerances would need to be better than that key shows and so I am sure it must be just for display.
Cheers

[unknown]

Gerry

hello,

i have got a lot of keys, mostly older of course,
which have got pin and bit in same level

they are all not hollow

hope it helps
please see the picture

Tom Gordon

Gerry wrote
mostly older

How many centuries older?
I should have been more precise and said “of this era”
cheers
tom

[unknown]

Gerry

14th to 18th century

german and french

Jailer

Look closely at those photos again, especially the third one. You can see that the end of the shank or shaft just above the inside “ward” actually shows some concentric wear where it has fit into a hole inside the lock to keep it in place. At least that is what it looks like to me.

Tom Gordon

As always, the percentage chance of it being a genuine key (ie made to operate a lock) and how old it is, is a matter of opinion.
I am firmly of the opinion that it isn’t but….