Double ended keys thread

simoncpage

I thought I would start a thread about double ended keys. Two I am particularly interesting in finding are double ended box of ward and a key with a latch bit for a bow.

My favorite from my own collection is the large one on the far right of my box which is engraved on the stem and is just really heavy but with interesting bits and the folding one I posted in a previous post.

I particularly would love to know what others have and if there are any really unusual ones out there?

Gerry

one from my collection
it comes from austria

Huw Eastwood

Gerry, of all the double ended keys I’ve seen I haven’t seen anything like that one, very nice ! What sort of age is it and is the bow free to slide or is it fixed?

Simon, I’ve still got a small plastic crate full of double enders but its down to only the leftovers now and they are rusted to, well, you can guess what…
Did have a few nicely kept older examples with crisp wards and nicely turned flutes, bit like your smaller ones in photo 6, but most of what I have now are smaller castings I think from the 1920s or similar to yours in pic 5. Some of them are so roughly cast the wards are totally blocked by flashing, and quite a few of the larger ones had blowholes and noticeable flaws in the castings.
You have certainly set yourself up with an impressively mixed collection of all the different keys you have posted so far.

Gerry

bow is full movable
this keys are from 17th and beginning 18th century

Huw Eastwood

thanks Gerry that’s very impressive