Large Brass Segal - Is This a Key Code?

timof5stars

I have a large (2″ × 3″) brass Segal pin tumbler that came without a key. I love this lock and plan to keep it. It was a personal milestone as I SPP’d it for the first time a month ago. Anyway, I’d like to get a key for it. It has something stamped on the cylinder but I’m not sure it is a key code. I took it in to the local locksmith. They tried to look it up in their software but came up empty. It is an all-letter code but looks to me as if it code be a key code. Take a look, it reads “BFBBD”:

So is this 26224? (i.e. A=1, B=2, etc.) Seems too obvious. A direct substitution cypher isn’t exactly secure. Could it be a standard ’look-up" code - i.e. look it up in the book and find the cuts are 15623 Do any of you have a Segal with similar (all letter) codes?

Dean Nickel

This is an interpreted code. Depending on the blank will put the specs to that key.

Pschiffe

Dean Nickel wrote
This is an interpreted code. Depending on the blank will put the specs to that key.

Tell your locksmith to see Vol. 2, Sec. S, pg. 33 of the old Reed Padlock Code Book for Segal letter code key cutting specifications.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

timof5stars

Thanks everyone. I’ll drop in and see my locksmith early next week. I think I have enough info to present him now. I’ll let you know how it comes out.