Drop-Front Secretary Desk Lock

[doobieus916]

ok well my father recently passed on and he left me his Drop-Front Secretary Desk in his will and its locked with no key, i have seen the key before its really old fashoned but il get back to that in a second, i dont own a camra so i found a pick online of a very simaler desk with the same lock
. ok now about the key this isint the key it just looks alot like this so can anybody please help me get this open, i would get a locksmith but i dont have the money. so any help would be nice and plz try to keep it simple i am very new to this, i do know this is a very simple lock and very common amung these kind of desks

[Bahrg]

I am sorry if I offend, but your post seems suspicious.

I will go so far as to tell you that this is a warded lock, and the info can be found by searching this site.

[Chucklz]

If the desk is anywhere near as old as the one in the picture, you may not want to attempt to open the lock yourself. Antiques are not good practice items!

[sams choice]

looks like a barrel warded lock. Go to walmart, or any locksmith shop and buy a set of two skeleton keys. They should be like 97 cents or where ever you are really really cheap. Comes with on with no notch in the bottem, and one with a notch.

[lockedin]

Walmart sells skeleton keys?

[Mutzy]

that depends on your definition of skeleton keys.

[SS454]

Good luck with the lock.
I'm more interested in the desk. Nice piece of furniture!

[sams choice]

definition of a skeleton key, one that does not have wards blocking the main mechanism.

[LockNewbie21]

I will agree, if it looks like the picture its a very fine piece of furniture. Now i noticed you said to be simple to open and that you are new to this. So with all that being said, how excatly do you know that it would be easy to open? Also My dearest regards about the passing. I would suggest that you leave it alone, but if there is something vital or important in the desk. Save you money and higher a locksmith, or better yet and atique lock specialist to examine the lock and have one of them open it. Toying around with it might destroy it, decreasing both $$ value and also sentimental value. Good luck


Andy

[Shrub]

definition of a skeleton key, one that does not have wards blocking the main mechanism.

Way, Way, WAY off there

[Tetley]

Another possoble for antiques is an auction room, they tend to have a collection of keys to fit furnature

[sams choice]

definition of a skeleton key, one that does not have wards blocking the main mechanism.

Way, Way, WAY off there :!:

There is a set of skelton keys. Sorry what I meant by ward, is they pass by them. Here is a definition from wikipedia, also Bill Phillips, Complete Guide to Locksmithing says similar. I wasnt way off. I dont think i was that off at all. except warding. ahhah catch my pun?

A skeleton key (or passkey) - is a very simple design of key which usually has a cylindrical shaft and a single flat, rectangular tooth. As such, it is also the easiest type of key and lock to make. The locks for these keys provide minimal security and only a slight deterrent as any key with a shaft and tooth that has the same or smaller dimensions will open the lock. Many other objects which can fit into the lock may also be able to open it. Due to its limited usefulness, this type of key and lock fell out of use after more complicated types became easier to manufacture. In modern usage, it has come to describe a key, usually with minimal features, which can open all or most of a type of badly designed lock.

A few car manufacturers such as Ford sell skeleton keys for some of their locks to mechanics in order to aid servicing. This practice is naturally not very publicized.