Picking a Vintage Steamer Trunk

[Squelchtone]

Hi all,

The locks on my grandmother's old trunk got locked during a move, and I don't have a key.

I've tried keys from other trunks and picking it with a bent bobby pin, but no luck.
I talked to a locksmith who said he could do a house call for $40 and sell me a key for $25, but I thought I'd try and see if anyone here could point me in the direction of what key I would need and where I may be able to find it.

- Amy

https://photos-2.dropbox.com/t/0/AAC8woxkHFUz0089YE2aO5B7TYJ6dztE9IMjFryH7bhbdg/12/771122/jpeg/1024x768/3/1394575200/0/2/photo%201.JPG/ZLnU1aP5VBU70i8e0eDON5ntkdfjULQN2F2eQOOqWzE

https://photos-6.dropbox.com/t/0/AADWr56_wbMnNO3IPGNTYJbM0qvQzrPOz4qWy5LFxDD1wA/12/771122/jpeg/1024x768/3/1394575200/0/2/photo%202.JPG/ZWl1H05S8TD3B2kkOLZsnGslraoq_Jfj33vttzxY26g

[GWiens2001]

Looks like a warded lock to me. If you search the forum for warded lock picks, you can see what they look like. Once you have one, it is pretty much as simple as turning a key.

Good luck!

Gordon

[IndigoChild]

I have several of these trunks at home. I pick them with a paper clip bent at the end. They should be real easy. But none the less it gives you a taste of old world lockpicking and makes you appreciate what we have today.

[bjornnrojb]

Bit of thread necromancy here but I just unlocked a steamer trunk this guy brought to me that had been in his basement since the 60's. It was the kind with a locking hasp that folded over from the lid onto the body, with a rotating bit that locked the hasp onto the body. There was also a place to put a padlock on it. The lock appeared to be broken to me, there was a spring going down through the middle of the keyway that didn't look like it would be manipulated by a regular key. I pulled the spring up past the shear line so that the middle part of the lock could rotate and the clasp opened, $20 richer.
I am assuming that some piece of metal was missing that would be actuated by the key to pull the spring out of the way. Sticking a key in would just mash the spring and the lock still couldn't turn.