old lock on a large old chest

[Binney]

As an avid genealogist I end up with old "things" from dead relatives. One of these things is a chest I inherited from my great grandparents via my recently departed Dad. I want to keep and use this piece in my home but cannot open it even after what we thought were the keys was found (nope)!

I've read through a few topics but am unsure where to start. I'd appreciate any hints or suggestions!

[MBI]

Wow, what an heirloom. Such a gorgeous piece of furniture, even leaving aside the sentimental value it would be a crime to risk scarring up that wood and it's beautiful patina with a failed picking attempt using improvised tools.

Locks like that one usually take a fairly simple key, sometimes so generic as to be able to buy a spare off the display counter at a locksmith shop. If you visit a local shop and take a copy of those pics with you and if possible some caliper dimensions of the keyway width, height and post diameter. He might be able to help you with a guess at a key. However if it's not too large, have a friend help you lift it and take it in with you then you can try the key right there to see if it'll work. If the key doesn't work, it shouldn't be any problem for a locksmith to get it open for you and either figure out from there what sort of key it needs, or even possibly replace the lock with a new keyed one. There are a few different types of locks for furniture like this and it's more than likely that if you can't get a key, a replacement lock can probably be ordered that can use the existing screw mounting holes for this lock. I understand your desire to just get it open, but you have to admit it would be a much better heirloom if you had a working key for it.

If you're determined to pick it, the picks you would use would basically be different lengths of bent, stiff wire. Being sure to round off any burrs on the tip.

Whatever happens, please follow up with us once you get it solved. We get these questions a lot but it's rare for us to ever find out what happened in the end. If you do go the locksmith route and if for some odd reason you can't get a key and need to replace the lock, remember to keep the original one just for the historical sake of that piece of your family's past.

[Binney]

Had a friend give me a box of old keys...this one came close - I mean it turned, but didn't open it!

[cledry]

Sometimes these old bit key locks on furniture aren't as easy as one would think to open. I had a piece of French furniture to open and it took me over an hour to pick it. The lock had only 4 levers but many wards that would have made random keys very unlikely to work.

[mseifert]

you could try wax impressioning the key ..

[smokingman]

That is a beautiful chest, well worth saving.
If you have any picks you might try a long hook pick.
If no pick tools an L shaped piece of wire might do the trick,
make a loop or square for a handle.
Put it all the way to the back and try to turn it to unlock,
it should be the length from the post to the edge of the keyhole.
Just a good fit.
Good luck

[dll932]

You might be able to cheat and remove the back panel of the chest.

[Quickpicknpay]

I'm guessing this has been opened by now but if I can't open these with wire to remove the lock and make a key I'll get a blank key and start impressioning the lock. Most of these locks are 2 lever locks and they impression quite easily. I'm sure there is a thread discussing how to do this somewhere on this site.

[bjornnrojb]

If it came with keys, you might be able to make the keys work. Oftentimes I have run into these old barrel keys where you put the key on a post and turn. Problem is, gunk gets all up in the hole that you stick over the post. Look at the end of the key in that hole and see if you can scrape some crud out of it. This may allow you to stick the key all the way in so that it can turn and bypass the wards.
The other thing to worry about is at least around my area there are large changes in humidity. When the humidity changes the wood furniture can expand and make the lock turn with difficulty. Try keeping this item in a dry warm room for a few weeks and then try opening it.