Really Long Yale Key?

[phrygianradar]

Hey everyone, I recently got a strange Yale key that I can't find any information on. It is really long and is marked as a "K" keyway. Here is a picture of it next to a regular six pin (on top), and seven pin (middle) keys with "GD" keyways:



I was wondering if anyone would know why a Yale key would need to be that long? It is 2 1/8 inches from shoulder to tip. It is hard to tell from the picture I took because they aren't lined up very well, but it is quite a bit longer than a regular key. And It doesn't look like the blank has been cut or filed down on the front half. It looks like it is supposed to be that way. Is it to knock another key out of the back of another cylinder? Or maybe to engage the cam as a protection from picking attempts? I only have the key; no lock to go with it, so I can only imagine the purpose for its length. Here is another picture of the three stacked shortest on top to longest on bottom:



The last notable difference is that it is also a bit thicker than the other keys. I'm not entirely sure of a standard thickness, but it seems to be pretty beefy compared to the others. I would guess that the extra thickness would be a prevention from the tip breaking off in the lock due to it being too thin and flimsy. Again, just guesses. I would love to hear some of you guys with the experience and knowledge explain this interesting key.

Thanks!

[ARF-GEF]

Hmm interesting, the only reason I can think of now is that it belonged to a lengthened cylinder where for some reason the actuating (coupling?) mechanism was still located in the middle (thus far from the keyway). And reaching it required a log tip of the key. I've rea read it and now I'm not sure, but I hope what I mean is understandable
Why would they make it like that? I'm really not sure, can it be that is is some very early build? The key does look rather old.

[Chemiosmosis]

What a funny looking key......
How about that key is that long by factory error? Machine forgot to cut rest of the key or something...
Or might be produced by locksmith by something special purpose : maybe cylinder for that key has some mechanical problems.

[ARF-GEF]

Good idea, but I don't think normally blanks are ever that long. At least I never seen keys being cut from that long samples in the few long making vids I saw. It wouldn't make economic sense.
But since it seems to be an old key, maybe they did it that way back then. Nonetheless a good idea Chemiosmosis

[GWiens2001]

Have seen that blank before, but can't remember where. It is purposely made that long. When I remember, will try to put it here. Hopefully someone will remember faster.

Gordon

[cledry]

I've seen smaller Yale pin tumbler keys that are really long also.