Weird Key

[Beanybaby]

Heya,

I found a weird looking key and i have never seen another one like it. I have absolutely no idea what it opened, or indeed opens. It looks kind of like a lever lock key but at the wrong angle. It says 'Fichet' around the top.
Here are some pictures i took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/Beanybaby101/weirdkey/key1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/Beanybaby101/weirdkey/key2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/Beanybaby101/weirdkey/key3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/Beanybaby101/weirdkey/key4.jpg

It has scratches in a ring around the shaft of it so it looks as if it was twisted in the lock but again i have no idea

Can anyone shed some light on it?

Thanks!

Beany

[pinky]

it looks like a fichet safe key, not totaly uncommon

[Beanybaby]

Cool!

Do you know how the actual lock mechanism works at all?

Many thanks


Beany

[Jimmie]

it is a FICHET click from a old French safe lock (50/60 years old may be a little bit more)

here is the internal parts of the mechanism

http://www.chez.com/montmartre/types.html

Jimmie

[roberte207]

I have a key very similar indeed to this - and the lock that goes with it, which is on my front door in France, set in a fine brass case. But I only have one key and am desperate to find someone who knows how to make me a spare key. Can anyone help or advise?

[Chris B]

[Dimmy Locks]

Was anyone else impressed with the design of that fichet lock mechanism?

and that site of old keys had 1 or 2 real beuties. Works of art all by themselves.