Can you identify this sort of key?

[mochi]

Hi all, I have found this key long ago in my apartment parking lot by itself without any keyring or anything. It seems very unique, without any grooves or "dimples", but it does have these little magnet-like looking things on each side of the blade. Not sure if it's just a key that's not cut yet, but I just want to make sure cuz it's driving me nuts just wondering about it.

I hope it's nothing important, but I have kept my eyes and ears peeled out for any searches for this particular key.

Thanks!

[Raymond]

Search for old style Miwa. The spots on the sides are indeed magnets or false hole filler plugs. The lock may have varying numbers of real magnets (at least 7) depending on the level of masterkeying the system has.

[FrenchKey]

you may test with some iron filings in order to be sure if they are magnets or not. Moreover, you can use a little magnet to identify wether they are + or - oriented.

Cool key

[SnowyBoy]

What an ugly, bland looking key

[mochi]

Thanks for the info guys. I wonder what the key is for though, cuz you don't see many of these out there (IMO).

Haha, yeah, it was pretty scratched up when I got it, but I love it for the uncommon style it has with the magnets and all, and the crest of a dragon(?) on one side

[n2oah]

What you have there is a Miwa EC knockoff.

[n2oah]

Search for old style Miwa. The spots on the sides are indeed magnets or false hole filler plugs. The lock may have varying numbers of real magnets (at least 7) depending on the level of masterkeying the system has.

I've seen as few as 4.

[n2oah]

Here are some pictures of an EC deadbolt. I no longer own this lock.

[mochi]

Thanks for the pictures, n2oah. Wonder what places use this kinda lock.

I don't really care if it's a knockoff. I think it looks better than the real thing!

[n2oah]

Thanks for the pictures, n2oah. Wonder what places use this kinda lock.

I don't really care if it's a knockoff. I think it looks better than the real thing!

I've never seen one in the wild, and you'd be hard-pressed to find one these days. The knockoff could be better than the real thing, as the EC is a very cheaply constructed. The only decent part on that deadbolt is the bolt itself.