A Question about an Unusual Key

[Stonebreaker]

Can anyone tell me what kind of lock this key would have been for?

[MacGyver101]

My best guess, based on the shape of the key, is that it was used in a very old-style pin-tumbler sliding bolt, similar to the ancient Egyptian locks.

The only good reference I have to medieval versions of those is from an 1883 edition of Development and Distribution of Primitive Locks and Keys (by Pitt-Rivers); here's a sample illustration from from that text:



Basically, the key was inserted and lifted: the fingers of the key pushed the pins up to the "shear line", which then allowed the bolt to slide.

Can't guarantee that's what your key was from, but it's a pretty good bet.

[Stonebreaker]

My best guess, based on the shape of the key, is that it was used in a very old-style pin-tumbler sliding bolt, similar to the ancient Egyptian locks.

The only good reference I have to medieval versions of those is from an 1883 edition of Development and Distribution of Primitive Locks and Keys (by Pitt-Rivers); here's a sample illustration from from that text:



Basically, the key was inserted and lifted: the fingers of the key pushed the pins up to the "shear line", which then allowed the bolt to slide.

Can't guarantee that's what your key was from, but it's a pretty good bet.

Sounds like this is probably correct, thanks for the answer!

[MacGyver101]

Sounds like this is probably correct, thanks for the answer!

Well, it's just a guess. It might also have been an ancient spaghetti fork, or a back-scratcher for midgets...

[WolfSpring]

looks like something i'd have used to roast marshmallows...

[Slick Pick]

Sounds like this is probably correct, thanks for the answer!

Well, it's just a guess. It might also have been an ancient spaghetti fork, or a back-scratcher for midgets...

LOL!!

It's to early in the morning for that!

[raimundo]

That thing could be roman, the egyptians dont seem to have left any iron examples, only wooden ones.

In its day that was a highsecurity lock but apparently it didn't need to have variations in the depths of the lifters

Ancient romans did not have spagetti, I think Marco Polo brought the noodle idea to italy. I'll wiki now and see if im right.

[MacGyver101]

That thing could be roman, the egyptians dont seem to have left any iron examples, only wooden ones.

Sorry: I hadn't meant to suggest that it was actually from an ancient Egyptian lock.

The diagram I posted was of a more "modern" version (circa 16th- or 17th-century). My guess was based on both the position of the pins (and, as you correctly note, the uniform height), and also the orientation of the key bow -- which looks like it's positioned to help with a lifting motion. (For keys that are meant to twist, the bow is normally attached the other way, to make the key flatter and more convenient to carry.)

...and I still maintain it could have been a prototype spaghetti fork.

[raimundo]

Dont be sorry, I was only sayin'
you never implied that it was ancient egyptian and what I posted was not researched in anything but my memory.

[dls]

It looks like there may have been a seventh pin there on the bend it may have been straight to start out with, could it have been for a warded lock on the inside of a door this would account for the length.