Help decoding some keys

[Charodei]

Several of my keys are copies of copies of copies (probably all made at Home Depot...), so they don't always work very reliably. I'm trying to decode the keys to have new ones made by a proper locksmith, but some of my readings are nowhere near what they should be. Can anyone help figure out what these keys are supposed to be cut at?

First one is a Falcon, keyway A. Measured depths are 0.284, 0.220, 0.275, 0.287, 0.297, 0.235, seems like it could be a 252114 or a 252215.

Next is a Schlage, keyway C; depths are 0.304, 0.232, 0.191, 0.213, 0.202 . Most are close to a 27989, but that third pin is much deeper than it should be.

Last is another Schlage, keyway E; depths are 0.282, 0.193, 0.230, 0.278, 0.251 . Looks to be between a 39745 and a 49746, second pin is also off the chart.

Any assistance or insight would be much appreciated; I'd rather not have the locksmith cut every key that might possibly work and throw away all the ones that don't.

[GWiens2001]

I would think that if you are going in to a locksmith anyway, they should have no difficulty decoding the key to cut a new one. They will probably charge the same for a code cut key whether you give them the bitting or they figure it out.

Have you zeroed your micrometer?

Best of luck,

Gordon

[Raymond]

I see more problems with spacing than depth issues on badly working duplicates. Many times I have actually loaded an empty plug with factory pins just to see where the pins sit on the non-working key. Your measurements may be accurate when measured at the bottom of the cut but the pins might be resting on the ramp. Trust an experienced locksmith to measure the keys.

Logically, if the measured depth is like .008 higher than the prescribed depth, you can pretty much automatically guess that the correct depth is the deeper cut. A key cut too low can be made to turn by wiggling and bumping but a key too high will only wedge and not turn at all smoothly.

[Charodei]

Thanks for the replies. Good point on the spacing; I didn't think to check that, and just measured the deepest part of the cuts.

I'll probably have the locksmith remeasure the keys to be certain, but I like being able to work things out myself.