Another Old Yale

[Zenophryk]

So Whilst at a flee market a couple days ago I picked up this for 3 bucks.





and here's a closeup of the keyway


I don't know much about old locks, but my guess is it's a warded lock?
any insights to opening it?

-Zenophryk

[billdeserthills]

You can easily file a key blank for it, you just need the blank, or a flat piece of steel. I stock these keyblanks in my shop

[GWiens2001]

That could be one of the warded lever locks.

Gordon

[kwoswalt99-]

That could be one of the warded lever locks.

Gordon

Is that possible with the configuration of the keyway? Maybe I've just never seen one.

[Squelchtone]

That could be one of the warded lever locks.

Gordon

Is that possible with the configuration of the keyway? Maybe I've just never seen one.

here is one like it from macgng's collection:

[billdeserthills]

That could be one of the warded lever locks.

Gordon

It is a warded lock

[cheerIO]

Yup that's a Yale 800 series.

Great buy for 3 bucks!!

[Zenophryk]

Ok, So I'm pretty sure I can come up with some metal for a blank. What's the best way to go about cutting it. Any tutorials out there on impressioning a warded lock?

Any idea's what era the lock is from?

-Zenophryk

[kwoswalt99-]

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58216&p=440395&hilit=impressioning+warded+lock#p440395 How about this one?

[Zenophryk]

Yes, That would be the one.
kind of embarrassed I didn't type those words into the search field myself. And it was even a sticky. Shame on me

I'm off to try my first warded key impressioning.

-Zenophryk

[Zenophryk]

So I've made a key that turns 90 deg. But the lock doesn't open. I'm thinking there might be another set of wards maybe? Looking at some pictures online of similar locks, as well as the one Squelchtone posted above, it looks like some cuts are very shallow. So I think I'm going to have to recut this key at the shallow depths and then see where the impressions take me deeper.
My toughest part is finding a good key material that isn't too flimsy once you put some cuts in it.

Anyone know how far the key should turn for the lock to open? 180 deg.?

-Zenophryk

[kwoswalt99-]

Hi,
The key should need to turn 90 to open, but it will turn 180. I have one that doesn't work because the wards apparently are discs, and they turned inside of the lock so a key won't go in. I'm still trying to fix this one.

[billdeserthills]

Have you tried squeezing the shackle closed to alleviate tension, while turning your key? Whatever you do, don't file at the very top of the
key, even though it will mark there plenty

[averagejoe]

WTF, I swore that I had posted here a day or 2 ago.

There are likely 3 levers in there as well as the wards which is why it is not opening.

[kwoswalt99-]

How would the mechanism work with levers? It doesn't even look like there is enough space for levers.