What keyway is this?

[demux]

I have DND blanks for several common sections, and a few for restricted sections. The ones I have for common sections were either given to me or were part of a large lot of blanks purchased from eBay.

Some companies want the keys stamped DND to hopefully reduce unauthorized copies.

I do find the occasional use for one. Used a DND Master M1 blank today when impressioning a Master trailer-hitch lock. Used it just because it happened to be the closest M1 blank to my fingers when grabbing blanks to impression some locks. See - they can be useful.

Gordon

I didn't mean to give the impression that "do not duplicate" is a bad thing, but its just of my opinion that there's more absolute ways to prevent copies being made.

And for sure, a DND marking may dissuade those who who otherwise thinking about getting a copy from doing so. Maybe that's why BEST used to stamp "IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DUPLICATE THIS KEY", hoping that it would be a pretty good scare tactic?

Yeah "do not duplicate", "unlawful to duplicate", etc are all just suggestions, meant to remind already-honest people that they probably shouldn't get a copy. Unless it's a restricted keyway, it doesn't mean much. I have a few DND stamps, and could stamp any key I want that way. A few professional locksmiths might actually honor that. I have yet to meet the teenager making minimum wage manning the key machine at the local big box store that will give a second thought to it.

[Ralph_Goodman]

I have yet to meet the teenager making minimum wage manning the key machine at the local big box store that will give a second thought to it.

That is really the biggest issue. Employees at most hardware stores are often uncaring or uninformed... about everything.

What episode of Seinfeld was that by the way?

[demux]

What episode of Seinfeld was that by the way?

The Pothole. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pothole

[jeffmoss26]

Just remember George, we're key brothers now!

[gumptrick]

I have yet to meet the teenager making minimum wage manning the key machine at the local big box store that will give a second thought to it.

Yeah, that's been my experience too. Though funnily enough, many years ago I was a teenager manning the key machine at a mom-n-pop hardware store. Our policy was not to duplicate keys that were marked as such.

Interestingly, a few years ago I dropped by a local locksmith to have a key copied for my work. I didn't even bother to try a big box store because I knew they wouldn't have the blank. It was a Sargent, marked do not duplicate, and obviously part of a commercial install. I had brought a letter from the company owner authorizing me to have the key copied just in case there was an issue about it, but I never needed it. The locksmith didn't say a word and happily copied the key.

[demux]

I have yet to meet the teenager making minimum wage manning the key machine at the local big box store that will give a second thought to it.

Yeah, that's been my experience too. Though funnily enough, many years ago I was a teenager manning the key machine at a mom-n-pop hardware store. Our policy was not to duplicate keys that were marked as such.

You might just be the exception that proves the rule. But I'll also note that you did say mom-n-pop hardware store and not big box store. Employees of the former tend to be better trained and more helpful all around than those of the latter. Again, in my experience.

Interestingly, a few years ago I dropped by a local locksmith to have a key copied for my work. I didn't even bother to try a big box store because I knew they wouldn't have the blank. It was a Sargent, marked do not duplicate, and obviously part of a commercial install. I had brought a letter from the company owner authorizing me to have the key copied just in case there was an issue about it, but I never needed it. The locksmith didn't say a word and happily copied the key.

Yep. And I'd wager that of the ones that do care enough to check/refuse service based on the stamp (be they locksmiths or hardware stores or big box stores), you could probably get around a significant percentage of them by putting a piece of masking tape on the key bow, writing "Garage side door" on it, and rubbing it in the dirt a bit to make it look worn. Especially if it's a common/residential keyway.