Show us your Skeleton keys..

johnnyblaze

Silver Member
Dec 20, 2010
3,208
1,749
Rhode Island
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
T2 SPECIAL EDITION
Primary Interest:
Other

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steelheadwill

Gold Member
Jan 2, 2010
6,689
715
New Castle NH.
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Brain eyes ears and nose
Primary Interest:
Other
Nice examples Blaze.
I'm posting the ones I can find, many buried in group shots.
First 3 pix same key, note the wearmark, well used key..
Kinda fun that I got one with an iron bit, and one with iron handle (rusted away)
And the matching key & mechanism find.
and the last one pictured with uncut bit ;D
Oh yeah, can't forget the Happy Key..
These all go to my sisters collection, she loves them.
(her house sets on part of one of the oldest farms around, 1694 W&M copper, several LCs, IHs, Rosettes, and some rare buttons found there)
I know others out there got some goodies :wink:
Let's see em !! :thumbsup:
 

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Brian C.

Bronze Member
Jan 14, 2011
1,271
1,330
Detector(s) used
Whites and Garrett. I use several machines, the ace 350 is a nice machine. I have a 5900, 6000, whites.
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Here are a couple of the older keys I have found, I did find the door key to my great grandparents farm, but I seem to have misplaced it. HH
 

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Gary Drayton

Sr. Member
Dec 28, 2007
357
663
Fort Lauderdale Florida
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur
Minelab Sovereign GT
Minelab CTX3030
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
This is one I found last month on the Treasure coast of Florida opposite a Spanish wreck site. It was totally encrusted in coral and shells when first found. Im still looking for the treasure chest.
 

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Wallhangers

Hero Member
Jul 28, 2008
897
59
SW Michigan
Detector(s) used
XP Deus, Minelab Explorer SE Pro, T2 SE
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Here is a few. I'm surprised that I don't find more of them. I found the set of iron keys while digging a 2-center out of a hole. The two keys at the top right came out of yards and came out surprisingly clean.

104_4357.jpg
 

Silver Slayer

Sr. Member
Jun 19, 2010
413
166
CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Explorer SE Pro, XS, Minelab Excalibur Sea search, Fisher F2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Great post.... :thumbsup:nice keys
 

Foster

Full Member
Jan 19, 2011
191
130
Columbus, ms
Detector(s) used
White's Prism III, White's TRX Bullseye
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Unidentified key found from mid 1800's site.
 

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steelheadwill

Gold Member
Jan 2, 2010
6,689
715
New Castle NH.
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Brain eyes ears and nose
Primary Interest:
Other
Foster said:
Unidentified key found from mid 1800's site.
That's a beauty!
first I've seen with that type of cutting, looks like a high security design ;D
 

TommNJ

Bronze Member
Nov 3, 2008
1,575
178
NW NJ
Detector(s) used
White's IDX Pro, Garrett AT Pro
Good Post ! I see some really nice keys posted here :icon_thumright: Skeleton keys are definitely nice to dig up, here the ones I was lucky enough to dig up plus some various other keys that I have found.

Thanks,
TommNJ
 

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OP
OP
johnnyblaze

johnnyblaze

Silver Member
Dec 20, 2010
3,208
1,749
Rhode Island
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
T2 SPECIAL EDITION
Primary Interest:
Other
Nice keys everybody :headbang:

Here is a cool one i dug out today :icon_thumleft:

Even has directions for the finder on it..... Strange :icon_scratch:


Blaze
 

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OP
johnnyblaze

johnnyblaze

Silver Member
Dec 20, 2010
3,208
1,749
Rhode Island
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
T2 SPECIAL EDITION
Primary Interest:
Other
steelheadwill said:
Nice examples Blaze.
I'm posting the ones I can find, many buried in group shots.
First 3 pix same key, note the wearmark, well used key..
Kinda fun that I got one with an iron bit, and one with iron handle (rusted away)
And the matching key & mechanism find.
and the last one pictured with uncut bit ;D
Oh yeah, can't forget the Happy Key..
These all go to my sisters collection, she loves them.
(her house sets on part of one of the oldest farms around, 1694 W&M copper, several LCs, IHs, Rosettes, and some rare buttons found there)
I know others out there got some goodies :wink:
Let's see em !! :thumbsup:

Wow Herbie that first key was a complicated lock..

Probably state of the art at the time :thumbsup:

If you really think about it you dont find many keys..


Blaze
 

steelheadwill

Gold Member
Jan 2, 2010
6,689
715
New Castle NH.
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Brain eyes ears and nose
Primary Interest:
Other
Great thread Johnny,
That key is a monster, I tried to Date & ID it.
Found a very similar one as to size and design listed as a 'Georgian era Warded Key'
I understand Xbay isn't the last word for research, but pretty close for a quick search.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Huge-Antique-Ge...lectable_ToolsHasdware_RL&hash=item20bb1c6874
on the other end of the spectrum, heres a key of the simplest design.
Was dug next to the standing pillar at entrance to farm property.
maybe hidden as a spare?
HH & great keys everyone, :thumbsup:
 

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Foster

Full Member
Jan 19, 2011
191
130
Columbus, ms
Detector(s) used
White's Prism III, White's TRX Bullseye
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Foster said:
Unidentified key found from mid 1800's site.

Great post! Love everyone's keys! Anybody have a clue as to what my key might have unlocked?
 

steelheadwill

Gold Member
Jan 2, 2010
6,689
715
New Castle NH.
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Brain eyes ears and nose
Primary Interest:
Other
Foster said:
Foster said:
Unidentified key found from mid 1800's site.

Great post! Love everyone's keys! Anybody have a clue as to what my key might have unlocked?
I would guess a strongbox, or bank vault gate :icon_scratch:
Throw it up on Whatsit, if they don't know, they'll probably find out for you..
I learned an interesting bit about early strongboxes, the obvious keyhole was a fake,
attacking this would not open the box, the real keyway was usually hidden.
similar to todays 'Brinks' trucks, the bags in plain veiw are small change & paperwork,
the real $$ are in hidden compartments under seats and such :wink:
:laughing9: Treasures where you Find It :laughing9:
 

lost crow

Sr. Member
Jan 26, 2011
251
74
Texas
Here are a couple of mine. The first one was found at a civil war site. The second one is a railroad key. Thanks for looking.
 

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steelheadwill

Gold Member
Jan 2, 2010
6,689
715
New Castle NH.
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Brain eyes ears and nose
Primary Interest:
Other
lost crow said:
Here are a couple of mine. The first one was found at a civil war site. The second one is a railroad key. Thanks for looking.
Nice old Keys & other finds Lost Crow..
What's that cameo thing at the top of the 2nd pic???
 

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