Show us your Skeleton keys..

[johnnyblaze]

Or any old or cool key you may have found..

I love finding Skeleton keys..They have a creepy sense to them

I dont know what is is,Maybe all the noise the latch makes,or the squeaking of a heavy iron door..

Lets see yours



Blaze

[steelheadwill]

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
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
Let's see em !!

[Brian C.]

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

[Gary Drayton]

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.

[Wallhangers]

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.

[steelheadwill]

Nice Keys All
love the iron set

[Silver Slayer]

Great post.... nice keys

[Foster]

Unidentified key found from mid 1800's site.

[steelheadwill]

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

[TommNJ]

Good Post ! I see some really nice keys posted here 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

[allen]

[johnnyblaze]

Nice keys everybody

Here is a cool one i dug out today

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


Blaze

[allen]

that is a great looking key JB !!

[johnnyblaze]

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
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
Let's see em !!

Wow Herbie that first key was a complicated lock..

Probably state of the art at the time

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


Blaze

[steelheadwill]

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-Geo...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,

[Foster]

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]

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
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
Treasures where you Find It

[lost crow]

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.

[steelheadwill]

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

[lost crow]

Hi Will, the cameo I think is brooch or pin. Some of it is missing, so I'm not quite sure.