Keys and locks originated in ancient civilizations, and have been dated as far back as 4000 BC. You can find newer antique skeleton key replicas at hardware stores or even home decor retailers. They are fairly easy to find at estate sales, antique shops, or online. What is the value of skeleton keys?Īntique skeleton keys typically are priced at $10 or cheaper, while older skeleton keys or more detailed skeleton keys cost as much as $1000. Whether you need to buy a skeleton key or you need one duplicated, our team can help. We still cut and sell skeleton keys at Anderson Lock in Des Plaines for use in old residential locks, as well as for fine cabinetry. Many old homes in the Chicago area were originally made with locks that required skeleton keys. If you have an old lock that requires a skeleton key, or perhaps you have an old home with existing skeleton keys or locks that use them, a locksmith can help you out. If you can wait, the best course of action is to find a skeleton key that will work for your lock. Or if you’re in a pinch, you might be able to use a common household item to click open the lock. You have a couple of options: A well-supplied locksmith can help you out. But here’s the catch: You don’t have the original skeleton keys for these locks. Or maybe you live in an old home that still has the original locks on interior doors.
This might leave you wondering, “How can I open a skeleton key lock?” Maybe you have a piece of antique furniture, such as a desk, cabinet, or dresser, that uses a skeleton key. Additionally, antique (or reproduction antique) skeleton keys are known for their intricate details. The size and cut of the key’s bit, as well as the diameter of its barrel, determine whether it fits with a lock. (You may find these locks at hotels, office buildings, schools, or apartment buildings.) Are all skeleton keys the same?Īlthough a skeleton key is a “master key,” not all skeleton keys are the same. In this type of system, each lock will still have its own key that corresponds with the wards the skeleton key, or master key, can open any of the locks within that system. In a lever lock-that is, a lock with a set of levers and wards-the skeleton key can push the levers to the correct height while bypassing the wards. With a warded lock, a skeleton key lacks interior notches to interfere with or correspond with the wards, or obstructions, thereby allowing it to open the lock. Skeleton keys can work with warded locks or lever locks. As long as there is a bow, a narrow shank or shaft, and a flat extension on one side near the bottom of the shaft, a key is often considered a skeleton key.
However, the name often refers to any antique key, no matter how ornate. The term ‘skeleton key’ derives from the fact that the key has been reduced to its essential parts.
But how do these old things work and what do they symbolize? Read on to unlock everything you ever wanted to know about these interesting keys – and be sure to learn about our modern-day lock and key services, too! Why are skeleton keys called skeleton keys? In popular culture and literature, skeleton keys are strong symbols they’re even thought to bring good luck. On a skeleton key, the serrated edge has been removed to allow the key to serve as a master key to open many different warded locks within a specific system. A skeleton key is a key on which the inside bit has been hollowed so that the key can open many different locks.
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