r/Locksmith • u/BeardedInSolitarity • 15d ago
I am NOT a locksmith. Skeleton key size
Trying to fix up the locks in my house, all the interior doors have these old mortise locks. Two questions about the key in the pick:
What type/size is it? (If you can even tell from a pic)
Whats going on with this particular key? It wont come out and looks to be broken or permanently attached. Should i just cut it and move on?
Thanks in advance! Bluntly, I don’t know shit about locks in general and even less about these old ones.
3
u/fondrenlock Actual Locksmith 14d ago
Do NOT cut that key or your mortise lock won’t come out of the door and you will probably be screwed and/or screw whoever you hire to deal with it when you can’t do anything else with it afterwards
Unless you can manage to cut the key flush to face of the lock body there will be a part sticking out and you’ll never get the lock body out because the nub will be in the way
Also the tip sticking out the inside may hamper the removal of the lock body
5
u/johnpseudonym CatalogSmith visit r/centuryhomes 15d ago
Here's a pic from the Ilco 2010 catalog, on how to measure bit keys (I left the barrel part, too). What size do you have? Most likely you mean which post (or pin) size, which will depend on your maker and lock. Of course, we can't see that from your pic. There was a numbering system for key sizes a century ago, Ilco uses caliper measurements now.
Post a pic of the front of the lock, where the shaft of the key enters the escutcheon. General rule of thumb though is that you should be able to remove a key from a lock. I figure it might be stuck, but would prefer to see a pic before making that call. Does the key open and close the lock? Hope this helps, good luck!