Talk:Key (lock)

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This article looks greater than a stub. Any comments about a proposed page move at Talk:Key?? It says that this article is currently a stub and is thus out-of-date. 66.245.69.118 22:36, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Key to my bmw

Ive lost it, anyone know how i can get a new one? Otherwise im just gonna have to break the window :/

Yes, call a locksmith, of the many diffrent makes models and years, some bmw key's can be created simply from dissasembly of one or more locks in the car. Newer bmw's with high secuirity 4 track sidewinder keys often are beyond the scope of the local locksmith as they require mighty expensive tools to read and reproduce. -kg4boj locksmith

Skeleton key

That part about skeleton keys isn't right. A key with a shank and a bit like the one illustrated is a "bit key", or a "bitted key". A bit key may or may not be a skeleton key, and a skeleton key may or may not be a bit key.

A skeleton key is a key made for a series of warded locks, which has no material that could be blocked from turning by any pattern of wards found in the lock series, and hence will work in any of them. Its not possible to make a skeleton key for all types of bit-keyed lock. For example: in double-acting lever locks.

The use of the term "skeleton key" to mean "bit key" is a colloquialism, and US-centric.

I suppose I could change the article myself, but I'm not in the mood. Sorry!

I am fairly new here, but I can tell you that the article has more than that wrong. Barrel keys are simply bit keys (or skeleton keys) witch accept a post into the end of the key as to keep it aligned, handcuff keys are barrel keys for example. The article says that tubular keys and barrel keys are synonomous. Every locksmith I have ever conversed with will agree that "barrel key" has no relation to a tubular key. as for the bic pen "problem" that is only a problem with certain model kryptonite locks (for bicycles) most tubular key locks (aka Ace locks) have "mushroom pins" witch makes it somewhat difficult to pick. Even if one did pick a tubular lock with normal configuration, on a decent lock you would have to pick it 7 times to get each face/back pin to slide past eatch other unless you had a tubular lockpick in witch case once locked into place will act as a key of sorts, depressing all the pins to the correct levels the whole way around.

I (parautoptic) would take issue with the basic description of the key at the head of the article.... Although I have heard the working part of the key called the "blade" or even the "flag" It is almost universally known as the "Bit" and the variations known as "bitting". should we therefore change the description? As this is a consensus based show I have not changed the page but invite comments.... perhaps if no-one has any objections I will change it? There are a few other things that do not sound right either, but I shall do a bit of research before I say anything about them :-) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Parautoptic (talk • contribs) 15:35, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

Master key

Should we include information about how many master key solutions have a vulnerability such that it is possible to take a 'user' key and file it down such that it becomes a master key, even if just to say that many implimentations of master key systems are insecure in this way? Troublekit 07:42, 3 September 2005 (UTC)

Well, logically any master key that has 3 pins on any one tooth has an effective "degree of freedom" on that tooth, and so there are 2^n different keys that will fit a master key system that has n sets of 3 pins on any one tooth. The best way to explain that needs some forethought... 70.24.1.179 14:35, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

I think this page on keys is getting way too long and complicated. It tries to talk about too many different ideas and it's all over the place. Master keying should have its own page again. Yes we need to keep the line about the fact that there exists a practical attack, and also discuss other ways master keying reduces the security of the locks while increasing convenience. Entire books have been written on the subject of master keying. I don't see why Wikipedia only has one paragraph. Sbunny8 (talk) 20:10, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

Ford master key

ford does not produce "master key" sets to my knowledge, there are 3 main sets of "tryout keys" ( 5 cut ignition, and doors, 8 cut door tryout (2 cuts within the ignition must be "progressioned" or tried out in sequence) and 10 cut witch is seldom used anymore, 10 cuts have tryout sets, you take a set of keys and find one that works in the door witch uses 6 of the 10 cuts, then you try using a diffrent set depending on the last 2 cuts of the first 6 cut door tryout keys. It is not a simple endeavour (even with tryouts that only work on worn locks you can expect to have a set of 256 or more keys) and most mechanics simply drill out the entire cylinder and replace.

Bump key

I saw a video about "bump" keys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uv45y6vkcQ&feature=PlayList&p=9F680F6B4EC75B0E&index=9). Is it worth mentioning in this article?

The video is moved from the site "due to terms of violation". G®iffen 17:31, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

You can see similar videos by doing a search for "bump key": http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bump+key&search=Search

Magnetic Key

I came across a patent recently for a key that opens the pins in the lock with an array of internal magnets. When the key is not inside the lock, the magnetic pins return to their 'closed' positions. I can't find any such keys commercially available; if they exist, are they worth mentioning in this article?

Mercedes Car key.

Mercedes automobiles have differently designed car keys. It would help this article if someone foundf a pic of one. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Sam729 (talk • contribs) 23:36, 13 April 2007 (UTC).

Merge from Key management (access controll)

I'm completing the merge proposal [not my own]. Please put comments below. Shadowjams (talk) 20:21, 11 May 2009 (UTC)

article organization

There are (at least) two ways to categorize keys:

• the physical type of key: single-sided Yale key, four-sided key, barrel key, tubular key, radio transponder key, infrared key, magnetic stripe key card, etc.
• Applications of keys: house keys, car keys, hotel key, bike-lock key, padlock keys, etc.

In theory, any physical kind of key can be used in any application, although in practice certain combinations are extremely common and other combinations are practically never seen.

• Should the headings in this article be organized by the physical type of key (and then in the description for that type of key, mention the most popular application(s) for that physical type)? Or,
• Should the headings in this article be organized by application (and then in the description for that application, mention the most popular physical type(s) of key for that application)? Or,
• Should this article have both -- headings for every application, and then later headings for every physical type of key?

--68.0.124.33 (talk) 21:40, 2 December 2009 (UTC)

I find the article of great practical importance in as much as MANY or even MOST so-called experts don't know about all these types of locks/keys. However, it cries out of pictures of each kind of key/lock discussed. Moreover, what I would ALSO like is a chart with a rough summary of 1. overall security, 2. difficulty of copying(which would include prevalence of people/equipment that can copy. Thanks to all for working to improve this. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.50.111.10 (talk) 06:26, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Copyedit

--The wikifyer's corner 11:00, 3 July 2011 (UTC)