marked with the names and part numbers of the substitute manufacturer. Some origi- nal lock companies and some substitute key blank manufacturers also make large-bow keys and blanks for handicap and hotel use. A few large-bow keys have unique shapes that help make them easy to identify. How- ever, most large-bow keys lack identifying markings and have generic or neuter shapes. Therefore, the only way to identify them is by examining the blades. Whether made by original or substitute manufacturers, it’s sometimes difficult to identify plain-bow keys because, by definition, they lack identifying markings. Therefore, it’s important to be able to identify the likely original manufacturer by the shape of the bow. The word likely is italicized here because a specific distinctive bow shape usually indi- cates that a key or blank is made by a specific original lock company, or that it’s made by a substitute key blank manufacturer to match the key of a specific original lock company. However, that is not always true. Some lock companies adopt bow shapes that are similar to or are exact replicas of those of other original lock manufacturers, but then they combine them with completely different blades. Worse yet, in some cases, the blades are somewhat similar but not enough to be interchangeable. In all of these cases, the only sure way to make accurate compari- sons and positive identifications is by closely examining the blades. In addition to all the variations of distinc- tive bow shapes, there’s also a large variety in the shapes and sizes of the holes used to attach keys to key rings. In most cases, the shapes of these holes don’t have any partic- ular meaning. Some substitute key blanks have the same shapes of mounting holes as their OEM counterparts, but some don’t. There’s usually no significance to such varia- tions when comparing the keys and blanks of original lock companies to those of substi- tute key blank manufacturers. For example, most Kwikset substitute key blanks have the WWW.ALOA.ORG “Some paracentric keys are so similar that they’re extremely difficult to identify and to match with the correct key blanks for duplication.” same distinctively shaped bows as Kwikset keys, but the mounting holes of substitutes range from plain circular to exact replica- tions or variations on the three triangular- shaped holes in the bows of original Kwikset keys and blanks. This inconsistency can be a little confusing — particularly to inexpe- rienced trainees who might easily mistake a round mounting hole as an indicator that a key doesn’t have a Kwikset blade even though it does have a Kwikset bow. In such cases, the shape of the bow is the primary indica- tor of the likely original manufacturer, and the similarity or dissimilarity of mounting holes is simply a possible additional indica- tor for making that identification. To reit- erate, the only sure way to make accurate comparisons and positive identifications is by closely examining the blades. In contrast, there is a great deal of sig- nificance to the various shapes of mounting holes in the keys of certain lock companies. For example, the Master Padlock Company produces several different keys with plain circular mounting holes that obviously have no significance. However, that company also produces several different keys with uniquely different hole shapes dedicated to specific keys. These distinctive hole shapes are useful in identifying and comparing some of the different Master Padlock keys that have similar blades. This is true of cer- tain other manufacturers as well. However, these similarities and differences are only indicators and, once again, the best way to make accurate comparisons and posi- tive identifications is by closely examining the blades. Blades and Key Sections The blade is, of course, the business end of any key. The various combinations of longi- tudinal millings on the sides of most para- centric key blades result in an almost end- less variety of unique cross-sectional shapes called key sections. Each unique key section enables a specific blade to fit into an equally unique, mirror-image keyway in a specific cylinder plug. Most modern residential and commercial key blades are single-sided with five or six cuts and up to 10 different depths of cut on the tops of the blades. Some older automotive key blades are single-sided and some are double-sided, but most late-model automotive keys are double-sided with cuts on both the tops and bottoms of the blades. Traditional automotive keys usually have from five to 10 cuts and up to five different depths of cut. These keys are all duplicated on standard manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic key machines. Dimple keys and sidewinder automotive keys also have double-sided blades with unique key sections. However, these keys utilize indentations or varied millings on the inboard and outboard tracks on the sides of the blades. They’re duplicated on milling-type duplicators such as the Orion KD56 or the Ilco MATRIX. A few original lock companies (such as Kwikset and Weiser Lock) each produce and utilize only one unique key section. Most other original lock companies (such as Corbin/Russwin, Sargent, Schlage and Yale) produce many different key sections within their own product lines, and these are oſten difficult to differentiate. However, each of these companies produces one or two JANUARY 2015 KEYNOTES 27
