What Is This Key? Identifying Strange and Mysterious Keys

After having run one of Vancouver’s last few remaining Key Stores for decades, we have encountered many strange and mysterious keys in our lifetime. Some are strange because they are somewhat rare or unusual, and others are downright a mystery even to us. 

One of the questions we get asked most often in-person or via text is “What is this key?” and “Can you copy this key?” So here is our guide to identifying strange and mysterious keys you may have on your personal or company’s keychain.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at alex@locksmithvancouver.com. Please note that our Downtown Vancouver Key Store located at 555 West Hastings Street is open 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Our Port Moody location at 95 Moody St is mobile only – it is not open to the public.

 

Step #1: Identify the visual identifiers

Most of us have seen the common trope among IT technicians where they first ask clients to turn off then turn on the computers so see if that solves the problem.

Similarly, my first question to the client in this situation is to ask what it says on the key. Most clients’ immediate answer is, “Oh it’s just a normal key.” which is usually very very unhelpful.

99% of all keys have some sort of marking on them. It can be a brand name, letters, numbers, or a stamp of some sort. It’s rare to encounter a key with absolutely no markings on it, although not impossible especially for smaller cam lock keys.

Once you have identified something on the key that can help us identify the keyway, you are more than half way there. 

These markings can be in very small format on the stem of the key, one or the corners, or so small that you need a magnifier to read it. Try using your cell phone camera to light up and magnify the letters and/or numbers.

Do Not Copy Keys

This may sound controversial but keys that are stamped “Do Not Copy” can still be copied. Back when restricted keyways were very expensive or rare, “Do Not Copy” was a way to prevent unauthorized duplication of keys.

When I first started in the locksmithing business, we kept paper logs of people who wanted copies of “Do No Copy” keys. I was told by my trainer that it was a legal requirement. If it is, I have never seen or even heard of it being unenforced by any government body.

In addition, the logs only recorded the person’s name and phone number. No picture identification card was required and the log did not keep any information about the key itself. So it was useless as an auditing tool.

So if a Vancouver locksmith asks you to record your contact details in order to copy a “Do No Copy” key, it’s most likely a way to collect your personal information for marketing purposes. Or an old timer who just got trained that way, like me.

Most Home Depots and hardware stores will not duplicate a “Do Not Copy” key. So, seek out a local downtown Vancouver locksmith and we will be happy to help you.

With the vast availability of restricted keys these days, “Do Not Copy” stamps are more like a plea or a suggestion, nothing more.

Chinese Brand Keys

If there is no brand name on the key, there is a good chance that it’s a no-name OEM lock or key Made in China. However, if your key has as ‘funky’ name stamped on it, there is also a very good chance that it’s an OEM brand Made in China. Some of the more interesting names we have encountered in the past include:

 

• LOCK
• SMILE
• CIRCLE
• RAINBOW
• KEY
• HAPPY
• GARRISON

 

The list goes on. 

In the 21st century, most of the world’s goods are made in China which includes lock brands that I install everyday. The quality may not be fantastic, but the price is always more reasonable.

Unfortunately, many of these odd keys cannot be copied in North America. Their key blanks are not sold by any of the local distributors. As a result, the locks were cheap for a reason. If you need more than the original 2 copies, you may need a brand new lock.

In particular, these include EV bike battery locks. We have never been able to find key blanks for those small little keys.

If replacing the lock is not possible, I have had some success going on Amazon and Alibaba and finding the exact same product. You can then ask the seller for the exact same key or at least a new key cylinder. However, the chance of success is still fairly low.

If there is no readily visible markings or step #1 is not helpful, it’s time to go to step #2:

Step #2: Identify the shape of the key head

The head of the key is the part you grab with your thumb and forefinger to turn the key. Most of the popular keyways like Schlage, Weiser, and Kwikset have unique designs that make them readily identifiable.

For example, Weiser has square heads, Kwikset’s head looks like a house with a peaked roof, and Schlage has their distinctive diamond-like shape.

If your key has no marking or the markings have faded with time, compare the head to other keys on your key chain or inventory. You may find the exact key or a close-cousin based on the shape of the head alone.

Lock companies like Yale, Corbin Russwin, Abus, American Padlock, etc all have uniquely shaped heads that make them easier to identify. Once you know which key family it belongs to, you can compare the keyway shape to the reference materials.

For your information, ILCO™ has a free Key Blank Directory that you can download for free. There are thousands of keys in the directory with the 1:1 scale diagrams of every key in their extensive catalogue. Knowing the key family will shorten the search time dramatically.

 

Step #3: Use a computer decoder

Machines that can accurately and quickly identify a keyway have yet to be invented. All of the current market offerings are slow and often wrong. The really expensive ones are good at identifying common residential keys, but always stumble with rare or unusual keys. 

If you don’t want to pay thousands of US dollars on a device that still may not work, I recommend trying the Idenikey app from CLK Supplies. Based on my experience it is fairly inaccurate and the quality of the results really depends on the quality of the picture you take of the key. If you have poor lighting and have shadows, it will give you the wrong reading.

For basic keys, you may want to try the Minute Key Machines at most Home Depots and Walmarts. The machine can detect if the key exists in its limited inventory.

 

Step #4: Random testing

I admit that even I am stumped sometimes with seemingly simple keys. Various key manufacturers can adjust the thickness of their keys to save money and my Mark 1 eyeballs are not what they used to be. 

For example, the popular KW1 from Kwikset is very similar to the WR5 from Weiser. The only difference is that the KW is slightly thinner to fit into the SmartKey systems. With non-ILCO brands, the WR5 can be so thin that it could be a KW1. However, if we don’t get it right, the WR5 key will not fit into the KW1 key hole.

At times like this, the best thing you can do is simply try inserting the key into various cylinders until you find the right one. A locksmith may keep a number of used cylinders nearby as test cylinders, just for this purpose. 

If you don’t have such tools, I recommend trying to insert the key into random cylinders around the home or office. If it goes into a cylinder, you can then see what key originally works for that cylinder and hopefully there are some clues to identify the lock manufacturer or brand.

Step #5: First or last resort?

If none of the first four steps help or are feasible, it’s time to consult your local Vancouver locksmith like myself.

Of course, you can skip the first four steps and go immediately to the final step of contacting a local Key Store actually staffed by an experienced downtown Vancouver locksmith. Going to Home Depot, Walmart, or Canadian Tire for advice is usually a waste of effort. Minute Key Machines now dominate those retail locations and finding good help will be next to impossible.

So try to find a local Locksmith Shop where you can either call/text, email, or visit in-person. Key Stores like ours with an extensive key inventory are a dying breed. The costs of running a brick and mortar store in Vancouver is quite high. 

Conclusion

Keys come in all shapes and sizes. Some keyways have not changed for a very long time and keys can last a very long time. If you find yourself asking “What is this key for?” and “Where can I get a copy of it?”, follow the above steps or just contact your local professional Vancouver locksmith like myself.

I am always happy to chat with my clients and provide more information than you may have wanted to know about your key. If we don’t have your key blank in stock, we can probably get it within 1 or 2 business days. Also, if we don’t know what your key is, then you can probably stop your search and save your time.

We have had many clients over the years who refuse to believe our professional opinion and spend more time and effort than needed looking for a key blank that does not exist in the North American market. When you are not sure about your keys, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at alex@locksmithvancouver.com.

Our Vancouver Key Store located at 555 West Hastings St is open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm. For our store availability, please use the link: https://calendar.app.google/kV64JB9yHA8Y8UoL7