Warded locks are interesting in their historic nature but provide minimal security. There are better ways to keep your treasure chest secure. In terms of warded locks, avoid using them for situations involving valuables. They are effective against warded locks and cheap addition to your tool kit. SummaryĪ comprehensive skeleton key set is a great tool to have in your lock picking set. When using skeleton keys on a warded lock, begin with the thickest key and work your way down from there.ĭon’t be surprised if multiple skeleton keys open a single warded lock.

Two (2) two bit double sided skeleton keys (different thicknesses).

Two (2) one bit double sided skeleton keys (different thicknesses).

Most locksmiths and lockpickers carry a small set of skeleton keys. That last sentence is where we discover the weakness and flaws in warded locks.ĭespite the intricate design of the bits of the key, the locking mechanism is not difficult to access or engage with while using something other than the correct key.ĭue to the small variations in the biting of warded locks, the majority of skeleton keys will be either one or two bits. The correct key will rotate and its biting will fit the divots and not be obstructed by the warding of the lock.Īs the key rotates, the bit(s) at the end of the key activates the locking mechanism and opens the lock or moves the locking bolt clear. The gaps in the warding and divots in the key serve an additional purpose.Īs the key is rotated, the warding prevents the wrong key to rotate as the warding obstructs the bits on the wrong key from rotating fully. The key must pass through the “Holes” or “warding” freely in order to fit within the lock. Wards serve as holes and obstructions within the key chamber.Īs the key enters the lock they pass holes in the layers of the lock, I am reminded of the game show, “Hole in the Wall”. The layers include holes for the keyway, the shackle, and the internal warding. Warded locks are built using layered materials. The wards themselves are built into the construction of the lock. Looking within the lock past the keyway, we observe more of a cavern instead of the usual pins and ledges of a pin tumbler lock. Modern keyways are often in the shape of a “w”, to me it looks like a wide lightning bolt. They are shaped like a circle on top of a triangle with a rounded bottom. There is the classic looking keyhole from old prison cells. The keyway likely contains a small brass plate that spins freely. Inspecting a warded lock closer, you will immediately note the odd-shaped keyway and layered materials on cheap warded locks. Let’s take a deeper look so we can understand its relationship to a skeleton key.įrom the outside, a warded lock looks like a standard pin tumbler lock.

That was a quick look at the warded lock and key. The bit and its key wards are the only part of the key that engages the locking mechanism of a warded lock. Some complex patterns have their own names: Box of Wards, Bridge Ward, Hook Ward, Sash Ward, Solid Ward and a Wheel Ward. Key wards are the cuts in the bit that allow the key to pass the warding within the lock. There may be more than one bit that extends off the stem. The bit portion of the key is where they receive their unique look.

The pin is the end of the key that extends into the depths of the lock.

Some keys may get ornamental as they go further down the stem including a feature called a collar, a thick ring around the stemming. The thin round or flat part extending from the bow is called the shank or stem. The circular handle part of the key is called the bow.

Skeleton keys