Lucky Line Skeleton Keys for Lever and Warded Locks, Flat Tip and Notched Tip, Brass-Plated Zinc, 2 Pack (87202)

My friend's 1920s Mortise locks have a "3" stamped on the outside cover. However, both of these keys (the 2-bit and the 3-bit) work. In fact, the 2-bit key (the one without the notch) actually seems to work better. "3" may have been the production line, or something, for all I know. Took about as long as it said to get here, but you can't beat the price! Someone wrote something about the head breaking off. The original keys to your Mortise lock were probably iron. These are brass-plated zinc, and not quite as strong. I'm sure that it would be very easy to break the heads off on a rusty, or otherwise stuck, lock or bolt. That's why it is IMPORTANT that you prepare the bolts and/or locks by cleaning and oiling them: Part I: Dis-assembly (only 3 steps!) 1. Remove the door knobs. 2. Remove the face plate (the metal plate where door meets the wall, and where the latch and bolt are). 3. Remove the entire unit from the door. That's it! Do not take the box itself apart by removing any more screws until you've tried everything else. The setup inside the box is very simple, but there are at least 2 springs in there that can easily pop out and get lost. Part II: Clean the bolt 1. Spray the bolt (only the bolt, for now) with some general-use oil, such as WD-40. 2. Wipe clean with a clean rag. Repeat, or scrub, if necessary. Part III: Oil the bolt and lock 1. Spray the bolt again with a quick shot of the same oil. 2. Wipe it down with another clean rag, leaving a light coating of oil on the bolt (if it looks like any of the oil could eventually drip off, you've left too much) 3. Make a very quick shot, or burst, of the same oil, inside and upwards of where the key will go. You're done! Part IV: Reassemble and test 1. Reverse the very first three steps (in other words, put it all back the way it was). 2. With the door open, gently try using the keys. I say, "with the door open," just in case the bolt isn't lined up with its place in the wall. Hopefully, the the key problem is solved! Problems: If the keys fail to work with the door open, it could be any of at least 3 things: a.) There is still something blocking or gumming up the bolt. Repeat Parts I through IV. b.) There is something wrong inside the box I said to not take apart. Have someone who is mechanically inclined take it apart and look at it. c.) They aren't the right keys, but you are now ready for when you DO find the right key(s)! Good luck!

These actually work in the locks in my old (built in 1907) home. I've not had the same experience with several other keys ordered from Amazon. In spite of looking identical in the images, other keys have slightly thicker tips and won't go into my locks.

The keys were good but would not work in 1951 French doors.

We bought a 100 year old colonial a few years back and all of the doors have skeleton key locks, but alas, no skeleton key. I ordered these after learning that it was quite common and easy to replace skeleton keys since most of the locks are the same! Both of these keys actually work in all my locks! I had to do a bit of jiggling, not because of the keys, but because no one had used the locks in many many years. I think I will clean and oil the mechanisms up soon, but these do fit and work great! I will say they’re a little “cheap” and do feel like they might snap in the lock. I scratched the plating off of one of them just jiggling it a little in our bathroom lock. So just be careful with them.

They work but they should be used with caution. They'll break easily

My dearest Kathleen... it has been ten minutes since the handle snapped off of the key to my office, the flat "tink" resounding as if it were the final blow of the final nail sealing forever my casket. While I thought I was well supplied with my bagel and coffee, I now fear that by the time you return home from the store with our children I shall have long perished. I have so many regrets... I should have loved you dearer. I should have held our children closer. But above all, I should not have trusted a key made of zinc, which broke the very first time I attempted to use it... but not before successfully sealing me to my doom. Do not despair, the lock to the door remains sound, as I did not exercise any manner of excessive force or prying. Rather, this shoddily constructed key-shaped-object simply failed utterly in it's one job. Pray for me, as my eyes grow dim, trapped here in my confinement.

Theyll open it all

Operated and locked all my old doors! It’s a very thin lightweight compared to an old key so it has a little play when using or storing in the lock . Main thing was we can lock all bathroom doors ✔️

Good

Now have bigger issues…broke in the lock! Cheap and not sturdy

These function well to open old style door locks (mostly inside a house). There is no shoulder on them so you have to fiddle a bit to find the right distance to insert. They do work on our old 5 doors inside the house.

Finally able to make it out of this cellar.. Worked great Fast delivery

I purchased these in order to modify them to work in old mitre lock sets from the 40's/50's in our 1942 home. I was able to use an bench grinder to modify the key enough that it would work as locating keys for these locks has been impossible.