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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    1,754
    Country: Wales

    Default Large Bramah Challenge Type Safe Key

    Here's an unusual big 'un, Ø21.5mm barrel diameter, 110mm long, bow oval 48mm across, unusual 16 slots and weighs 142g.
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    714
    Country: United States

    Default Large Bramah Challenge Type Safe Key

    WOW! Good thing don't have to carry around in your pocket. You have the lock to go with this key..??....

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    26
    Country: United States

    Default

    Wow, that's stunning! I've never seen one that large before and would love to have one for my collection. Do you happen to know anything more about it?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cyberspace
    Posts
    1,318
    Country: Australia

    Default

    Now Huw, don't tease ...

    What ?
    Where ?
    Who ? (maybe - this one I will accept silence on)

    Is it 'real' or a creation.

    I am leaning towards a creation as the turning is not quite right IMO.

    On a side note anyone know the largest key with the most sliders that was actually made by Bramah ?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio USA
    Posts
    1,433
    Country: United States

    Default

    I suspect a Frankenstein key. The bow and part of the part of the turning look to be from an older key, and the larger section of turning looks like it was made yesterday.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    37
    Country: Australia

    Default

    What a great looking key. I could only imagine what it was used on!
    Now for the reality... I’d love to examine this key under my microscope to see it detail. You never know, you may even be able to see the wear marks of the sliders, etc.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    88
    Country: Australia

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mickthepick View Post
    What a great looking key. I could only imagine what it was used on!
    Now for the reality... I’d love to examine this key under my microscope to see it detail. You never know, you may even be able to see the wear marks of the sliders, etc.
    It is a wonderful looking key indeed! I look forward to Huw putting us out of this suspense & providing more information.

    Given Huw is quite capable of creating keys such as in the thread linked below, it might well be a modern frankenkey made from part of an old key, or it could even be modern and made from scratch.

    Indeed, a microscope would be needed to have a chance of determining if it's genuine. Check out : https://www.antique-locks.com/showth...ghlight=Bramah

    No matter what it's origin, in my opinion it's a great key.

    ...Mark

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,754
    Country: Wales

    Default

    Ok Gents, thank you for all your comments, I guess its time to reveal all.

    It is indeed another of my creations, and top marks if you sussed its a franken.

    The main barrel started life as a waste stub of steel bar a week last Monday, and the bow is off an old bridge ward key to which I then added the additional extra fine fluting to blend it all together.

    All the patina was added late on Friday. It still looked like this up until a few hours before I posted, so Doug's 'made yesterday' was pretty much spot on!
    Click image for larger version. 

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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    leeds
    Posts
    609
    Country: Great Britain

    Default

    Stop showing off, now make the lock to suit the key 8-)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,754
    Country: Wales

    Default

    :-O I'm still making the lock to fit the nested brass key I made ages ago!

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