Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:12 pm by Visitor
It's hard to tell if someone's ruined it by sanding off all its original patina or if it's a newly cast one, it could be a couple of years old or it could be 60 years old. It does look older than a new one.
The crudeness of the grinding on the end makes me think it's an attempt of someone trying to make it fit a lock without the proper tools or knowledge to do such a job.
It seems its for a warded lock that only has circular wards on the back face of the lock or the 'maker' removed enough material to simply ride over any on the front plate.
It's always a good idea to put a steel rule in pictures for sizing. Looking at the wood grain it's on the smaller side rather than it being anything like a door lock Key.
If not for what's mentioned above (even the cheapest of locks from europe have at least one lever so chinese is a good shout) it could be a key for anything from a lockbox, luggage trunk to some sort of music or gun box or even a restraint even a tourisim padlock. Impossible to know for sure.
Pretty worhless but interesting it's a double flag. Interesting you call it a barrel key. Presumably it's got a hole in the center, i wonder if its round or if it used to be square.