Any locksmith recommendation for an obscure key?

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stranded

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Trying to get spare keys for our main hatch cut. The existing is by CAS, Made in Italy, with a three digit number stamped on it. Our local well regarded locksmith has tried, using the closest blank he can find, and failed. Ditto a London operation that reckons it can source just about any key in the world. It’s not a fancy lock nor seemingly a fancy key - how hard can it be? Anyone got any suggestions? Otherwise might have to change the lock but reluctant as it probably involves hacking the washboard around.
 
I got spare key blanks from this outfit
Key Blanks
Very helpful. I did learn that CAS keys have lots of equivalants, so the blanks I got came marked as JMA.
You can send them photo's of the key to helpn them identify it. Once I had the blanks, local Timpsons cut the keys.
 
pvb said:
These people say they can cut keys for Cas-Cisma locks.

CAS-CISMA
Click to expand...

They do say that, but the blanks they use are not CAS and they only copy an existing key, not cut to pattern - seems to be a key cutter thing to just have a stab at it on the nearest blank they can find and let you suck it and see. I can’t afford to risk sending the existing key as if lost I am stuffed. Hoping that someone can cut the pattern number, which I understand should be possible.
 
nigel1 said:
I got spare key blanks from this outfit
Key Blanks
Very helpful. I did learn that CAS keys have lots of equivalants, so the blanks I got came marked as JMA.
You can send them photo's of the key to helpn them identify it. Once I had the blanks, local Timpsons cut the keys.
Click to expand...

Thanks. My local locksmith cut some on JMA blanks - useless, but might have been the wrong blanks. Still, I’ll try ordering some in and see what happens - fairly cheap waste of money by boating standards!
 
I had one of those round security keys which I took to my local security/locksmith shop to get a spare (washboard key). They did not have an exact matching blank but managed to do a copy using the closest they had after a couple of failed attempts. They weren't sure if it would work but I took it to the boat and it did.
 
Thistle said:
Mr Google comes up with Cas-cisma Copy Key Blanks - Cylinder Key Blanks - Key Blanks & Keychains amongst others. Search for "cas-cisma".
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I have, and they aren’t - at least they don’t appear to be - I have emailed a few and they come back with “we can’t do it from the pattern number but send us the key” - I suspect they are just blagging it like the local guy did, and not risking sending my only key to either get lost, get rubbish back, lose half a season waiting. Waiting for a couple more replies but it seems to be a bit of a cowboy industry. I was hoping someone might know if anywhere in UK actually does CAS keys, in which case they should be able to supply the pattern number. If not, I’ll try the boat maker in Austria in case they still use them, or get someone who does Italian to see if they can find me something there, but seems a hell of a faff for what looks like a fairly crappy little key.
 
Thanks for the tips Sandy - carefully noted, although as the next time we are in Plymouth it will be to move the boat to Dartmouth, we might be best to look there first. Hope you’ll stop by for that long overdue scotch I owe you when next you are round - we’ll be on the Kingswear trots.
 
When I was at college was of the task set was to hand cut and file a key blank from brass flat bar. Took a while but not as hard as it first seemed. The long groves were the most time consuming but ok if done slowly. Get some files and start fettling
 
Daverw said:
When I was at college was of the task set was to hand cut and file a key blank from brass flat bar. Took a while but not as hard as it first seemed. The long groves were the most time consuming but ok if done slowly. Get some files and start fettling
Click to expand...
Kind of like the idea of that - sounds soothing - more so than dealing with locksmiths anyway. ?
 
Yes - sadly, well happily for them - most are in the Med and German, apparently - the only Brit owned boat I know is I think still based in Croatia. As AP says, changing the lock might be the easiest thing, but think I’m going to give a few more locksmiths I can actually visit a chance to fashion something first.
 
stranded said:
Thanks for the tips Sandy - carefully noted, although as the next time we are in Plymouth it will be to move the boat to Dartmouth, we might be best to look there first. Hope you’ll stop by for that long overdue scotch I owe you when next you are round - we’ll be on the Kingswear trots.
Click to expand...
We plan to get to Dittisham early in the year, a wee trip to Kirkwall is planned for August and September,

Do you know if you can raft up on your trots?
 
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