This poster, created with love by our Curator, Adam, shows the six core parts of a key. These are the bow, shoulder, blade, notches, teeth, and the tip.
The bow, also known as the head, is the part that you hold onto when using the key to unlock something. Most bows have at least one hole or opening near the top, which serves the useful purpose of allowing the key to be strung on a key ring. Although I could not find a reputable source that described the origin of this design practice, there is no denying that the hole in the bow has helped generations of people carry multiple keys at a time.
The shoulder is the mark where the bow stops and the rest of the key begins. The shoulder serves the purpose of stopping the key from being inserted into the lock any further than it should be.
The blade is the smooth part of the key from the shoulder down to the tip.
The side opposite the blade contains notches and teeth that accomplish the actual locking and un-locking mechanisms. These parts of the key are referred to by many names, such as milling, grooves, cuts, and bitting. A key's ability to function depends on the exact size and shape of these notches and teeth.
Lastly, we have the tip, also known as the toe, which raises the pins inside the lock when the key is inserted.
I hope you have enjoyed this lesson in Key Anatomy 101. Until next time!
Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator
