The oldtime locksmith I used to do business with would use the kind of magnifier a doctor uses to look into my ears to inspect the tumblers of a lock cylinder, and hand file a blank key with a set of jeweler's files. He rarely if ever had to file a second blank. Sadly, he's working on the lock on the Pearly Gates now!
Jerry
That makes a lot of sense. The tumblers are differently colored, per Walter's post that I linked to.
C is a copper tumbler
N is nickle
B is black
Y is yellowAs long as you could see what color the tumblers are, it would be pretty easy to decode a lock. I may have to try that. Just need to find one of those magnifiers.
