Barrel Keys

Good Sunday morning from Gobbler Knob! Today, I’m finishing up the barrel keys before I move on to the patchbox inlet.

The excess length of each key needs to be ground away to its final length now that the escutcheons have been placed. I score a witness mark on each. Since each of the four keys belongs in a specific spot, I engrave the position on the key so the owner knows where to place it when removed.

I apply some China white to the surface of the key to make my letters more visible. Then I chase the graver with my hammer to create the engraved letters. R – Rear; MR – Middle Rear; MF – Middle Front; F – Front. Now I can grind the excess length away.