Today, we had the opportunity to help a client in West Memphis, Arkansas 72301 who had lost the keys to their high-end, antique furniture locks. The furniture was valuable, and understandably, the customer didn’t want to replace or drill out the original locks. This was the perfect scenario for us to use our specialized skill—impressioning.

Impressioning is a rare and fading technique in modern locksmithing, but at GI Locksmith, we’re proud to still use this method to create custom keys. Instead of replacing the lock, we impressioned a key directly from the lock, preserving the integrity of the furniture. This process involves carefully wiggling a key blank inside the lock, causing the internal pins to leave tiny scratches on the blank. Using precision files, we slowly filed down the key to match the lock perfectly, all by sight and feel.

This technique requires patience, experience, and an understanding of older locks, something that many locksmiths no longer practice in today’s fast-paced world. However, at GI Locksmith, we’re committed to preserving these traditional locksmithing skills, ensuring that no lock is too old or too intricate for us to handle.

The client was thrilled with the custom key we created from scratch, and we’re happy to say the furniture is back in use with its original locks still intact. It’s moments like these that remind us why we continue to hone and use these rare skills in our everyday work.

If you’re dealing with old or antique locks, whether it’s on furniture, doors, or other vintage items, don’t hesitate to contact us. We specialize in creating custom keys without replacing or damaging the locks.

Check out the images below to see the custom key impressioning process and the final result!