by If you have ever misplaced a key for a padlock or gun case, you will relate to this next post. In my case it is a tubular key for my Tuffpak gun case which I bought at an auction a couple of years ago. I know it is somewhere but I don’t know where. I can even see the key that was tied to a piece of cord in my mind’s eye.
Somewhere along the line I must have untied it from the case and now I need it if I want to use this gun case to carry my rifles to Africa. The key was not in the case or any of the bags stuffed in the case. This led me to start looking in the obvious locations such as my desk drawer and my nightstand drawer. Nope, not there.
This led to searching elsewhere in other drawers which has turned into something of an adventure. It is an adventure as you never know what you will find or rediscover. The photo below illustrates just a fraction of the things found.
There are the things you’ve been looking for and then there are the things you didn’t realize you still had. In the former category is my Swiss Army Alox Pioneer knife in the center of the photo. Turns out it was in a tray on top of my chest of drawers. Also found there were the mini level, the Lansky Mini Dog Bone knife sharpener, the patriotic stickers, and the suction-cup mounted peep site for your shooting glasses. I think that means I need to clean up the top of that chest of drawers so I can find even more stuff!
Then in the category of things I didn’t realize I still had are multiple sets of corded ear buds that no longer work with my newer iPhone as it doesn’t have a headphone jack. I also didn’t remember buying that blue Master TSA lock nor the Energizer reading light. The latter actually still works!
Finally, there are the things you knew you had but you didn’t remember putting them in that drawer. First, was the school picture of my first girlfriend taken in 1973-74. I had met Pat who was from Ontario at a weeklong summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina. We did get together the next year in Canada after I had graduated high school and she was headed to Grade 13. Unfortunately, we lost track of one another when she went off to university in Ottawa. I do wonder what has become of her. Second, there are the Nikken magnets which are supposed to reduce pain or swelling by adjusting your magnetic polarity or something like that.
As to that missing key, I’m still looking and there are still more drawers to search!
Always have at least one spare key for every lock you value.
Keep that spare in a box, along with all the other spare keys…Label them.
If possible, put the key INSIDE the item and wire-tie or tape it shut if necessary, or if it has a latch, use that.
Especially for expensive, or hard to replace things such as your gun case.
This is great advice. I plan on bringing a spare set of keys with me for the gun case and ammo box. When I return they will be labeled.
It may be a silly question, but could you order a replacement from Tuffpak? Or maybe get a locksmith to make a replacement? I know neither would be as satisfying as find the original, but once you have another key, I’d bet the original emerges from whatever pocket dimension it is currently in.
It isn’t a silly question. I could order a replacement from Tuffpak but I just don’t have the time before I head out. I was able to get a local locksmith to make me a pair of keys for the lock. I was prepared if he couldn’t do it with a lock that should arrive today from Amazon.
I did reinstall the lock in the Tuffpak and it works just fine. I’ve packed up all the rifles and accessories for flying to JNB tomorrow.
It is always the last place you look. Because then you stop looking
You can buy an adaptor for the ear buds if you like them. Easy to find.