The sturdy structure of a kura (traditional Japanese storehouse) has been used across the ages, and the locks and keys of the kura doors have also played their roles throughout history. This listing is for 10 various "otoshi-kagi" (drop keys) from old kura doors. Made in the Edo? Meiji? period? Kura doors, with sufficient fire resistance, typically have a structure consisting of: an outer "tomae" (door front), a thick, double-leaf door coated with white plaster; behind that, a double sliding door; in front, an "urajirodo" (back white door), a sliding door with a gray exterior and white plaster on the back; and behind that, a "tsunado" (rope door), a sliding door with a lattice top and copper rope. The "tomae" and "urajirodo" are for fire protection, and the "tsunado" is for insect protection. There are three locking points on a kura door: the "tomae," the sliding "urajirodo," and the "tsunado." The "otoshi-kagi" is used to unlock the sliding doors when they use a "otoshi-bo" (drop bar) mechanism. Of course, locks were also used on sliding doors. Please refer to the explanation below for the mechanism of the "otoshi-bo/key." The approximate lengths (cm) and weights (g) of the drop keys are as follows. The numbers are in the order of: wooden handle length / iron key body length (to bend), (bend to) / weight /. Key ① 18.5 / 6.5, 11.0 / 346 / Key ② 20.2 / 9.0, 13.5 / 452 / Key ③ 15.5 / 10.9, 15.7 / 388 / Key ④ 18.0 / 12.2, 10.2 / 282 / Key ⑤ 24.2 / 13.2, 6.8 / 419 / Key ⑥ 24.2 / 14.4, 5.9 / 392 / Key ⑦ 9.8 / 10.8, 14.0 / 276 / Key ⑧ 12.5 / 14.5, 10.8 / 285 / Key ⑨ 12.7 / 9.5, 13.4 / 239 / Key ⑩ 11.0 / 9.5, 3.3 / 124 / The dirt, rust, and scratches, including the luster of the handles, are evidence of their use over the years. There is no looseness in the attachment of the key body to the handle. They could be used for display as well as for collection. 【Reference: Mechanism of "Otoshi-bo/Key"】 Insert the "key" into the hole on the front of the sliding door, align its tip with the hole in the "bar" provided on the back, and turn the "key" to lift the "bar" and release the lock, allowing you to open the sliding door. The locked state is when the tip of the "bar" falls into a groove carved in the threshold (rail) at the bottom of the sliding door, preventing it from being opened. When the "key" is removed and the sliding door is pulled closed along the threshold, the tip of the "bar" falls into the groove and locks. If the length of the L-shaped key is incorrect, it cannot be aligned with the hole in the "bar," and the lock cannot be released. This mechanism can be considered the auto-lock of that time.