Here we have a key stem for a Tann safe lock. As the doors to high security safes are often very thick, the key needs to be long enough to go through the door to reach & open the lock.

As you can see in the picture above, there is no 'bit' to the key (the part which opens the lock). The picture to the left shows the separate 'bit' which is fitted into the key stem when the safe needs to be opened -obviously, this one has yet to be cut to suit the lock it is to open. The 'bit' is slipped into the stem and a small nut at the end is tightened to secure the key 'bit' in place

 The whole idea with these parts is to have a key which is long enough to open the safe, but where you are able to remove the main part of the key and take it off site at the end of the day. This picure shows the small keybit wallets available for the safe ekkping of these slipbits. This type of key has been used by manufacturers such as Tann, Chubb, SMP for many years.