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Quick Verdict

Match four things, in this order: the brand stamped on the bow, the keyway or section stamped on the blade, the pin count, and whether the cylinder takes a standard blank or a master section. The brand and keyway tell you the family. The pin count picks the part number (Sargent 265/275 are 5-pin, 6270/6275 are 6-pin, 7285B is 7-pin). The section decides whether the key operates one cylinder or several. A blank cut on a master section works across the plug sections it covers. A standard section blank works only on the identical plug section. If the key says "Do Not Duplicate" or the keyway is restricted, a blank from NLS will not substitute for factory-controlled stock. Everything below maps part numbers to those four checks.

How do I identify the key blank I need?

Read the key before you read any catalog. Four marks identify almost every commercial blank:

1. Brand on the bow. Sargent keys carry the SARGENT logo, Corbin Russwin keys carry the Corbin Russwin logo, Falcon blanks use KB-prefixed numbers, Yale/Accentra uses RN-prefixed numbers.
2. Keyway or section stamp. Sargent blanks are stamped with the keyway or key section (LA, LB, RB, 4A). Corbin Russwin uses codes such as 59AB. Accentra (Yale) uses PARA, GA, SA, TA and similar.
3. Pin count. Count the cuts on the blade. A 5-cut key is a 5-pin blank and a 6-cut key is a 6-pin blank. Do not infer pin count from the keyway letters.
4. Bow style. Most commercial blanks ship on the standard bow. The Sargent "C" keyway family is the exception, and large-bow blanks such as the Arrow L6A exist for key control.

If a lock is installed and the key is lost, pull the cylinder or core and read the stamp on the plug face or housing. For cylinder sizing, cams and tailpieces, see the mortise cylinder sizes and cams guide. For how keyways relate to each other, read commercial cylinder keyways and keying compatibility instead of guessing from the stamp.

Then go to the key blanks category and filter by brand, or step back to cylinders, cores and key blanks if you are still deciding what to replace.

Which Sargent key blank matches my keyway? (265, 275, 6270, 6275, 7285B)

Sargent part numbers encode the pin count in the prefix, and the letters after it are the keyway.

• Sargent 265 is a 5-pin blank in single keyway systems. Listed models are 265U and 265R.
• Sargent 275 is also a 5-pin blank in single keyway systems. Listed models: 275LA, 275LB, 275LE, 275LF, 275LJ, 275LL, 275RA, 275RB, 275RF, 275RJ, 275RK, 275RL, 275S.
• Sargent 6275 is the 6-pin master key blank in single sections (HA through HL, LA through LL, RA through RL). A search for "sargent la 6 pin key blanks" or "sargent rb key blanks" lands here: the 6-pin LA blank is 6275LA, and the 6-pin RB blank is 6275RB. The 5-pin RB is 275RB.
• Sargent 6270 is the 6-pin blank in composite sections. Listed models: 6270RN, 6270LDH, 6270LDM, 6270LHM, 6270RHM, 6270LM, 6270LD, 6270LN, 6270RM, 6270RD, 6270RDH.
• Sargent 7285B 4A is the 7-pin blank with the 4A keyway. A "sargent 4a key blank" query resolves to this part.

The single-section rule matters: keys cut on R keyway blanks operate only cylinders with an R plug section, and a single section keyway cannot be tied to another keyway to expand a keying system. Multiplex keyways (6270/6275) can be used together to expand a system. For pricing context, a 6275 blank runs about $2 at NLS.

If you are specifying a whole Sargent opening rather than replacing a key, the Sargent commercial hardware series guide covers the locks these blanks belong to.

What are the Corbin Russwin blanks (6-pin 10, 59AB, 6PIN-12)?

Corbin Russwin blanks are sold by section family, and three listings cover most orders.

• Corbin Russwin Key Blank 6-Pin 10, box of 50 is nickel silver with the Corbin Russwin logo. You select the keyway at order. The box of 50 is about $106 at NLS, which is the right buy for a locksmith shop or a facility running a multi-building rekey.
• Corbin Russwin 59AB-6PIN-10 is a 6-pin master section blank, 59AB master section, standard keyway 59AB. It is sold singly.
• Corbin Russwin 6PIN-12 is a 6-pin nickel silver blank on a standard bow marked "Do Not Duplicate." The bow improves key control on non-restricted Corbin Russwin keyways. Listed models: L4-6PIN-12, D2-6PIN-11, D4-6PIN-12, H7-6PIN-12, H1-6PIN-12, D1-6PIN-12, D3-6PIN-12. It is an "other side blank" variant.

Queries such as "russwin key blank chart" and "corbin key blanks" mean the same thing: you need the keyway code from the original key or cylinder, then the pin-count family. For the lock series these blanks serve, see the Corbin Russwin hardware series guide.

Which Falcon, Accentra (Yale), Arrow and Schlage blanks are stocked?

Brand	Blank part number	Pins	Keyway / section
Sargent	265	5	Single keyway: 265U, 265R
Sargent	275	5	Single keyway: 275LA, 275RB and others
Sargent	6275	6	Master key blank, single sections (HA to HL, LA to LL, RA to RL)
Sargent	6270	6	Master key blank, composite sections (LD, LM, RD, RM and others)
Sargent	7285B 4A	7	4A
Corbin Russwin	6-Pin 10 (box of 50)	6	Select keyway at order
Corbin Russwin	59AB-6PIN-10	6	59AB master section
Corbin Russwin	6PIN-12 "Do Not Duplicate"	6	L4, D1 to D4, H1, H7 and others
Falcon	KB573	5	KB573G, KB573H, KB573E
Falcon	KB577	6	KB577G, H, E, P, K
Falcon	KB628 SFIC	SFIC	KB628G, A, DD, Q, R, J, E, K, B, H, D, C, TD, L
Accentra (Yale)	RN8 PARA	5	PARA
Accentra (Yale)	RN11	6	PARA, GA to GE, SA to SD, TA to TD
Arrow	C	7	C-1D, C-1C
Arrow	L6A	6	A keyway, large bow
Schlage	35-100	5	C, CE, E, K (standard bow, embossed both sides)

Notes on the non-Sargent, non-Corbin rows:

• Falcon: the KB577 6-pin standard blank is the 6-pin Falcon part, the KB573 is the 5-pin, and the KB628 is the SFIC blank. "Falcon key blanks" resolves to one of those three depending on pin count and whether the lock takes a small format core. The Falcon door hardware series guide maps them to the locks.
• Accentra (Yale): Yale offers .51" pin tumbler blanks in several lengths and bow styles, supplied in nickel silver. The RN8 PARA is 5-pin. The RN11 is 6-pin, and the "yale rn11 para key blank" query means RN11 PARA.
• Arrow: the C blank is 7-pin and the L6A is a 6-pin large bow with the A keyway.
• Schlage: the 35-100 classic conventional keys are 5-pin on the standard bow, embossed both sides. The K, CE and E keyways are listed as separate parts.

Standard, master section, SFIC or do-not-duplicate: which blank type do I order?

The section decides what the key opens. Ordering the right pin count in the wrong blank type is the most common failed order.

Blank type	When to use	Example
Standard (single section)	One cylinder or a set with identical plug sections; no master key	Sargent 275LA, Falcon KB577G, Schlage 35-100 K
Master section	A master or grand master system where one key crosses plug sections	Sargent 6275, Sargent 6270, Corbin Russwin 59AB-6PIN-10
SFIC	Small format interchangeable cores	Falcon KB628
Do not duplicate	Added key control on non-restricted keyways	Corbin Russwin 6PIN-12

Sargent's own example shows why this matters. A key cut on the LD key blank operates cylinders with LA, LB or LC plug sections. A key cut on the LA key blank operates only LA plug sections. Master sections therefore cover more than one plug section, and key blank sections only work with cylinders of the same section.

Two boundaries to keep clear. First, SFIC blanks serve small format cores. For SFIC against LFIC and what to buy, read SFIC vs LFIC interchangeable cores explained. Second, designing the master key hierarchy itself (levels, bitting, rotation) is a separate job. A blank cannot fix a system that was keyed wrong, so start from the keying chart.

What do I do when a blank will not turn the cylinder?

Before ordering again, run this sequence:

• Verify pin count on the cylinder. Read the plug, not the lock body.
• Verify the stamp. An LD key opens LA, LB and LC plugs, but an LA key opens only LA plugs.
• Verify the family. A 7-pin Sargent 7285B 4A blank is not interchangeable with a 6-pin Sargent 6275 blank, even if the keyway letters look close.
• Verify the bow. The Sargent "C" keyway family is the one family not on the standard bow.
• Check the cut key. A blank is uncut. Cutting errors look like blank errors.

Common mistakes

1. Ordering by brand only. "Sargent blank" is not a part number. Pin count and keyway decide between 265, 275, 6270, 6275 and 7285B.
2. Mixing master and standard sections. A standard section blank cannot operate a master-keyed cylinder with different plug sections.
3. Counting the wrong pins. Read the cylinder, not the lock body. A 5-pin and a 6-pin cylinder can sit in identical-looking hardware.
4. Assuming "Do Not Duplicate" blanks are copyable at any shop. The 6PIN-12 bow is there to improve key control. Treat the key as controlled.
5. Substituting Yale RN8 for RN11. RN8 PARA is 5-pin and RN11 is 6-pin.
6. Confusing SFIC and LFIC blanks. Falcon KB628 is an SFIC blank. It does not substitute for a full-size core key.
7. Buying one at a time for a rekey. For multi-door rekeys the Corbin Russwin box of 50 is the single-line order.

FAQ

What is the difference between a key blank and a master key blank? A key blank section works only with cylinders of the same section. A master key blank (Sargent 6270 or 6275, Corbin Russwin 59AB) can be used on more than one cylinder with different plug sections, which is what a master key system needs.

What is a Sargent LA key blank? LA is a Sargent keyway. The 6-pin LA blank is 6275LA and the 5-pin LA blank is 275LA. Keys cut on LA blanks operate only LA plug sections, while an LD blank operates LA, LB and LC.

Which Yale blank is RN11 PARA? It is the Accentra (Yale) RN11 6-pin blank in the PARA keyway, supplied in nickel silver in .51" sections. The 5-pin equivalent is the RN8 PARA.

Can I use a Falcon KB628 blank for a standard cylinder? No. The KB628 is an SFIC blank. Standard Falcon pin tumbler cylinders use the KB573 (5-pin) or KB577 (6-pin) families.

Do you ship blanks the same day? Orders placed before 3:00 p.m. EST ship same day by UPS or FedEx, and ground shipping is free on orders of $450 and up.

Next step

Browse the key blanks category, pick the blank by brand, pin count and section, and order online without a dealer account. For a large rekey, a mixed keyway list or a part you cannot identify from a stamp, send the list through the quote desk or call 718-814-6300. Government and municipal buyers can submit purchase orders at /submit-a-gov-po/.