Hi Peter,

Well the one that I have is not steel. (99% of keys are brass). And I think that breaking it would not be easy The reason that the cost of these keys is high is because of the special machines need to cut a steel key. ( Hackensack New Jersey) these are called four track and the key is cut with a miniature milling machine about the size of a computer monitor. You cut on the left side to the tip and then back on the right side. Then flip the half cut key and do it over again. if you locks are clean and working well it should not be a problem. Go forward, Jack M.