Russian Launch Keys, Russian ICBM Launch Keys, Soviet Launch Keys
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Russian Launch Keys, Russian ICBM Launch Keys, Soviet Launch Keys
ICBM stands for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
- Deliver multiple warheads at a range over 3500 miles
Rick is really excited!! Where did this guy get these? Is this legal?
He got them from a Russian “Friend” hehe 
The guy has paper work, but… he is getting them… they are being sent to him.
This guy is looking for 10k for the keys.
Rick needs to call in an expert.
Mark comes in to see what we got here! He knows they are Russian launch keys right off the bat.
Hmm so this is made of Titanium? Ha so these keys were used for launching space craft. Mark knows his stuff!!
So they are not ICBM keys, but they are soviet shuttle launch keys which is still cool!
Guy wants $10,000… but Rick says $1500… He is gonna keep it.
NO DEAL! I would have kept them too. Pretty cool!
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23 Comments »
Russian Launch Keys
There is more to the story. I’m the guy who took them to the Pawn Stars show. I thought people would be interested in knowing that they are in fact ICBM launch keys. I’ve been able to research enough to feel extremely confident I was not mistaken. My name is Steve Ririe and I am chairman of the Silent Heroes of the Cold War National Memorial committee. There is an interesting story behind the keys that wasn’t shown on the Pawn Stars.
I purchased one of the 5 sets of icbmlaunch keys known to man in 1996 when i watched pawn stars
my jaw hit the floor i said hey!!! when i bought the set from the surplus dealer my wife said your nuts!! i just though they would be a good addition to my soviet KGB NKVD space items i have been avid collector for 20 years and these were the icing on the cake! i think i will be putting on EBAY soon and add some NKVD documents and ID books and medals to sweeten the deal they are a great piece of cold war history!!!
RSP
Western Mass
I also did my homework before i purchased these keys back in 1996 if you watch some of the old
History channel shows whenever they do a show on soviet missles check the
launch console and you will see 2 little i like to call them titanium lifesavers in the panel those are the Launch keys i have studied the soviet KGB NKVD Border guards and started collecting about 20 years ago its a great hobby and i have learned a lot about history!!! now i think i might sell the set of keys
R. Scott Pomeroy
Member JOMSA
S.A.R.
I would be interested in purchasing a set of these keys.
I would be interested in buying a set of these keys as well, either Steve or Scott, please let me know how much you want these keys for. I think it is an interesting story, but are they really made from titanium, they don’t really look it to me, but I might be wrong, either way, please let me know how much you are planning on selling them.
i have decided to broker them out on ebay thru estate auctions inc should be listed sat the 19th this thing has gotten out of control!! the response has been overwhelming so stay tuned we are ?go for launch? next saturday
R Scott Pomeroy
as far as titanim im not sure imhoping to get some light shed on that soon they are very light but very
strong so i dont think they are aluminum
Scott
Apple n.ow has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.
Hands d.own, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.
Greetings
My name is also Scott, I am the surplus dealer that originally acquired the ICBM keys back in 1996 from a friend who was a general with the Russian Space program. Scott was the first to purchase set #1 of 5, doing so over a bulletin board post with no photos available.
He stepped out on a limb, trusted my word and I am glad he did.
I wrote Scott a personal guarantee that if the keys were ever proven not authentic I would refund all his money, I also included an article with photos of me with the general who procured them. I wanted him to feel comfortable; as there was no ways to verify their authenticity at the time (again, photos were not available). I asked the general to take pictures of him at a launch console, or get a Soviet military manual; but my marriage fell apart about that time and we lost contact with each other.
The keys languished around my house for the next eight years; one set lay in an antique coffee grinder on my dining table. When people ask what they were, I would promise my house if they could guess correctly. No one ever did, and most didn’t believe me when I explained their purpose.
Everyone always asked how I got my hands on something so rare and ominous; it was easy, I was in the right place, at the right moment in history and I simply asked!
I was watching a news story about the Russians dismantling medium range nuclear missiles. Some sharp entrepreneur had already secured a deal to sell small pieces as cold war memorabilia. Being an old surplus dealer, I was hacked not thinking of that first, but then I wondered; what are they doing with the keys?
So, the idea was born, and I was on a quest to acquire Soviet ICBM launch keys!
My ex-wife was Russian, and almost killed me when I announced what I was going to ask the general. She reminded me he was an officer in the Russian space program, and asking something so sensitive would likely get him in serious trouble. I responded; I’m going to do it anyway, all he can do is say no!
I invited him to dinner at our house, and after a few drinks, began the wind up for the big question.
With my wife translating, I said:
General, we are good friends and enjoy our company; I would like to ask something that you may not be able, nor desire to do.
You are an active general in the Russian military, and I once held Top Secret security clearance in communications security (COMSEC) in the U.S. Army. There are things we can never discuss; so, if you cannot do what I am about to request, I will understand and forget about it.
The look on his face was serious, and I knew he thought I was about to ask if he would spy for the US. I was having a field day drawing it out for dramatic effect.
I mentioned the news cast about the dismantled missiles; he interrupted and said “someone has already thought of that, you are too late.” That’s when I asked him; yes, but what are they doing with the keys?
He looked at me with a sly grin and said in his best broken English; “that’s why I like you Skott, you think soooo good!”
Six or eight months later, he informed my wife had something for me. We met at my house and he unwrapped ten shiny keys from a small box. A chill set, as I realized that in my hands were the keys to Armageddon, keys to the end of the world, the very keys to the gates of hell!
And that was it, I had acquired five sets of Soviet, intercontinental ballistic, nuclear missile launch keys.
To my knowledge, no one had ever before or since, has acquired such. The gentleman on Pawn Stars did not recognize spacecraft from launch keys. It is subtle, but if you have ever owned both types as I have, the difference is obvious. You see, the general also sold me the key used to launch him into space, but that is another story all together.
I hope this clears up any doubts about authenticity, they are indeed ICBM launch keys; I’m the guy that asked for, and got them!
Scott Mauldin
The eccentric collector from Texas
Greetings
My name is also Scott, I am the surplus dealer that originally acquired the ICBM keys back in 1996 from a friend who was a general with the Russian Space program. Scott was the first to purchase set #1 of 5, doing so over a bulletin board post with no photos available.
He stepped out on a limb, trusted my word and I am glad he did.
I wrote Scott a personal guarantee that if the keys were ever proven not authentic I would refund all his money, I also included an article with photos of me with the general who procured them. I wanted him to feel comfortable; as there was no ways to verify their authenticity at the time (again, photos were not available). I asked the general to take pictures of him at a launch console, or get a Soviet military manual; but my marriage fell apart about that time and we lost contact with each other.
The keys languished around my house for the next eight years; one set lay in an antique coffee grinder on my dining table. When people ask what they were, I would promise my house if they could guess correctly. No one ever did, and most didn’t believe me when I explained their purpose.
Everyone always asked how I got my hands on something so rare and ominous; it was easy, I was in the right place, at the right moment in history and I simply asked!
I was watching a news story about the Russians dismantling medium range nuclear missiles. Some sharp entrepreneur had already secured a deal to sell small pieces as cold war memorabilia. Being an old surplus dealer, I was hacked not thinking of that first, but then I wondered; what are they doing with the keys?
So, the idea was born, and I was on a quest to acquire Soviet ICBM launch keys!
My ex-wife was Russian, and almost killed me when I announced what I was going to ask the general. She reminded me he was an officer in the Russian space program, and asking something so sensitive would likely get him in serious trouble. I responded; I’m going to do it anyway, all he can do is say no!
I invited him to dinner at our house, and after a few drinks, began the wind up for the big question.
With my wife translating, I said:
General, we are good friends and enjoy our company; I would like to ask something that you may not be able, nor desire to do.
You are an active general in the Russian military, and I once held Top Secret security clearance in communications security (COMSEC) in the U.S. Army. There are things we can never discuss; so, if you cannot do what I am about to request, I will understand and forget about it.
The look on his face was serious, and I knew he thought I was about to ask if he would spy for the US. I was having a field day drawing it out for dramatic effect.
I mentioned the news cast about the dismantled missiles; he interrupted and said “someone has already thought of that, you are too late.” That’s when I asked him; yes, but what are they doing with the keys?
He looked at me with a sly grin and said in his best broken English; “that’s why I like you Skott, you think soooo good!”
Six or eight months later, he informed my wife had something for me. We met at my house and he unwrapped ten shiny keys from a small box. A chill set, as I realized that in my hands were the keys to Armageddon, keys to the end of the world, the very keys to the gates of hell!
And that was it, I had acquired five sets of Soviet, intercontinental ballistic, nuclear missile launch keys.
To my knowledge, no one had ever before or since, has acquired such. The gentleman on Pawn Stars did not recognize spacecraft from launch keys. It is subtle, but if you have ever owned both types as I have, the difference is obvious. You see, the general also sold me the key used to launch him into space, but that is another story all together.
I hope this clears up any doubts about authenticity, they are indeed ICBM launch keys; I’m the guy that asked for, and got them!
Scott Mauldin
The eccentric collector from Texas
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Thanks, that makes sense!
I’m curious if anyone here has heard about the differences between the souvenir keys and the real launch keys? My understanding is that real ICMB and Soyuz launch keys are made of cast steel and the 25 year anniversary keys are made of machined aluminum. Also seems like the Soyuz keys where engraved with the mission number and the names of the cosmonauts (after use). I realize these pieces are hard to authenticate, but there are fakes floating around so folks should be careful before assuming they are real. I would love to see more photographs of different keys other collectors have.
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