Keys - AH or HV...?

Morning one & all

Having only one 'copy' key for the car, I am keen to buy 2 genuine original keys, can you confirm how I work out if I need AH or HV keys please?

My car is a 1988 F plate GTI Convertible.

Thank you  

Anyone able to help please…???

Thank you  

It's usually stated on your keys which one it is

May be a silly question but have you checked your keys for the code?

re1900 thanks for the reply, defiantly checked the one key I have, its a copy key non original and says zilch nada nothing… wish it was that easy  

My 91 is an AH key.
Not sure if that helps.

Iirc HV was introduced later than AH so yours is more than likely to be a AH if it's a tintop.

What year is your Mk1 and have you got a pic of the keys as I seem to recall the HV profile has an extra groove so we may be able to identify it just by looking at it

One picture of my key.. much obliged and appreciate the help!!! 

Thank you. 

My Golf is an October 1988. 

88 is the year they changed so that doesn't help!

Either way that looks like AH to me. 

I'm pretty sure that AH keys were fitted to later cabby's and MK2 Golfs and HV keys are for MK1's and early cabby's. I have fitted MK2 barrels to my MK1 as at the time it was a cheap and easy way to get one key fits all. It has a genuine key with an AH profile. I recently had a spare key cut as I only had the one key and Timpson did it. They had to order a key in and although it's not a genuine key it was £9.50 all in and at least I now have a spare.

Yes I think you're right!

I always get the two mixed up for some reason. Haven't changed keys for years so swapped them around. 

Saying that I still think it looks like an AH profile 

AH key profile it is.

2 new original keys ordered.

Thank you gents, nice work as always!!!!

its easy to tell HV and AH. look along the side, HV has an extra groove all the way down the key. yours doesnt have this, so its an AH.

not that it makes any difference whatsoever, as AH blades fit HV locks and vice versa