Been doing SKN for eons now, since its inception. 

Made 9 SKN QSOs, all using the same key and gear. The key was a recent acquisition of a Western Union Pole Changer key, made by Spies Electric, supposedly around 1886. It's certainly easily vintage early 1900 or so. The neat thing abvout is it has not only the usual NO contact, but a NC contact as well, and a three position switch for normal key operation, no operation, or shorting. Each pole (NO and NC) has its own contact. 

For a radio I was using my trusty WW2 GO-9 transmitter, a simple rugged thing with an 803 final that loafs at 100W out, and for receiving I used a recently recapped 1938 National HRO receiver. My vintage rigs are in almost daily use, so the only unique thing for me was the key.

Bands were not all that great, and all my QSOs were with western stations in CA, CO, NM, NV, WA, and ID. As for the best fisty....they were ALL good! 

73, Howie WB2AWQ Reno NV