The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Why are these Colt Firearms cuffs fetching so much?

13 visible archived posts · 13 preserved total · topic ID 1011

Monica 09 Dec 2005

Listed on ebay: "VINTAGE PAIR OF COLT FIREARMS HANDCUFFS - MINT IN BOX"

With almost 3 days of bidding left, they are up to $225 (10 bids).

* Not my listing, BTW.

chris65 10 Dec 2005

hi monica, im guessing these are being bid on at silly prices is because the old "supply and demand" thing. i have paid higher prices for items in the past, (before the internet/e-bay). i did this because it was relitively hard to find unusual/differant stuff in the u.k. at that time, when i found it i bought it!, now, the internet has opened up a whole new world of items and collectors, now there are more buyers out there looking for good items, hence the higher prices being paid!, im just glad i got most of my collection going a long time ago.....just my thoughts..ttfn.chris.

Dorson 10 Dec 2005

Monica,
I think the reason for these going for so much money is that the market was not flooded with handcuffs like Peerless, S&W, etc. Another factor is Colt made several versions.

-Dorson

Anonymous 10 Dec 2005

All things considered, they still seem high for what they are - rather modern-day type cuffs (if no longer made) w/ no unusual or extraordinary features. Maybe, because they are of outstanding quality and are no longer made?

The Amazing Michael 10 Dec 2005

I think that the "Colt" name has a lot to do with it. S&W, H&R, and Winchester are all arms makers and all have made handcuffs. Now you introduce the arms collectors into the picture.

I have had to deal with a similar situation with rail road locks and keys in the past. A lock or key might have a pretty low value and might be easy to obtain among fellow lock collectors until it becomes sought after by rail road collectors. Now there is a demand by a whole other group of collectors. The same can be said for the arms collectors.

I have met people who have one or two pairs of S&W handcuffs, just because of the name....just because they collect S&W fire arms. I have also met people who own Winchester padlocks for the same reason.

Personally, I own two H&R fire arms, a pair or 1899 H&R Bean Cobb handcuffs, and a Chinese H&R copy. I would like to own a set of original H&R Super 123 cuffs to hang beside them one day (you see the theme here).

I think that because you don't see Colt handcuffs every day, that this may have drawn out the Colt arms collectors along with all of the handcuff nuts (myself included) for this auction. If the bid had not have been so high, I might have sought these cuffs for myself.....I have been watching this auction for the last couple of days.

Just my thoughts. Cheers, Mike

monica 10 Dec 2005

Thanks, Michael.

So, it sounds likes "niche collectors" who might be driving the value on these.

Bruce Thomson 11 Dec 2005

If you went by ebay as a guide, the hamburg 8 is a rarer cuff than the Bean Giant.

Lyle 11 Dec 2005

Just go back to that eBay page, click on the bidders list, then pull up the bidders feedback pages and look at the stuff they've been buying recently.

Okay, I'll save you the trouble, since I just did it.

They're all Colt collectors; anything and everything with the Colt name on it, they'll buy. Unlike other types of collectors (such as handcuff folks), Colt collectors tend to buy Colt stuff and nothing else.

As for the high price, two reasons. (1) Most of the bidders probably had no idea Colt ever made handcuffs until they saw this auction. (2) This set of handcuffs appears to be in the original box, with the wrapping. In gun circles, if you have the box and packing the thing came in when new, it drives up the price remarkably, particularly the older the firearm.

You probably couldn't get any of those bidders to pay more than $5.00 for an original, mint condition Lilly or Hamburg 8, but put the Colt name and logo on something and they'll get in fistfights over it.

chris65 11 Dec 2005

why did'nt i see it!, of course, the colt "collectors"...we have a few of them in our handgun club....obvious really....they sure are a tenacious breed, anything with colt on!....ttfn.c.

The Amazing Michael 11 Dec 2005

#10

I am getting my hammer and letter stamp set out tonight! I am going to stamp "Colt" on a few pairs of cheap handcuffs and finance my entire Christmas!!! I have a few old English style padlocks laying around the house too, now that I think of it.....

Brad Darling 13 Dec 2005

#11

Michael and Lyle nailed it. Colt collectors get hysterical over anything that says Colt on it.

In my workin' days they were all around. Now they're a big deal collectors item. Every Colt collector has to have one next to his 1860 Army fluted cylinder or Walker or Pocket Navy.

I'm just glad I'm a sane, more refined collector of Smith & Wessons and well...okay...handcuffs.

Lyle 13 Dec 2005

#12

Okay, for posterity purposes, I figured somebody needed to note this for future readers. Those little rascals wound up selling yesterday for $256.00.

Two days earlier, another set (no box, maybe with original keys), kinda grungy with worn plating sold for $250.00.

Michael, if you have a metal stamp with the little rampant horse Colt logo, you'll soon be a wealthy man.

The Amazing Michael 13 Dec 2005

#13

I have a couple of engravers laying around the shop, I wonder if I can get a stensil of their logo??? LOL!

Cheers, Mike