Darby Handcuffs

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

I have purchased a number of these Hiatt handcuffs from this source over the past several years. Most of the cuffs I received were marked Hiatt and SPF XXXX and British Made. They all included a working key, but sometimes the key number did not match. I also received two pair of RCS cuffs from this dealer when I ordered these "Hiatt" cuffs. The Hiatt cuffs were typically the later production alloy cuffs, but I did get a few steel ones. In some cases the numbers had been ground off and restamped and most showed quite a bit of wear. I did get a few pair that were alloy and "like new" condition, but when I paid the $5 extra for "hand select", I didn't notice a difference in quality. Seems you get what they have in stock at the time and it might be really good, or just in average condition. Hope this helps.

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

hi all, i checked out the link, indeed these were worth having, the ones pictured are of steel construction, they are/were available as a cast alloy version, not nice!...i will check out this source in the future...thanks for the link!..ttfn.c.

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

BTW Does anyone know what years this style of handcuff was manufactured? From 18** to 18** ?

Thanks
Cindy

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

Cindy:

Check the wonderful article on the main page about the possible history of Hiatt. The only thing I know for sure about Darbys is that they were replaced in 1960 with a swing through design.

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

The cuffs that I received from this dealer were probably 1950 to 1970 production. The alloy cuffs still had the old markings "SPFXXX and "British made" and came with a steel key marked with an "A". The steel cuffs had similar markings. Since this dealer handles international antiques and military items, I imagine they bought up old police stock that had been sitting around for years after the police moved to more modern cuffs. These are original Hiatt and other british made cuffs, but I don't think any of them are pre WWII.

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

just been looking through alex's book, vol II, there is a pair of darbies marked SPF, that may be the south african police mark, anyone know for sure?. c.

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

Cuffs from the South African Police force are marked SAP. I have a couple of pairs.

The SPF mark is very common on cuffs made in the late 40s and the 50s. Various opinions exist, but the best theory I have heard is that they come from Singapore. The police force there uses the SPF designation and there is reason to believe that they used Darby cuffs.

Joe

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

there is a pair on ebay right now marked SPF 1300 but i dont know how to post the link....sorry guys....they are on page 10 if that helps. they are strating at 19.95, do they look genuine to anyone? dont want to bid on something fake...cheers Marie

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

The Hiatt cuffs marked SPF are quite genuine. They would likley have been made in the 1950s. They will be of much better quality than anything made today.

Joe

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

Thanks Joe, much appreciated

Whilst surfing today, I ran across something that might be of interest to someone out there:

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... 8a168c2375

I confess I know little of next to nothing of these rascals, but the fact they refer to them as "derby" handcuffs suggests they are not fully apprised of what they have. It seems these are actual Hiatt adjustable Darby's, new in the box, perhaps the last made.

For the price, which seems pretty close to reproductions of the same, it strikes me as something that knowledgeable folks might like to look at.

I have never dealt with this company (seller); it's just something I happened to run across.

I thought about buying them for a moment, but decided not to, falling back on my mantra I recite every time I walk into a gun show or flea market and become tempted over something I know nothing about, but is bright and shiny:

Caveat Emptor,
Buyer Beware!
Try to go home
With clean underwear.

I would be interested in what anyone out there has to say. If I missed out on a good deal, then tell me so. If I saved myself from getting screwed, then PLEASE post that so I can convince my wife I sorta know what I'm doing with the junk I do buy.

Click to expand...

Hi, I purchased a pair of these darbys from this seller
about four or five years back they are marked "hiatt
british made and PRS 1321" they are made of steel or iron
a magnet sticks to them
best regards juneyer843