The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Peerless Handcuffs

19 visible archived posts · 19 preserved total · topic ID 1153

Russell M 28 Feb 2006

I don't know if this question will make sense. Is there such a thing to hand cuffs as a Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms? My uncle left me his gun and hand cuff collection and I would like to know more about the hand cuffs.

Thank you.

stan willis 28 Feb 2006

There is no price guide as such. There is a book currently in print by Alex Nichols called "A guidebook to Handcuffs..." This web site is also a good place to identify cuffs. I have a CD of over 1700 pictures, showing most handcuffs you are likely to encounter. See my web site or email for help in identification.
Stan
www.handcuffsandbadges.com

lauher 28 Feb 2006

The most comprehensive books are the two books on Handcuffs and Restraints by Alex Nichols. I also have written a book, but it covers only British cuffs. Our new collective book written by many members of this forum has several more specialized articles on a number of handcuffs from around the world.

You can buy any of these books from Cannon's Great Escapes.
http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.net/books&videos.html

Joe

Paul Reardon 28 Feb 2006

Hello Russell,As I see it, there is no one single best source or "bible" for handcuff info and values. That said, here's my advice.ONLINE for IDFor ready identification of unusual, vintage and modern cuffs, the online collectors' sites are great. Besides Handcuffs.org's extensive gallery of vintage items, check the links page on this site to go to: Yossie's handcuff pages; Stan Willis' site (who also has a cd available w/over 1000 cuffs pictured); and the always expanding collections on sites hosted by Ron, Cuffman, Lars, and Michael Busch. I have omitted some sites, but these main ones should get you going. BOOKS for InfoJoe Lauher has listed some helpful books on his bibliography page here at Handcuffs.org. For an overview of most styles and the historical development of cuffs, "Manacles of the World" by Tom Gross (now out of print and tough to find) is very usefull. Steve Santini's "Devices of Human Restraint" is also informative here. Additionaly, Steve supplies a general price guide for several dozen vintage "devices." Don Stewart's "Collectors Guide Handcuffs & Restraints" is good for ID'ing, but its price guide, as our host Joe Lauher points out in his review, is often way out of line. Joe's "British Handcuffs" is The Ode to the Darby, and is a must have when considering the history/rarity of a British style iron. The most comprehensive resource for handcuff info are Alex Nichols' Volumes 1&2 of "A Guidebook to Handcuffs and Restraints of the World." EBAY for PricesHandcuffs appeal to a relativley small group of collectors, at least compared to railroad, gun, western, beer, etc, markets. Because the latter are rather large and established fields of collecting, their prices, (and I could be way off base here) tend to be more stable, predictable. Of course, there is price/value fluidity in all types of collecting, but I think handcuff collecting is more suceptible to volitility because of its narrow appeal. Ebay can give you a good sense what a cuff may be worth. Track the final sales prices of a particular model over several auctions and determine an average and range for that model.I hope that you enjoy learning about your uncle's handcuffs and that this has helped.Regards, Paul

Paul Reardon 28 Feb 2006

Don't know how that all got out without paragraphs, and Stan, sorry bout the 1,000!!!! didn't know there were 1,700.
Paul

stan willis 28 Feb 2006

Hi Paul:
Actually, the last revision of the CD was for the Cannon's Escape Convention last October. There are now 1200 items in the collection. The CD has over 1700 pictures, including all the cuffs in the collection to last October. My apoligies to Joe for not mentioning his book. I should also point out that Don Stewart's book was printed in 1993, so prices will be different for most items.
Stan

Mark Lyons 28 Feb 2006

Russell M,

If you have the ability to post some pictures of your newly acquired handcuff collection to this web-site, you will be able to read the resulting comments and input from all of us that frequent these pages.
Feel free to ask any questions. I must warn you that if you were to show a picture of an unusually nice cuff, you will have many offers asking you to sell it. Even though we tend to swarm around the good cuffs like bees, we hope that you will get the collecting bug and stick around here for a long while.

mark
O--O

Russell M 28 Feb 2006

Thank all of you very much. I've had an enjoyable time here and at other sites you suggested looking at the galleries.

The type of guide I'm looking for is not for prices, but for a description of the stampings on the various cuffs and how those may have changed over time, as well as the finishes on the different models. My uncle was very detailed and tried to make his hand gun collection as complete as possible and would get multiple examples of the same model so he would have all of the variations. I know he did the same thing with the hand cuffs, but I don't have any guide to help me sort them out or tell how complete it is. He always kept them arranged in a particular order, but when they cleaned out his house, they just put everything in boxes and jumbled everything together.

Of all the different manufacturers, the largest in number is Peerless. The bulk of them are in the factory boxes since the serial number on the box matches the hand cuff. From what I am seeing, while the overall model may be the same, there are differences on the stampings: some on both cuffs, some on one only, some on both sides, some on one side only, and combinations of this. Also, while some of the hand cuffs are the same, the supplemental instruction sheet in the box will be different. I'm also seeing repetitions in the nickel and blued versions, but there is not always a complete match.

While I don't know if I can, what I'd like to do is make this collection of Peerless hand cuffs as comprehensive as possible and keep it up to date if I can. In looking at the Peerless website, it seems they came out with all new models having raised rivets, none of which are in this collection.

In addition to the hand cuffs, there are also leg cuffs as well. All together, there are 107 sets of Peerless hand and leg cuffs, although some without boxes or instructions seem to be duplicates of others.

While the Peerless website says they will take questions about hand cuffs, because there are so many here, I wanted to do as much sorting as I could before I contacted them so I wouldn't waste their time.

I don't know if there is any guide available that goes into the detail I'm interested in with information on the boxes and instructions as well as stampings, other than the Peerless factory. For example, there are four boxes that my uncle had tied together, containing a nickel chain hand cuff, a blued nickel chain one, a nickel hinged one and a blued hinged one. Each box had a note inside that says "stamped and rolled key, don't lose." The keys in these four boxes are unlike any others in the collection. While the two keys in all the boxes are on a little ring, these four are the only ones where my uncle locked the keys into one of the cuffs.

With the Smith & Wesson handcuffs in the collection, I am seeing a similar thing. While the handcuffs inside are the same, the boxes and instructions are different.

I don't have any desire to sell any of these. I just want to learn more about them.

Again, thank all of you for your very helpful suggestions.

Russell McKenzie

Joe Lauher 28 Feb 2006

Russell

You actually have brought up an important point. There is not readily available comprehensive list of what one call the "modern cuff" designs. Although many of the participants of this forum have great knowledge of the subject, there is no written list I can refer you to.

Perhaps we should take that on as a collective project. Comprehensive model numbers, dates etc for the big companies. Peerless, S&W, American in the country. Modern Hiatt in Britain. Varous cuffs other cuffs in Europe.

Joe

Lyle 04 Mar 2006

#10

Russell:

You indeed have a treasure in your possession.

About the only suggestion I can make with respect to your Peerless collection is to go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark site and download the FULL version of the following patents:

1017955
1157135
1161562
1531451
1872857

In looking at these, don't just look at the diagrams; carefully read the descriptions and claims made. Compare those to what you have. In general, and I'm no expert, here's what you will find:

1st Peerless: Had two variations:
(1) One connecting link, stamped with Mfd. by Smith & Wesson, had serial numbers, 1912 patent date, a patent pending and other stuff. The collectors out there think this one is really super, I guess because it has Smith and Wesson stamped on it.
(2) Two connecting links, no serial numbers, 1912 and 1915 patent dates. There were fewer of these made than the ones stamped with Smith and Wesson

Really easy to identify the 1st Peerless, either variation. Look at the ratchet mechanism between the cheek plates and you'll see it's made of two pieces.

The first model, either variation, could only be double-locked with the key, turning in the keyway. The problem was that to double-lock, the key unlocked the pawl on the way to double-lock.

2nd Model: had no dates for patents, only patent numbers: 1017955, 1157135, 1161562, 1531451. Could be double-locked either with push pin (called a "plunger" in patent 1531451) or the key; however, as noted in the last patent, the ability to double lock with the key was secondary and to be "roughly used".

3rd Model: The Classic Peerless handcuff, later called the Model 300. Made dummy proof and could only be double-locked with the push pin and used a barrel key. With several million made, it seems many handcuff collectors do not realize the variations that exist. If possible to find an original Model 3, here's what you will see:

BOTH double bows stamped on front (keyway side):
The Peerless Handcuff Co.
Springfield, Mass.
serial number on left cuff, between keyway and swivel.

Back of double bows, BOTH stamped:
Patent
1531451 - 1872857
Made In U.S.A.

~Peerless logo on left cuff body (from back).
~No exterior ditch dimples; pawl dogs are drilled and set into cheek plates and are oblong with sloping sides.
~Ratchet has anti-shim groove, described in patent 1872857, but omitted in all later models with only the pawl anti-shim grooves retained.
~Heavier single spring requiring greater torque to operate.
~Total weight: 10.6 oz. (as compared to later 9.5 oz. commonly called the "10 ounce" version).

Oh, well, enough of this.

You have something truly special, particularly with the boxes and paperwork. For that little group tied together, with the odd keys, I suspect that if you examine the box inserts, you'll find the extra little thing at the very end about it using "a quality handcuff key." There's a possible reason for that, but since you're getting into collecting, I'll let you go find that particular patent for yourself.

Russell, happy collecting. You're starting out with an amazing resource, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. They'll holler and pout about their Smith and Wessons, but you have the Patriarch of All Modern Handcuffs: Peerless.

Joseph Fox 05 Mar 2006

#11

Russell:

Check your collection to see if you have a Peerless LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM HANDCUFF variation - that takes a SPLIT-BITTED KEY (warded lock mechanism); circa mid-late 1950's.

This model is probably the rarest of all of the commercially-released Peerless handcuff products. I have never seen one.

Does anyone here own one?

Ian McColl 05 Mar 2006

#12

Hi, yes Joe, I have seen one. Until then I only thought it was an idea. The pair I saw needed repair as the pawl was bent due the bow being forced into a deadlocked mechanism. The pawl as also made of aluminium.

Ian

Russell 10 Mar 2006

#13

Mr. Fox:

There are six boxes printed with red ink. I don't know what you mean by wards, but the hand cuffs are different from all the others. I thought these were just imitations of real Peerless products. Is there any way I can tell?

Joseph Fox 10 Mar 2006

#14

Russell:

The Peerless models that I was referring to - would have KEYS different from all other Peerless keys...the keys would be a 2-bitted key, instead of the normal 1-bitted key (again, this would ONLY apply to the Peerless lightweight ALUMINUM models from the 1950's).

Can someone here "sketch" what a 'split-bitted key' looks like for Russel? (as shown in the Dick Norman book)

Russel: Certainly, a PHOTO(s) would assist us all in seeing what you have.

Edgeplay_Cgo 10 Mar 2006

#15

Sorry, no sketch, but perhaps this helps:

On a warded lock, the lock has one or more barriers, called wards, that interfere with the rotation of the key, preventing it from turning. The bit of the key must be notched out to miss the wards. A double bitted handcuff key resembles a flag with a strip cut down the middle.

Russell M 10 Mar 2006

#16

Thank you for explaining what a ward is.

Yes, these have a little slot or split in what I think is called the flag of the keys. The keys will work in the other hand cuffs but not the other way around.

I'm glad to know these are really Peerless hand cuffs. They are rather flimsy in comparison to all the others and I thought they might be imitations.

There are some other also in boxes with red ink that seem to be made of steel, but are thinner all over. Two of them do not have the little post or stub in the hey hole that the key usually has to fit around. The keys in the boxes do have the little hole in the end. Should these have solid keys?

Russel M 10 Mar 2006

#17

There was something else I wanted to ask.

Most of the Peerless hand cuffs my uncle collected have serial numbers, but some do not.

I have the book my uncle used that explains serial numbers on firearms. Is there such a thing for hand cuffs?

Anonymous 10 Mar 2006

#18

Russell:

Go to the 'home page' of this website ( www.handcuffs.org )...and scroll down to the link for "HANDCUFFS-The Main Gallery". Once there, click on the letter "P" heading...to view PHOTOS of many of the PEERLESS handcuffs. This will help you understand what you have.

Joseph Fox 10 Mar 2006

#19

...Ooops - I forgot to put my name on the above message.