Ethiopian Slave handcuffs

Could anyone try and throw some light on the maker or even the country of origin of these (Legirons). They were sold as Ethiopian Slave handcuffs and I'm pretty certain they have spent some time in Ethiopia going on the seller information.

Before they arrived I thought they could have been some Indian copy because of the poor pictures the seller had but having received them I'm certain they aren't.

They are much to big for handcuffs. I've quite a large hand and can easily slip it out however as legirons they're on the small side for me. The chain is only 6 1/2 inches in lenght which makes walking difficult.

They hinges are a true backstap design having a long tang which is bent backwards to form the hinge. Any ideas when this style changed ?

The end of the barrel does not have the usual peined plug but is similar to JG and RCS sytle ends being smooth even a little domed and without any pattern visable.

The only marks I can see are 0243 stamped on the side of each barrel. Does the fact that there is a zero infront imply that at least 1000 pairs would be made of this style or am I stabbing in the dark.

As usual any info would be welcomed.

Thanks,

RMP

Taken next to a pair of Hiatt legirons for comparison

No obvious peining on the end plug

They tang which forms the hinde extends to the red line

They don't look like the usual run of Paki or Indian stuff. The forge welded backstrap hinge indicates hand work of decent quality. The chain links look to be forge weled as well.

You can't find pein marks on the end plug, because there isn't one. It looks like there's an end cap, either shrunk on or possibly forge welded. That would be a tricky weld.

If they are hand made or semi hand made in a small shop, there is no way to identify them with a maker.

Could anyone try and throw some light on the maker or even the country of origin of these (Legirons). They were sold as Ethiopian Slave handcuffs and I'm pretty certain they have spent some time in Ethiopia going on the seller information.

Before they arrived I thought they could have been some Indian copy because of the poor pictures the seller had but having received them I'm certain they aren't.

They are much to big for handcuffs. I've quite a large hand and can easily slip it out however as legirons they're on the small side for me. The chain is only 6 1/2 inches in lenght which makes walking difficult.

They hinges are a true backstap design having a long tang which is bent backwards to form the hinge. Any ideas when this style changed ?

The end of the barrel does not have the usual peined plug but is similar to JG and RCS sytle ends being smooth even a little domed and without any pattern visable.

The only marks I can see are 0243 stamped on the side of each barrel. Does the fact that there is a zero infront imply that at least 1000 pairs would be made of this style or am I stabbing in the dark.

As usual any info would be welcomed.

Thanks,

RMP

Taken next to a pair of Hiatt legirons for comparison

No obvious peining on the end plug

They tang which forms the hinde extends to the red line

Click to expand...

Nice cuffs. I think they are old, but they don't look like any British cuffs that I have seen. And I have seen quite a few. Pure guess, but I would say early 19th century European, but not Britain.

As for the number, I think it is more likely not a makers serial number, but a users control number.

Joe

Could anyone try and throw some light on the maker or even the country of origin of these (Legirons). They were sold as Ethiopian Slave handcuffs and I'm pretty certain they have spent some time in Ethiopia going on the seller information.

Before they arrived I thought they could have been some Indian copy because of the poor pictures the seller had but having received them I'm certain they aren't.

They are much to big for handcuffs. I've quite a large hand and can easily slip it out however as legirons they're on the small side for me. The chain is only 6 1/2 inches in lenght which makes walking difficult.

They hinges are a true backstap design having a long tang which is bent backwards to form the hinge. Any ideas when this style changed ?

The end of the barrel does not have the usual peined plug but is similar to JG and RCS sytle ends being smooth even a little domed and without any pattern visable.

The only marks I can see are 0243 stamped on the side of each barrel. Does the fact that there is a zero infront imply that at least 1000 pairs would be made of this style or am I stabbing in the dark.

As usual any info would be welcomed.

Thanks,

RMP

Taken next to a pair of Hiatt legirons for comparison

No obvious peining on the end plug

They tang which forms the hinde extends to the red line

Click to expand...

A simple magnet test will refeal the truths of origin and materiel.

Could anyone try and throw some light on the maker or even the country of origin of these (Legirons). They were sold as Ethiopian Slave handcuffs and I'm pretty certain they have spent some time in Ethiopia going on the seller information.

Before they arrived I thought they could have been some Indian copy because of the poor pictures the seller had but having received them I'm certain they aren't.

They are much to big for handcuffs. I've quite a large hand and can easily slip it out however as legirons they're on the small side for me. The chain is only 6 1/2 inches in lenght which makes walking difficult.

They hinges are a true backstap design having a long tang which is bent backwards to form the hinge. Any ideas when this style changed ?

The end of the barrel does not have the usual peined plug but is similar to JG and RCS sytle ends being smooth even a little domed and without any pattern visable.

The only marks I can see are 0243 stamped on the side of each barrel. Does the fact that there is a zero infront imply that at least 1000 pairs would be made of this style or am I stabbing in the dark.

As usual any info would be welcomed.

Thanks,

RMP

Taken next to a pair of Hiatt legirons for comparison

No obvious peining on the end plug

They tang which forms the hinde extends to the red line

Click to expand...

Would a regular magnet work or would it have to be an Ethiopian magnet?

Could anyone try and throw some light on the maker or even the country of origin of these (Legirons). They were sold as Ethiopian Slave handcuffs and I'm pretty certain they have spent some time in Ethiopia going on the seller information.

Before they arrived I thought they could have been some Indian copy because of the poor pictures the seller had but having received them I'm certain they aren't.

They are much to big for handcuffs. I've quite a large hand and can easily slip it out however as legirons they're on the small side for me. The chain is only 6 1/2 inches in lenght which makes walking difficult.

They hinges are a true backstap design having a long tang which is bent backwards to form the hinge. Any ideas when this style changed ?

The end of the barrel does not have the usual peined plug but is similar to JG and RCS sytle ends being smooth even a little domed and without any pattern visable.

The only marks I can see are 0243 stamped on the side of each barrel. Does the fact that there is a zero infront imply that at least 1000 pairs would be made of this style or am I stabbing in the dark.

As usual any info would be welcomed.

Thanks,

RMP

Taken next to a pair of Hiatt legirons for comparison

No obvious peining on the end plug

They tang which forms the hinde extends to the red line

Click to expand...

I was in Ethie in 1974 and there were slaves and slave traders even as late as that just before the fall of Salasie. Typicaly they were chained together in strings of between 4 and 12 and mostly older ladies. I do not know if maybe the men were worked differently as they were not seen much. The string usualy had large loads of hay or grain sacks on thier backs like donkeys would carry and were walked along the edge of the road. I was told they could be purchased for $200 thier money or $50 US. At that time a Palamino horse cost us $400 of thier money or $100 US. Nice tooled saddle $85 thier money.

The chains that were on these folks apeared to be like the Aussie rivet ones at cannons on about half and home made strap iron on the rest. The gangchains had droppers off them about two feet and connected on all, on the left side. Must have been some purpose but I don't know why. The arrangement allowed them plenty of speed up or slow movement. I never saw any darby style either on the platau near Addis Abbaba or on the plains around Asmara but there may have been plenty, just not where I was at the time.