Second try, with photo this time. [Help identifying cuffs]

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Looks Like a Set of I beleive they are Called Plug 8's or something with 8 in them.

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

The type of cuff is called a Plug Eight. The plug refers to the threaded plug you must remove to access the operating screw. The eight refers to their shape. Absent a manufacturer's mark, I must defer to those with sharper eyes and wits than mine.

Typically, the plug type cuffs date from the mid Nineteenth Century. Since these can be fabricated by a good smith, it's very possible there is no named manufacturer associated with them. Again, I'll defer to my betters, there.

I note that the weld securing the lock case to the cuffs is imperfect. You can see the gap where the joint is not properly welded along the interface. This indicates to me, manufacture by a smith. Not that there's anything wrong with them; the weld obviously held up just fine for over 150 years. It just adds character to a neat artifact.

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

Thanks to all who replied on this question. Now that we know what they are actually called, my Dad has asked that I put them on eBay for him.

If there is any interest, these will be listed as "Plug 8 Eight Handcuffs" as of today (10/8) with a $50 reserve. Sorry, US bids only.

Thanks again,

Mark

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

"US bids only"

God I'm getting tired of seeing that.

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

Just like we get tired of seeing on the German site "Will ship to Germany only" or on other European sites "Will ship to Europe only", etc.

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

Hi.

I would like to ad that these were not made by a blacksmith. A good blacksmith may be able to create one of these but these were made in large quantities by an actual handcuff company such as Hiatt, Froggatt, Stedall and Sons, or several other companies.
For more information, your host of this site, Joe, has a very good book on this subject and is worth purchasing for a modest price. Stan's Cd shows many other types and variations of this cuff as well.

There are two basic models of your cuff, Heavy or thick and light or thin. Yours is the thin or light model and is just a little bit more rare than the thick or heavy model. Most collectors try to buy a cuff from each manufacturer so look real close to see if there is a makers name under the patina somewhere. Get a loupe or good magnifying glass and look hard....if you find one, it should help you sell your item for more money.

Good luck!

mark
O--O

p.s. I like it when the seller states "Will only send to your (my) address"

Hi all,

This pair of cuffs came to my father in the estate of an uncle. We're hoping someone can help us identify them.

The plug turns to the right to be removed. The key turns to the left to get past the plug threads and left again to open the cuffs.

There are no markings of any kind on the piece. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark in Virginia

Click to expand...

>> I would like to ad that these were not made by a blacksmith. A good blacksmith may be able to create one of these but these were made in large quantities by an actual handcuff company such as Hiatt, Froggatt, Stedall and Sons, or several other companies. <<

Even in the large manufacturies, there were many hand operations, or semi-hand operations, where a machine would rough form a part, and a craftsman would complete the fabrication by hand. In gun manufacture, a surprising amound of metal shaping was done with the a file, sometimes a power driven one, but hand guided.

This was the dawn of "mass production," and many of the techniques were relatively indistinguishable from the pre mass production smithing techniques. Mass production was often a matter of mindset and repetitive work, more than anything else.

While they are beyond my abysmal skills, Plug Eights and Darbies are not that difficult a fabrication, as evidenced by the admittedly lousy quality knockoffs streaming out of central Asia.

BTW, I'm not arguing against your contention that the cuffs in qusetion may have been made by one of the big makers. Obviously, finding a maker's mark would settle that one right away.