What would you do.....?

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Hi

I have a way to pick these that does not involve turning the oblong disc at all.

What I do is make a very rigid L shaped bit of piano wire and insert it ABOVE the sping loaded rotating disc so it pushes the disc down.

I DO NOT put it through the hole in the disc.

Once the disc is pushed down I rotate my tool until the L section of it makes contact with the locking bolt part the rotating disc moves back to withdraw the bolt.

And there you have it.

You are free.

You have bypassed the rotating disc altogether.

Now if the cuffs are double locked, depress the disc with one tool while using the L shaped pick to spin it to the single locked position and then pick the cuffs open as described above.

BE WARNED: The spring in a Mattatuck is pretty strong so you will need a very strang and tempered bit of piano wire to do this.

Steve Santini www.thedarkmaster.com

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

"if key is not inserted correctly, mechanism will be thrown out of synchcronization and it will be time consuming and difficult to get disc back into the proper working order."- Dick Norman, Handcuff Secrets for Magicians 1957

Monica,

I'd try like hell to realign the disc. Some on the board here may be able to give you some guidance here.

That said, I seem to remember playing with a set some time ago, which I have since sold, that was "out of whack." Turning the key counter clockwise, while depressing the dust cover at various times (seemingly random) fixed the operation.

If you have the Dick Norman book, he also illustrates a method of getting out of the things in the locked position, without keys, by going through the slot near the hinge with a narrow wire hook.

One should resist the impulse to snap these things on without fully testing, experimenting with, and studying the basics behind the locking mechanism...

I have had some seize up on me too. Good Luck & Thanks for the Topic!

Paul

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Yes, sure this is in Norman's book but it is not very practical.

Firstly, the spring is too strong for the small size of hook that is needed to enter to grip it.

Secondly, if you try a locksmithing key extractor to snag the bolt, which is basically a spring steel pick with a razor sharp barbed hook at one end, you are aksing for a trip to the hospital.

If this thing were to let go of the bolt and come back out at spped, it will tear a person's flesh wide open.

I personally do not think much of Dick Norman's method on this and even some other cuffs he profiles in his book.

One gets the impression that some of the ideas were written but not actually tried to see if they even worked or not.

Much like the written work of Sterenko.

Big on concept but highly impractical if not sometimes impossible and useless to the performing escapologist.

Steve Santini

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I made a key from an original key that makes it very simple to rotate the disc to the proper position no matter where it is in the roation. Simply file down the part of the bit closest to the head of the key until the bit is about 1/16 inch wide. This leaves the bit and the nib on the end unchanged. I've used it on many Mattatuck cuffs.
Stan

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Thanks, guys. No piano wire nearby, but I'm using some narrow heavy tension wire supplied by my locksmith, Steve. Unfortunately, I have some key matter stuck in one of the cuffs, which is keeping all moving parts paralyzed thus far, and the other won't budge, either. Yes, they are double-locked.

So, you are saying not to have the locksmith get invasive and mangle the cuffs? She is coming back in an hour and I have her mobile/24 #. I would hate for hubby to come home from his trip to find his shiny new gear in shambles......

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Guys? Where'd you go? Any other ideas? Should I let her nuke the cuffs?

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

This reminds me of the "What was the longest amount of time you spent in handcuffs?" thread.

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

There really is very little in the way of guts taking up space in this cuff interior.

And, anything as small as the key bit nib breaking off inside should not jam everything up.

I have in the past struck these type cuffs to jar loose any broken bits.

You can actually get the broken bits to move to one end of the cuff interior where they do nothing.

Once the cuff opens, they usually just fall out via the bow hole.

Try rapping on a wooden surface.

It transfers the shock and vibrations better than say metal.

Steve Santini

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

try green soap or grease to get them off your wrists

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Monica, you have my utmost respect!

I don't know how your saga will turn out, but how you can type while stuck in handcuffs is truely amazing. You type better than me without cuffs.

I guess if you can get the one off that doesn't have stuff in it, the other can be solved at your leisure.

Good luck,
Brad

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Several years ago I received a phone call at 2 in the morning from a collector (to remain nameless) that I had sold a few cuffs to. He bought a pair of H&R Super cuffs on ebay and put them on and he couldn't get out. He wanted me to come to his house about an hour away to take the cuffs off. I told him it was too late and to come to my house after 9 the next morning. He told me that I didn't understand. His wife knew nothing of his hobby, and if she found out this way she would kill him. He never showed up the next morning, and I didn't call him. A few months later he called me to ask if I wanted to buy his small collection because his wife was leaving him and he needed the money to go back to his home country. He came to my house and I bought the collection. I asked if his wife caught him in the H&R's and he said he managed to get out of them, but she didn't come home that night because she was out having an affair, and that was the reason for the divorce.
Us collectors are a strange breed.
Stan

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Monica,
If you can send me an email, I will send you a link and picture of the internals of the lock and how to open them. Have you been able to disengage the double lock on the cuffs yet. Let me know the status and I can advise from there. I have had similiar problems and know how to deal with it.

-Dorson

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I don't know if my book on handcuffs and what is inside of them is Dick Norman's book or not, the title is a "Handcuff Notebook". The pictures they show of the insides is only half correct. The disc that rotates to double lock and unlock the cuffs is pictured wrong, it is mirror image of what it should be. There is another thing which none have considered and I have had experience with is that the disc is sometimes flawed and a ticking timebomb of sorts. The hole in the disc that is engaged by the cover plate with the two prongs in it can fail if there is insufficient metal. This will prevent the disc from being rotated all the way. So once the disc is rotated enough to permit the stamped ratchet to move back and forth some, then is the time to shim or use a wire to pull back the ratchet to release the cuffs. And then complete rotating the disc. Futher note, the rivets that hold the coverplate are often #6-32 screws with the heads ground and filed off. Those can be drilled out or the rivets if used can be drilled and the cuffs repaired which requires a new disc to be put in there. Another option is to have a skilled welder just put a tiny weld to fill the edge and then grind/file/drill to the original specs. I do have pictures of the insides with one of the failed disc's.

-Dorson

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Yes, Steve, I rapped them quite a few times and nothing came out of the keyholes. As I've had this technique work before, it was my first resort.

Brad, my hands were cuffed in front of me, so no big deal on the typing. So easy, even a woman can do it. (-;

Thanks, guys, for all the help. Y'all are so knowledgeable, I'm probably the only person in this place who couldn't escape this predicament. Nothing like this to put one's acumen into glaring perspective. I seethe alone. (-:

My locksmith removed my cuffs this morning. She was resourceful and tenacious - went way beyond the call of duty - just amazing. Against her money-saving advice, I decided to ditch the notion of letting her nuke the cuffs w/ a drill through the locks, so we stuck w/ spray, pick, and pry techniques.

Last night, after spraying some aerosolated oil in the keyholes and deploying tools that would make a dental hygenist palpitate, she did a lot of intense (and tense) surgical probing, but that didn't budge the cuffs - we were both exhausted, called it quits, shared a bottle of fine wine - which diminished the futility and amplified the silliness of my incarceration. It was good for morale. Before she left, she sprayed some goo in the keyholes that turns to a bubbly foam as it heats up (like some shaving gel) and then taped over the keyholes and made me promise not to tamper in her absence (otherwise, I would have taken you up, Dorson. Thanks for the kind offer).

She returned this morning with a key she made from the original, pulled the tape off of the keyholes - after asking if I'd kept my promise (I did), used a little blower device to get out the goo, which had become like dried soap bubbles, and used her "dental" probe to pull a HUGE chunk of original key - not mine (w/ nub and a good piece of bit)! out of the left cuff and some edgy little bits of grit. On the right cuff, she pulled out the key nib from my key and some old-looking mangled fragments. She then shook the cuffs and blew them out, sprayed in some graphite, shook the cuffs up again, and inserted the key into each cuff and unlocked the double lock and then the cuffs like they were new! A bonus is that one of the cuffs, which didn't click so cleanly when cocked (what a cool feature) now operated properly, with a pronounced "click" and as nicely as the other. I'll tell my husband I fixed them up while he was away! lol

Free at last! Life is good. Thanks again, everyone.

P.S. Green soap and grease...works every time. Just not for handcuffs. (-;

We collectors and escapers are a weird lot, aren't we, Stan? BTW, wanna buy some vintage Mattatucks? Recently cleaned, lubed and work like new! Just kidding, these are keepers (w/ a secret history). (-;

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Glad you are free and none less for wear and tear on your nerves and wrists!!!

-Dorson

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Congrats, Monica. This story is definitely a keeper.

Brad

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Dorson, Handcuff Notebook is a collection of Dick Norman articles from Locksmith Ledger, it was the second "book" by him.

Take Care,
Shawn

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Thanks Ness for clearing that up for me because my copy has no reference to who wrote it. Going to give this a shot since I have never done this before but will try to show some pictures here.

The first picture is the insides with just the spring and ratchet.


The second picture shows the rest of it and pardon that the pictures aren't the best, it is hard sometimes to get the detail and lighting correct. If I get time I may reshoot these but they are old pictures.



and lastly is a page out of the book on handcuffs that Ness has mentioned was done by Dick Norman.



-Dorson

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Thanks for the illustrations, Dorson. The spinning disc, in full view, looks slightly different than what I expected. That was the device that was jammed and giving me so much trouble.

So, no one answered my original question: Unable to escape and with no potential progress/help in sight for a day or so (as it turned out), if you were locked up w/ a special set of cuffs from your own collection, would you destroy them for your freedom? Would or could you sacrifice a day or so of functionality/normality or public/work life for them?

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I would cut off my hand if it was a very rare cuff like a Berliner, Wisner, Palmer, ER, Delestatius, Rankin, Carberry, Burdick, Muhlenfeld.
E

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Then, you wouldn't need your handcuff collection anymore - just a claw & nipper collection. (-;

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

You could always walk around wearing a McKenzie Mitt and no-one would know you cut off your hand!

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I've never worn the mitt, but isn't the hand what makes the mitt secure?

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Now you're being picky!!!

You are right of course, but have just taken the fun out of it! Naughty girl!

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Naughty, indeed. So, really, what would you have done?

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I'm a locksmith and I would have tried my amazing skills to get me out. When that failed, I would hide away in embarassment and try to leave the country, although trying to get onto a plane wearing the cuffs would be a bit of a give-away!

After that, I'd tell my story on the forum and hope that some kind soul would help. Which you did, and we were all so pleased to find that your cuffs and your pride were not damaged. Thanks a lot for the posting.

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

I sense a tad of sarcasm there, Mick. Pride intact? Well, almost. The wine blurred my recall, but I know something bad happened.(-; The cuffs are even better than before, though. Just to make sure, I'm gonna let my husband wear them the next 20 times or so before I submit my wrists again.

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

The cuffs are even better than before

That is NOT the recommended way to get your handcuffs overhauled.



-Dennis
--
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Agreed, Dennis. But, sometimes a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do. If that's what it takes to get an otherwise handsome pair of cuffs in proper working order, I would do it again and again.... Of course, I'd have to go in partners w/ my locksmith. Need to stock up on wine for psychological and anesthetic purposes as well.

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

Need to stock up on wine for psychological and anesthetic purposes as well.


As if I need a reason to do that!



-Dennis
--
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

If you just acquired a new set of old, heavy-duty and expensive handcuffs and you couldn't remove them? You call a locksmith, right? What if she says arrives and, after much effort, tells you that, due to the cuff heft and unconventional and jammed cuff locks, she will have to mangle them in order to get them off of you? So, now what?


Almost full story below:

The hubby sores a nice pair of old Mattatucks and they arrive in the AM post. As per usual, we inspect open, close, double lock, re-open a dozen or so times to make sure they are safe for wannabe escapers like us. In he goes as I place the cuffs on his wrists. I double lock the cuffs and walk away w/ key, box and operating instructions. I return later and he's just as I left him. OK, secure. Then I give him the key and they are still tricky; then I show him the instructions. "Instructions!" you say? These cuffs are are not your usual left/right half-turn/open. A look at the keyholes is telling. He gets the hang of things and tries it again. The cuffs operate as smoothly as silk.

Anyhow, now it's my turn to fiddle w/ them - but he is heading off for work. He locks my wrists in place, double locks, hands me the key and heads out the door. I don't like to practice alone, but, what the hey, I've got the key and what could go wrong? Well.....one of the cuff keyways is a tight fit and feels notchy and the key won't move as far as it needs and I can hear a spring mechanism groaning against the additional force I'm using to turn the key. No luck! I keep trying, still no luck. So, I try the other cuff and realize something is wrong. The key is turning freely and not engaging anything....I fatigued the downward tip nub at the end of the key and it is just barley hanging on, finally breaking off in the lock, so now the key won't engage the spinning piece that is needed to operate the locks, and some shrapnel is in the works! The key is useless, so I try some of my little tools, possibly making things worse..... These things worked beautifully just a short while ago.....

Click to expand...

More like a cause!