HWC cuffs, opinions???

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

I own a pair of HWC cuffs. Like you, I bought them by price. They are a bit cheaper then S & W or some of the other pairs. My feeling is that while they are a reasonable set of cuffs, that could be used in the field, I would feel better with a more sturdy pair to protect me from a potentially violent captive.

At the Convention in 2005, I had them with me, and witnessed a demonstration of how simple they are to defeat. Joe Fox opened them with a large nail.

These are not bad cuffs, just not heavy duty.

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

--- in the world would you consider trusting your life to second rate equipment to save five to ten dollars???

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

Heh Ron - don't even THINK about using 'em on duty, you've already answered your own question by expressing any doubt whatsoever. In any event, equipment such as cuffs should be as recommended by your Department - even for a back-up pair. You're crazy if you take risks in this area, just for the sake of saving a few bucks.

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

I used these the other day, they worked ok. I'll keep them on the spotlight arm in my squad. They just aren't as heavy duty as my S/W 100's. They are allowed by department policy, states "Approved handcuffs HWC stainless, S/W, etc." I also found out a few other Officers use these cuffs, one guy has them as his primary set. Like I said, they are backups & that's what they seem good for.

RON

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

How much are you saving? What are your suppliers hooking you for a pair of Smiths?

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

I had a pair of the HWC cuffs marked stainless steel.
they were also stamp marked TAIWAN on one of the chain links.
The quality seemed ok, but I am not a lock em up person and
didn't really want them in my collection so I sold them.
The Precise and Bianchi brand I had were marked Taiwan also..

Hi all,

Recently got a set of HWC stainless steel cuffs as back ups. I ordered these online because they cost a little less and were marked "designed for police use" on the site. Upon receiving them, they don't seem as sturdy as my smith & wesson's. Anyone use these on duty & run into any problems (likes/dislikes)? I just don't want them to break if I wind up using them on a big guy.

Thanks, RON

made in Taiwan doesn't inherently mean second rate. HWC, Blueline, etc are clearly second tier and I did lose a lot of respect for Bianchi when they bought into that price line stuff. But Winchesters, for example, were (are) actually pretty decent, spec built equipment.