A friend of mine recently gave me a set of Bean Giant handcuffs. Not being a handcuff collector myself, I am interested in the best way to sell them. Is there an easy way for them to be evaluated by an expert so as to verify their authenticity?
Nice pair!
Handcuffs aren't an item that is commonly reproduced, with the notable exception of Ian McColl's superlative work. I believe he stamps his name on most of his work.
It looks like your photos are of authentic Bean Giants. I look for a few indicators, none of which are easy to fake.
The patina on the steel or plating looks like something that has developed over the decades. It's a subtle and shallow chemical change that affects the surface of the steel, partily oxidation, partly something else.
The tiny rust spots that remain, appear to be of long duration. The pitting under them is quite deep, and they have a different look from shallow surficial rust.
The edges that were sharp when new, are subtly and unevenly rounded from casual day to day wear. There are tiny dings and dents that come from every day wear. Those are also soft and subtle.
The real experts here can look at the fine points of the lines, and declare them authentic or not. That's out of my league.
