COLT Handcuff factory second ?

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

This is just a guess, but I think that someone who owned it at one point just stamped it that way to indicate it was the second model of the Colt, as I understand there are two different positions to the keyway that differentiate the two models.
Again, just a guess.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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This is the first model, so I don't think it would be marked 2nd model. The stamping is definitely factory.
Stan

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Why do you say they are factory stamped? The three letters are all different weights, with the N particularly light. It looks like it was done with lettering punches.

It is skilleds stamping. My efforts at that always look horrible.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Like you, I've done some stamping with single numbers and letters and can't come close to being as good as it is on the cuff. If you've ever tried to stamp the lockcase on a cuff you know it isn't easy. That still doesn't explain why a first model would be marked "2nd". No one has addressed the fact that there is no serial number.
Stan

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Stan,
With all the scratches on the cuffs and it looks like these have seen service, maybe the plating just wore off. Maybe the 2nd stands for like second divison or some other type of second related to where they saw service. As for serial numbers, dunno, maybe they were ordered that way by the end user.

-Dorson

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Hi Stan:

Do these cuffs bear, in addition to the rampant Colt logo, the usual stamping of:

COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG CO HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.

If so, could you post a photo of that as well?

Franklin

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Hi all,
I agree with stan. Looks very good to be added, and without
serial number it makes sense. My question is, if it was a "second" how did it get out there??? I would imagine imperfect
cuffs rejected by factories would for the most part be
destroyed or thrown. Not stamped "2nd" and sold. Perhaps they were stamped and given away or taken by employee??
Very interesting Stan! Lots of explanations for "2nd" but without serial number thats what makes it so interesting.
Anyone else ever seen one without a serial number???
Best, John Bushey

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Cuff has the usual Colt marking. Nothing unusual about it, except the first 3 letters in Hartford are a little weak.
Stan

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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> Maybe the 2nd stands for like second divison or some other type of second
> related to where they saw service.

That was my first thought, that it was a user marking. And it doesm't even need to stand for "second." It could be something goofy that meant sense to the user, like, "2 Night Desk." It could literally be anything.

Then again, there is the lack of a serial number. I don't know whether that is significant or not.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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could it be 2nd test model before production thats why no serial #???? if only they could talk the story's cuffs carry with them !!!!

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Here's something else you can waste your money on.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Smith-Wesson-PROTOT ... dZViewItem

Seems everyone who has a set of stamping tools is getting on the game.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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That wasn't stamped but chemical etched with the Caswell system more than likely.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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Interesting that they have a 6 digit serial number. These appear to be fairly recently made Model 1's but the box says Model 100. They were also made at the Houlton factory and the early Model 100's were made in Springfield. Perhaps the prototype of the Model 100-P? Or just another e-bay scam to make lots of money on a sucker.

I am wondering if anyone has seen a handcuff marked as a factory second and sold as such? In all the years I've been collecting (almost 40), I've never seen one til now. I am pretty sure the "2ND" marking is for factory "second" for 2 reasons. One is that there is no serial number on the cuff, and I have never seen a COLT handcuff without a serial number. The second reason is that there are 2 spots where the plating is down to the copper flash on the rear of the cuff. This would be a reason to reject them as perfect. They work perfectly and appear to be in very nice shape except for the 2 spots of poor plating. Any comments ?
Stan

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It's also possible that Colt just missed stamping a serial number in them. I have a set of Peerless Model 3's that have no serial number and no sign that there ever was one on them. The peerless factory says "It is unusual for there not be a serial number. Serial numbers have been marked on all product except for very early models. While the one you have is not this type it must be one of the few cuffs that was shipped without a number." So a lack of a serial number could have nothing to do with the "2ND" marking.