The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

French Leg Iron

16 visible archived posts · 16 preserved total · topic ID 2346

lauher 08 Dec 2007

There is a nice leg iron on the French eBay site. #280181353181

Does anyone know who made it?

Joe

Ian McColl 08 Dec 2007

Hi Joe, can't answer you question but Ray McKee sent me a photo of the same style cuffs many years ago and I believe Chris Gower has one.

Ian

Stan Willis 08 Dec 2007

I also have one and know nothing about it, except that it is French. Alex Nichols shows it in his book as a French Bordello leg iron, but I would call it a prison leg iron. I know of 3 others in US collections. Mine has traces of plating. The one on ebay looks like it has been stripped of plating or patina. It's hard to tell from the pictures.
Stan

Elliot Cutler 11 Dec 2007

From the finish left within the hinge and inside the chain links it seems certain to have been cleaned up. Still, very well done.

The aesthetics are great but I could never see how they got associated with a bordello. The time it takes to open and close them, plus the weight would seem to make them the last choice. That and how they scuff up your shoes.

holstcollection 23 Jul 2011

I recently was lucky to acquire a set of these French leg irons.
When I compared my set to the one in the posting and the set from Stan's CD,
it seem like these are somewhat heavier. These are about 3 kg (6.6 lbs).

There are a few of them around, i would be interested in pictures and weights.

Thanks,

Lars

www.holstcollection.com

Unresolved image reference ↗

Paul Davies 23 Jul 2011

Gee, you'd think they would have rounded them off on the inside instead of on the outside.
How uncomfortable!
French were too busy making them look good! fancy chain as well!
Paul

amazing01 24 Jul 2011

Very nice leg irons Lars!!!

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Nils 24 Jul 2011

Mine came from France, weigh 2.569 kg, or close to five pounds. I consider them very interesting pieces. They were heavily rusted, and someone tried to saw into them. They did come with a key, though. They don't click shut like you would expect them to, but once locked they stay shut.

I guess the "Bordello"-name is going to stick.

Nils

chris gower 25 Jul 2011

Think I have come across 5 of these French LI in 40 years, the two that I have in my collection are the heavy weight one which weigh 2.76 Kgms (without the key). The much rarer type and I only know of the one that I have weighs only 1.09 Kgms (without key).

The lighter one is the one shown in Alex's book. Several of us told him NOT to call them Bordello LI but Alex being Alex did not listen, certainly I would have called them early French Prison LI.

I do know of 1 handcuff of very similar design, will try to get a photo of it if I can persuade the owner to help.

Chris

holstcollection 25 Jul 2011

#10

Thanks Nils for posting the pictures!

When I compare my set to yours and the others, it looks like my set is slightly heavier. You also can see a difference by comparing the hinges.

There is a premature locking feature (a small hook, a spring and a button on the top) which seems to be gone on your set. Also the squared locking bolt is not original as it should be a six squared bolt.

Again, thanks for your posting!

Best,

Lars

Chris Gower 25 Jul 2011

#11

Lars, think the key is 7 sided not 6?? can you check? I remember one set that I had did not have a key and thought I could modify an Allen Headed bolt (6 sided) to fit - it did work but was relying more on a tight fit rather than fitting the spindle.
Chris

holstcollection 25 Jul 2011

#12

Thanks Chris for great information!

Do you have any idea how many weight versions there are? Three??

I did't know of a similar designed handcuffs an I would love
to see a picture of them. I remember to have seen a odd set of French handcuffs and think they are in Mark Lyons collection,
Mark, would you mind posting a picture if you see what cuffs I'm referring to?

I think the bolt on my set looks like a insex key.
I will check a second time when I get home.

Best,

Lars

Unknown / guest 25 Jul 2011

#13

Chris,

I'm back home again and checked the bolt, as I thought; it is six sided.

Let's hope you will be able to persuade the owner of the handcuffs to let us see a picture.

Lars

Nils 12 Jul 2015

#14

Recently I was able to find another set of these. They are somewhat lighter than my other pair, but in much nicer condition. They weigh 2196 grams (compared with 2581 grams from my other set, which seems to have gained some weight over 3 years). You press the button, and they pop open. The key is most probably not original.

I think they were pretty much all individually made, and that the difference in weight (unless with the 2 pound version) is incidental.

Interestingly, the lighter set has two locking positions, but the heavier set only has one.

I might be persuaded to part with my older, heavier set for a good offer. They lock and come with a working key, but the pop-open mechanism does no longer work (see photos).

Nils

Paul Davies 13 Jul 2015

#15

Very, very nice!

JM ROBIN 13 Jul 2015

#16

Hi everybody,

I also have the two different models in my collection.
It was used in French prisons at the beginning of the 19th century. The model for men weight two kg, for female 1,085 kg.
The are numbers stamped inside the lock. See details in my book volume 3 (p. 214).
There is also a copy of the drawer patent in my book volume 2 (p. 99). The original key has 7 sides as indicated on the patent. The key is the same for the two models.
Best regards,
JM Robin
Belgium