Hello
I recently purchased these handcuffs (or shackles?) and would like to know if anyone could help me date them. They appear to be all handmade forged iron and, while the tag indicated that they were slave shackles, I didnt think so when I bought them. However, after closer examination, the locking mechanism appears to be a spring and pin which, from a novice point of view, seems to be fairly easy to pick although I havent tried it. So Im not ruling out possible use on slaves. In any event they appear to be very early.
Any information will be greatly appreciated and it would be great if anyone can point me toward some good reference material for this type of locking mechanism.
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike:
Youd asked for information about spring wedge locks. Maybe this will help.
Spring wedge locks were invented independently by the ancient Romans and Chinese. They were developed for use in padlocks or other portable mechanisms, such as your fetters, in which the earlier type of gravity actuated pin tumbler lock (invented by the Egyptians) was unsuitable. You can pick up novelty locks of this type on eBay that are still being made in China and Tibet, like this:
The principle is rather simple. A locking wedge with attached leaf springs is passed through cuts on the end of the shackle bow (or in the lock body) which compress them, and when the wedge is fully in place, the springs return to their original configuration to hold the wedge in place, securing the lock.
The key acts as a wrench to compress the springs inside the lock body, allowing the wedge to be removed. Heres what I think is a rather nifty example of the type of lock mechanism you have:
This one is a bit unusual in that the three springs on the top and sides have to be compressed while the two on the bottom have to be expanded in order to unlock it. Its actually a rather secure lock, not so much because of the spring configuration, but the amount of brute effort it takes to force the key onto the wedge to compress and expand the various springs.
The large key slot on this style of lock presented a problem in that multiple small rods and levers could easily be inserted into the lock body to manipulate the springs and pick the lock open. So, to reduce the size of the keyhole to hamper picking, some enterprising person way back when came up with a modification that used a screw-type key, like this:
The key first has to be threaded into the lock body; once in, you just slide it down onto the wedge to compress the springs.
Another variation uses what looks like a warded lock key, but is actually a spring wedge design with the wedge permanently attached to the lock mechanism. In this example, the key works to compress a total of 6 springs.
Because of the cost of manufacture, fetters using a spring wedge lock usually have only one keyed lock coupled with a puzzle or cam lock on the opposite end, like these:
In case youre not familiar with it, perhaps this illustration will explain how that type of locking mechanism operates, with the chain itself securing the shackle in place.
Your set of fetters is rather unusual in that it has two locking shackles (I trust its okay to borrow your photo).
Have fun with your set. With some patience and ingenuity, you should be able to get them open. Making the key for your style of shackle is easy; just duplicate the configuration of the hole thats in the end of the shackle bow, making it just a tad smaller.
Franklin
