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Strangre "darbys", looks like Swedish J Walen...

16 visible archived posts · 16 preserved total · topic ID 2704

PatrikDanielsson 05 Sep 2008

Hello

Got this "darbys" on an auction here in Sweden, they really look like Swedish J.walen handcuffs, but have a really strange locking device, no key hole where its "usally" is, only a pin that you need to push in hard on the "other side". One "pin" on one of the cuff is missing.They are compared here whith another set of Swedish Walen handcuffs.
Anyone of you know anything about them???

I tried to mail Lars , but the mail just bunching back.

Best Regards

Patrik

lauher 06 Sep 2008

Patrik

I do not know anything about them, but they are a very nice find. Congrats.

Now I have something else to look for.

Joe

The Amazing Michael 06 Sep 2008

Really neat Darbies; I have never seen a pair like them. This isn't some "Photoshop prank" like Lars' little stunt last April 1st is it??? LOL! Nice find!!!!

Cheers, Mike

Patrik 06 Sep 2008

i was waiting for that question about Lars Photoshop joke:-), but those handcuffs are for real.

best regards

Patrik

Shawn Ness 06 Sep 2008

Out of morbid interest does anyone think it was some sort of escape prop?

The Amazing Michael 06 Sep 2008

First let me say, good to here from you Shawn......I thought I was going to see your face on a milk carton before too long! LOL! Anyway, I have seen Darbies that were gimmicked to open in a similar way, by drilling a hole in the end by the lock bolt......but these look like they were made this way professionaly. My thought is, there would have been a much better way to make a more escapable cuff (one that could have been able to be opened without any sort of tool) without going to such trouble. Someone went to great lengths to manufactuer this cuff......I think someone liked the Darby design but didn't like the painstaking key turning that is involved with using them. This could be a prototype of an updated Draby. Who knows?

Cheers, Mike

Anonymous 06 Sep 2008

i did forget to tell one thing about the"locksystem" on the handcuffs , the spring loaded "pin" needs a "tool/key" to open them, you need to push it in at least 3-4mm behind the "plate" to have them to open.

Best regards

Patrik

Steve Santini 06 Sep 2008

A movie prop or stage prop for actors.

Sure, something must push in the pin to open them but that something could be very uncomplicated and very common so there would be no need to worry about misplacing a proper key.

The ideal prop cuff for actors.

Steve Santini

atlanta*casting 07 Sep 2008

Patrik, Can you get a closeup photo of the missing pin side and maybe shine a LED light in
to see into the cylinder?

Is the missing pin side locked?

Does the pin lock the handcuff shut?

It seems like the pin would have been made tapered or flanged to prevent it from falling out
of the handcuff. (or it could be stuck inside)

What an interesting pair of handcuffs you have, Congratulations on your find.

PatrikDanielsson 07 Sep 2008

#10

Here is some more pics, and a "drawing" of the lock system...
on the end whith the pin/button the "plate" is loose, looks like someone before have tried to use something sharp to get it to stay in place.
The cuffs looks to well made to be a movie prop or something like that.

PatrikDanielsson 07 Sep 2008

#11

i made a misstake in the drawing, the the thing that lock the cuff together is drawn to the wrong direction...whith my drawing the cuff would never lock

Dorson 07 Sep 2008

#12

Not being able to see it in my hands to examine for wear patterns, etc. and test spring tension. I have a theory that someone was looking for a more secure looking system in there own thinking. I am assuming that the spring tension is heavy enough that you can't push it in with your fingers and if locked in them that it also would be hard to push that pin down far enough to release. I'm not sure how far down the pin has to be pushed to release but I gather it needs to be flush to the top of the cap if not pushed a bit beyond that, not sure. With that as starting premise, then the key of sorts I gather is something might have slipped over the cap as in sliding and compressing the pin into the cap. Another possibility might be some that slips over the cap at one end and pivots and pushes the pin into the cap. Kinda like a old style bottle cap opener...

Patrik 07 Sep 2008

#13

Yes your right about the spring tension,you cant press the button enought just by the fingers, it needs to be pushed in a bit more, it needs to go "inside" the "metalplate" to release the cuff.

Patrik

atlanta*casting 07 Sep 2008

#14

Patrik.

Thanks for sharing additional photos of your handcuffs.

One can get a better idea of how they were manufactured and see more clear how they work.

johanahlberg 08 Sep 2008

#15

Patrik,

they are indeed a pair of Swedish Walen handcuffs from the once Swedish handcuffmaker. They are drilled to open with a tool, could be gaffed for stage or escape as steve pointed out. I own several original Walen cuffs and none of them have these locking system! You did a barging for 506 SVKR even if they are not in working order.

Johan Ahlberg
Sweden

Patrik 08 Sep 2008

#16

Yes it was a nice find, gonna make a copy of the button that still exist on one of the cuffs, and mounted it to the one that are missing it.
After that they should be working again as it should be.