Rare Medieval restraints for sale

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

I forgot to mention in my last post that I have some other items for sale also. These are:

- Tower 3 ring double lock cuffs
- Tower edge key cuffs
- Cummings cuffs
- Mint plated older Darby 104 handcuffs
- RCS Darby cuffs
- Old steel Haitt adjustable Darby cuffs
- 1st model long chain Rivollier cuffs in near mint condition
- FN magnetic cuffs
- S&W model 94 security cuffs
- Saf Lok cuffs
- Stamped La Pegy cuffs (factory markings)

And others.

Interested parties may feel free to contact me.

Thank you, Steve Santini


Originally posted November 10 2004 at 11:18 AM

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

The Saf Loks and S&W 94's I'll be interested in but how Much ?

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Prices are Reasonable Folks Buy Now Before They are Gone.

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

let me know what version they are 1,2 or 3 and how much you want for them.

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Hello,

For those that may be interested, two of the rare and unique Medieval irons have now been listed on Ebay.

The item numbers are 3942861433 and 3942877797

Thank you, Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Steve

I am very impressed with both items. They are quite something.
Good luck with your sale.

Joe

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

The Lilly iron style of restraint I have seen in a documentary of WWII . Archival footage was shown of a male prisoner in a German concentration camp wearing this same type of item. He was sitting on a long bench seat and shackled, a chain coming up from the floor was fixed to the centre of the cuff.

The only real difference between the two was the fixture for the chain, one has a cross hole and the other only a circular hole. I hope this helps in dating the cuff.

Ian

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

While the above information is interesting, it unfortunately does not apply to this restraint which is obviously much older.

A close examination of the restraint on ebay by both myself and the Director of The Kriminal Medieval Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany reveals it is made using much older manufacturing technology the likes of which date to the 1600's and not the 1940's.

I also find it difficult to understand why such a restraint, or any restraint for that matter would be used in a concentration camp when the inmates were already imprisoned and under a great deal of strict control.

That being said, it is of course possible that restraints of a much older vintage than the 1940's were pressed into service during the war.

In such instances, people would have used what was available as opposed to using special order or custom made restraints which may not have been available or which were cost prohibitive.

If something old or ancient was around and workable, it could very well have been put to use.

A good example of this is the former Communist Republic of East Germany where Berliner handcuffs that dated to the late 1800's were still being used in prisons there as late as the 1960's.

Another is India, where in certain regions Darby handcuffs that date to the period of the British colonial occupation are still being used today. The cuffs may be a hundred years older or better but if they still work and there are no funds to replace them with modern restraints, they are still seen in service.

Merely seeing a particular restraint, or a "similiar restraint" in use during a particular time period, as Mr. McColl states, is not at all an accurate way to date it's true vintage or period of manufacture.

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Just an additional point...

It is common knowledge that in German WW2 concentration camps inmates were only kept alive as long as they were useful.

Slave labour was what many prisoners were used for.

Infractions of rules or disobedience were punished by beatings or death.

And sadly, if a person was of no use to you, they were killed.

One less person to house and feed.

It would have done no good to shackle a prisoner in a position where they could neither move, nor work.

Additionally, as a form of punishment, putting a person in irons is not recorded as one of the punishments used in concentration camps of the period.

That is not to say it was not used, but beatings and outright death were far more the norm and are archived in many sources.

Simple and accurate points as recorded by history...

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know that what I was watching was totally incorrect in all aspects. If I could remember the title and year of the production, I would inform them to contact you to get the actual information.

I am very pleased to hear that both you and Director of The Kriminal Medieval Justice Museum are experts in metal work and manufacturing techniques.

Handcuffs and products made in India or Pakistan are made in the same way as they have been for years. Just because something is made without modern technology doesn’t mean that it is not modern.

At least you know this type of restraint was used up to and maybe even after 1945.

Ian

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

You are most welcome Ian!

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

I have been following the above correspondense with interest. Many years ago I bought 3 lots of handcuffs from a French Auction House. These were the Bicycle chain type Berliner cuffs (think they have been dated at around 1830). The 2nd set were the heavy chain Leg-irons with triple twisted chain and a locking button again certainly French and the 3rd set were the Long Bar Lilly Type handcuffs with the triangular type key. These are the type Ian mentions with the centre ring, again I would say dating to the early 1800's. Attached is a photo of Alex Nichols wearing them. Unfortunately they were traded with Ray McKee back in about 1988 (who has them now???). It is always difficult to date items but I would still say the set that Steve has is probably early 1800's. Certainly the Castle at the Count of Flanders which almost certainly has the best collection of early 1600/1700 restraints from all over Europe did not have any Bar Type cuffs. Anyway I may be wrong.
Chris

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Chirs,

I find it interesting that anyone can date the bar cuffs I have without first seeing and examining them in person.

I find it even more interesting that the curator of the most prominent collection of Medieval restraints in Germany believes them to date to the late 1600's and yet other people who have not even seen them in person have totally different opinions.

Personally, I would put more stock in what a man who is in charge of the finest collection of Medieval period restraints says about them (no offence).

It may interest many here to know that in the Rothenburg Museum collection there are a number of other restraints which people have incorrectly indentified to having origins in other countires but which have provenance which clearly link them to German manufacture.

Of note is the so claimed "Houdini Spanish Execution Manacle" which I now personally believe is not Spanish at all in origin. In the Rothenburg Museum they have two examples of this style of restraint both with excellent provenance linking them to Germany as opposed to Spain.

Given this, if we were to assume ANY type of iron is of a period or country of origin merely because one "like it" was either seen on TV or found somewhere else, we would not be doing accurate research based on personal examination and also the auctual age of the restraint.

In any event, now we have three opinions on my Lilly type German irons.

One person says it is indeed Medieval, one says it dates to the 1940's, and now you say it is late 1800's.

Personally, after having actually held it, owned it, studied it, and compared it to other early Medieval restraints in a reknowned museum, I will stick with the opinion that it is far older that the 1800's or 1940's.

And, that being said, should it not sell on ebay due to the controversy which Ian and now you have voiced over it, I shall be more than happy to hang onto it.

Steve Santini.

P.S. In the Rothenburg collection, there were indeed a number of 'rigid irons" which kept the hands and feet well apart. So, the idea is in fact rather old in and of itself. There was also a device like the "Fenton Handcuff" but which imprisoned both the hands and the feet at once and had a built in lock mechanism. Obviously, this restraint was also Medieval. Given it's age and unique design, are we now to assume the Fenton shackle is much older because a similiar example is attributed to the 1600's? I think not and herein lies the problem with the system of dating restraints merely due to an extant or "similiar" item being out there.

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Am warming to your ideas - althought I did say early 1800 not late 1800. You are of course right about the bar / rigid type cuffs in fact the Tower of London has an original Scavangers Daughter dated at early 1600 and as we know this was a rigid type combination restraint. Also many European early restraints had the familiar Cross cut out in order to enable a chain to be passed through and certainly they date back to 1600's. This Forum works well enabling us to discuss various topics and giving our opinions some of which are right and some wrong!
Chris.

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Personally I think the restriant is old, how old? no real idea.
From my know of blacksmithing techniques, I would suggest 1700 century, the key for the retarint if original could give a clue due to it's bow design although there were many designs copied through the centuries.
However if Mr Santini has given his opinion and backed up by the director of the museum I cannot really see why he needs to be either asking for a possible date or justifing his arguements as to the age.

If they are that old and rare, if I owed them I wouldn't be selling them.

Ian

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Ian,

I am not asking for the age nor justifying my opinion. Merely stating it.

As for why I am selling it, well, that is my business and mine alone.

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Actualy, I think its kind of neat that there is a Medieval criminal justice museum.
Steve, can you tell us what the original provenance was for the material they had in the museum?

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

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Dear Mr Santini, I said if I owed it, I wouldn't sell it. Sorry if that appeared to be confusing to you. Maybe I should have tried to write that in a more simplistic manner. As for why you are selling it. I don't care.

All the best.

Ian

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

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Here is a picture of the barcuffs that Chris Gower mentioned.

Joe

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

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Many of the restraints in the Kriminal Museum were optained from private and other major historical collections throughout Germany and these hostories were related to me by the curator/director.

Some of them came from the former collection of torture instruments once displayed at Nuremburg and others were acquired from major Eurpoean auction houses and came with histories that linked them back to the original collection and/or owners.

The professionalism of this museum in cataloging and displaying the artifacts was something one could not help but be impressed with. The Director was very much interested in accuracy and I was pleased to be able to help him date and source some lesser known restraints in the collection.

If anyone knows the German people well, you will know that many of them are very meticulous and precise when it comes to record keeping and archival work.

The Medieval Kriminal Justice Museum in Rothemburg was certainly no exception to this rule and a great many of the items on display boasted a provenance that went back over many years and generations.

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Hi,

I noted with interest the picture of the hand irons Chris once owned. While they are certainly rigid and secure with a tube shrouded screw lock, this is where the similarities end.

Chris's irons seem to me to be of a far lighter weight and much less massive construction than the ones we have. His also have twin screw locks while ours has a single locking tube.

The wrist bands and bars in between are narrower and ours has wider wrist bands which taper into thinner bars much like the U.S. Lilly irons.

The weight of ours would also appear to be much heavier at over 10 lbs.

Of course, it is always very difficult to state with 100% certainty the exact age of primitive historical irons but it does seem that the more massive and heavy irons seem to date farther back in history.

Add to this the famous Medieval period "cross cut" for threading chain and all indications are that our irons are older than the ones Chris once owned.

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

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I would like to take this opportunity to send a sincere thank you to Joe for both creating this forum and also offering many collectors and dealers a chance to both network with each other and also share opinions.

This latest round of discussions re: my Medieval restraints is as good a case in point as any for the value of this forum.

Joe's forum has given many the chance to share opinions, compare pictures and notes, and provide historical references regarding restraints.

Certainly, there are those who use this forum to carry out personal agendas of dislike towards others they do not care for but usually, and thankfully, this place is a great one where those interested in restraints can come forward to try and help each other, as opposed to tear each other down.

All kudos to Joe for his vision and kindness in allowing us this special place to both meet and share.

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Steve
. . . you are too kind.

But I have a quesiton about the other medieval restraint you have on ebay, the one with two keys. Could you just tell me how big it is? You say it may be a hand or foot iron. How does the cuff size compare to a standard handcuff?

It is a really wild looking bit of hardware.

Joe

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Hi Joe,

I am assuming you mean the one with the plug blocked keyways.

It is a leg iron for small ankles or a hand irons for big wrists. It is VERY thick and massive being easilly at least as thick from top to bottom edge as 5 or 6 pair pf regular Peerless handcuffs stacked one on top of the other.

A prize indeed!

Steve Santini

Hi all,

I am going to be selling some rare and authentic Medieval European restraints from our collection. These restraints consist of 2 sets of leg manacles, a set or rigid wrist irons, like the Lilly only larger, longer and MUCH heavier, (over 10 lbs), and a set of padlocking figure 8 handcuffs attatched to a hand forged waist chain.

All of these articles are 100% authentic and are not replicas or remakes. Some of them I picked up on my recent trip to Germany. These restraints are also not of the typical North American slave chain type but are of a more rare and singular nature.

By far the most interesting is the MASSIVE Lilly type hand shackle but there are others of interest too. One of these is a rare German leg iron with a seperate key for each manacle and also a 3rd key that unscrews plugs that block the keyholes.

A match for this leg iron can be seen at The Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg, Germany. Aside from the one they have, I have never seen another like it in over 20 years of collecting restraints.

Anyone interested in any of these restraints is invited to contact me. I will forewarn you however that these items are rather rare so they will be priced accordingly. I know that many restraint collectors only go after patent "name brand" cuffs but these are far older and quite unique. Perhaps they may appeal to some serious restraint collector out there.

Thank you, Steve Santini

Click to expand...

Steve
Thanks.

From the picture, it just seems more like a leg iron to me than a handcuff. Of course that is only my guess.

However, that may make sense from your size description. Afterall three or four centuries ago people were simply smaller than they are today. So perhaps a small leg iron would have fit a larger number of people than would a large handcuff.

Joe