I have noticed that the older Derby handcuffs (and leg irons) usually seem to have pins around the circumference of the end-plug of the lock tube, usually 4 pins, one at every 90 degrees. I assume this was to help secure the plug in place. But I don't see any sign of such pins in the later models. Does anyone know when and why this design change was made? Is anyone aware of any other design change over the Derby history?
Hi Andrew:
I think you've raised an interesting question: just how was it made? In this instance, just how, and WHY, was the end plug fitted upon a factory made British darby cuff in the manner it was. Not just the presence or absence of securing pins, but those funny little crow feet stampings as well.
Some time back I picked up a set of what seemed to be rather ordinary Hiatt darby cuffs on eBay. The only reason I bid on the things were they were so cheap. When I got them, I was immediately pissed and thought about returning them to the seller, but only after I'd lost my temper upon seeing them and throwing them out the back door as hard as I could at the nearest tree. Not only was one cuff damaged (on the end plug, with the pins drilled out and half-assed replaced), but the key didn't work.
Well, upon retrieving the cuffs from the back yard a few afternoons later, I changed my mind about them. First off, the key did indeed work. It was a left-handed key, with a number stamp that matched the cuffs. Second, in addition to being stamped HIATT, the cuffs also bore the stampings of WARRANTED WROUGHT, BEST and HARD. And judging from the various bangs and dings on the things, I wasn't the first person to lose my temper with the things, which explained why that one left-handed cuff had to be repaired, not just the pins, but restamping of the crows marks as well.
Those things are now one of my favourite set of cuffs, since they give hints (although not answers) to how they were made. While they were not what I expected or even wanted when I bought them, they raised questions for me. And after gaining an appreciation of them, I have been sorely tempted to take a hacksaw and cut some old darby handcuffs apart down the middle just to try to see how those solid end caps were attached.
Perhaps with your perception of this nuance on some but not all Darby restraints, you may one day find the solution. After all, the whole trick to discerning an answer is to first recognize the question.
Franklin
