The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

just starting out

14 visible archived posts · 14 preserved total · topic ID 3318

Josh 25 Dec 2009

Im just starting my handcuffs collection. Can anybody tell me a good pair of handcuffs to bid on Ebay. I've been looking quite a bit, but dont want to get ripped off. Any sugestions? Thanks Josh

T.Homm 25 Dec 2009

a good place to begin

Now Available from Cannon's Great Escapes

Handcuff Annual 2006

TH

Mr. Cuffs 26 Dec 2009

Any cuffs that say "Official Police Use". You will get a good return in the long run.

atlanta*casting 26 Dec 2009

Do I have to get some "Official Police Use" cuffs to be in the clique?

atlanta*casting 26 Dec 2009

Peerless early model with solid key.
Bean Cobb.
Mattatuck.
Tower Double lock.
H&R Super.

T.Homm 26 Dec 2009

'To be in the Clique "

Hmm exactly where is this going, I thought he was just starting out ?

TH.

Jack.Tanis 26 Dec 2009

Dear Josh,

I shall try to be helpful.

The host of this forum and the owner of this Web site, Joe Lauher, has chronicled almost three years of interesting eBay sales. It is well worth your taking the time to study it, and is at http://handcuffs.org/auctions.html.

Joe's site, Handcuffs.org, has a links page to other restraints collections, at http://www.handcuffs.org/links/. Many yet not all other online collection sites in turn have similar links pages. Viewing these different sites ought give you a good sense of what different collectors have, which can be an important part of your overall perspective.

The more you know, the better your understanding. The better your understanding, the better your chances of acquiring good items at reasonable prices.

All the best in your endeavours.

Cheers,

Jack
http://www.editing.org.uk/tanis/collectibles.htm

Paul 27 Dec 2009

The good news is anyone can collect handcuffs at very affordable prices.
But there are so many different sorts from $10 up to $6000.

My advise for what it is worth.
Ask yourself what interests you about handcuffs and choose an area of collecting. ie English, American, European, Old, New, etc. Buy books from Canons. As your interest and knowledge grows, so will your collection, but unfortunately not your bank balance.

Good luck.

Edgeplay_Cgo 27 Dec 2009

You need my "Handcuff Collector's Starter Kit." Just PayPal $149.95 to...

WHACK!

Owwwww!

Seriously, it depends a lot on what you want to do with your collection. Do you want contemporary cuffs, old American cuffs, medieval stuff, European? A mish-mash? There's no correct answer, other than what lights your lights. And expect your interests to change.

If you know nothing about cuffs, check out the Peerless and Smith & Wesson catalogs on line. They will at least introduce you to some of the features of quality handcuffs.

Duty quality cuffs are almost never sold as "Official Police Use" or similar Bullsjit. Those words alone, almost guarantee junk. US police quality cuffs are certified to meet the standards of the National Institute of Justice under NIJ Standard 0307.01. All the regular cuffs by S&W, Peerless, Thompson (Formerly Hiatt-Thompson) Safariland (Formerly Hiatts) meet the NIJ standard, so many sellers don't bother to list it on their ads.

Most of the other cuffs in the world don't meet NIJ, even if they are "better" cuffs.

Avoid the "Authentic Slave Irons," and prison labeled material sold on eBay. It is almost all junk made in India. One of our members has posted an eBay guide
http://reviews.ebay.com/HANDCUFF-COLLEC ... 0001203284 It's worth reading.

The guide section to this forum http://handcuffs.org/ has lots of good stuff.

atlanta*casting 27 Dec 2009

#10

Keep up the good work.

Chufu 05 Jan 2010

#11

When starting out become informed about escape artist and which ones collect. let them know you are interested in cuffs and hang around when they get older like me because if you don't get the cuffs from the artist you may get a chance to get them from the family when the escape artist is gone.
Some have made out very well this way.
Norman Bigelow

Franklin 06 Jan 2010

#12

Hi Josh:

If you wish to collect for the simple fun and enjoyment of it, then collect anything and everything to which you feel compelled.

If you wish to be a Collector, with a capital "C" then have at that.

I started out as a lower case "c" collector. For a bit, I aspired to be a capital "C" Collector.

Given the choice, I much prefer being a low "c" collector.

grenchat 06 Jan 2010

#13

Greetings!

I've been a lower case collector my entire life, and I love it.
While there are several coveted antique cuffs that I aspire to add to my collection, I'm of the opinion that many models became obscure due to inherent design flaws, and Im happy to save the space and cash by omitting these cuffs from my modest collection.

I started out with metallic toy cuffs, then soon exchanged these for short lived Takeda cuffs, upgraded to Peerless clones, genuine Peerless and S&W cuffs.
For actual use rather than collecting, I'd say that S&W and Peerless provide the most value for their price, though any cuff that takes a "standard" type key isnt very secure due to several factors.

Some advice for bidding on or buying antique cuffs: always insist on clear photos showing both sides of the cuffs; ask the seller if they lock/unlock properly; be especially leery of rusted cuffs and cuffs that appear to have been mended; if you purchase cuffs that don't come with at least a replica key, you run the risk of buying non-functioning antiques (wall hangers).

Happy collecting and welcome to the club!

Jason

Chufu 06 Jan 2010

#14

If you buy and sell some cuffs you can help pay for your collection. I am not a dealer but I did buy some cuffs to sell so I could buy some for my collection. Although I have perhaps three hundred cuffs I am not a collector like some of the people here. Although I fully appreciate the wonderful collections here, my interest was how the lock works so I could survive as an escape artist.
If I were not an escape artist I would have taken the money that I spent on the act and put it into cuffs.
It can be an addiction collecting cuffs. Years ago Prynce Wheeler sent me a copy of a check a friend on mine sent him with a note. The note said, "I can't sleep a night thinking about those cuffs. Here is a blank check, fill it out for the amount that you want and send me those cuffs."
I have found my photos of rare beautiful cuffs that are ONE of a kind made by a tradesman and when I can figure out how to post the photos I will post them here. Norm