Talking about Darby cuffs...

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

I suppose the shark fins are about minimizing risk of injury (or the protruding parts being used as a weapon). Very nice find.

Cheers
Nils

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

Congratulations on adding them to your collection.

Steve Santini

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

Lars,
a couple of things stand out to me on the construction of these le irons, and your cuffs,

The first is the swivel you thought was the same, but I have to disagree on that. There seems to be a significant difference between the swivels in where the seam between the two parts of the swivel is, if you look at the left side of the swivels in your last picture they are different distances from the ring. also on the right side of the swivel there seems to be a slight "bevel" to the top, that could be from wear but it's in a strange place for that. My feeling is these two bevels come from two DIFFERENT makers.
The holes right through the bow are interesting, but I would think a breaking point in cuffs. I think the reason you dont see many of these is not many would have survived.

What's interesting to me is the pin/ Rivet that can be see on the lock tube nearer the bow on one picture. I wonder if it was used to somehow secure the locking mechanism? This doesnt look like a normal darby design to me.A very interesting set of restraints to be sure.Enjoy them.

Edri

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

I agree with Erdi. Small, uniform parts like that tend to be die struck. Thetwo examples are the same general pattern, but are struck on different dies.

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments and the congratulation!

You are right about the swivels are not exactly the same but very close in design. Ive seen many different handcuffs from around the world but Ive ever seen as big swivels in the same design like these.

If we look to how the cuffs are assembled I can tell both of them have caps riveted to them and most Darby handcuffs don't. The shape to the bows also has a similar design and so have the hinges. Nobody can tell for sure but Im quite convinced they came from the same factory and I also believe they are Swedish. I have attached a picture of the handcuffs to compare.
Unfortunately, there are no markings on any of them.

Lars

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

The Fins on the larger cuffs (Leg irons?) would seem to be there to protect the bow as it comes out of the lock. A clever or bored prisoner must have broken an earlier pair by hooking them repeatedly against a fixed object. Again, the through holes could have been the problem. Could not use the fins as a weapon on the legs without a longer chain, and a bit of ju-jitsu.

P

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

Elliot,

You are right! The fins are to protect the bows from breaking and to cause injuries.
The bows are so close to the fins that there is no possibility to affect them.
Of course, the through holes make the bows more fragile and breakable and a protection
is needed. These are the only leg irons (or handcuffs) I know about with a bow protection feature.

Cheers,

Lars

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

These strange leg irons are now mended and work great. Also a key has been made for them.
The function is a little different than I thought; they shut close in any of the four positions
without using the key. Pictures below.

Lars

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

The leg irons are most interesting. Also congratulation on having what appears to be a very high quality key made. Maybe when you get the chance would you mind posting a more detailed picture of the key.

Regards,

Mark (RMP)

These strange and unusual leg irons arrived yesterday. The swivel is more or less identical to
the one on a pair of Darby handcuffs I bought here in Sweden a few years ago. Since I've never seen
similar cuffs or leg irons before, I guess they are actually manufactued here in Sweden.

The leg irons are adjustable in four positions but I don't have a working key yet. A key for
these leg irons has to me much longer than an usual screw key as the threaded bolt is very deep in
the lock (26 mm)

There is also an unusul feature, a "shark tailed" bow protection which is solid.

The top on one side has been tampered and will be mended and a key will be made,
otherwise they are in great condition.

I'm very interested to know if anyone has any information on these.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com








Comparison handcuffs (top) and leg irons.

Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

Thanks! Here is a better look of the key. It's totally hand made to follow the design
of the leg irons.

Lars