The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Kidd Iron

21 visible archived posts · 21 preserved total · topic ID 3837

Oly83 03 Dec 2010

Howdy all,

I picked up this restraint a few months ago without any knowledge of what the heck it is. With the knoweledge of a few fellow collectors, I quickly learned that it is called a Kidd Iron and was at least at one time in use in Australia. Apparently, there was one time a photograph showing this restraint on an aborigine man with a large spanish type padlock being used to secure the cuff.

Does anyone else have any info or photos of the Kidd Iron? Upon recieving this item, I immediatley started looking for any type of markings. As shown in the photos I found the broad arrow marking. Can anyone verify, where perhaps, this broad arrow has been used or if they have a the same mark on other cuffs. Any info or opinions would be quite welcome.

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Cheers,
Joshua

Anonymous 03 Dec 2010

This is a joke, right? You know that that marking isn't a broad arrow, right?

Dorson 03 Dec 2010

I am wondering if this is an old Fetters from Jim Stewart....

Steve Santini 03 Dec 2010

For info

bookings@thedarkmaster.com

Anonymous 03 Dec 2010

it is a chineese marking

Joshua 03 Dec 2010

Well anon I speak, read, and write two languages....English and bad English. I have learned "handschellen" but don't think I should claim to know German quite yet. However, now that you point out that it's a Chinese symbol, it certainly makes sense. Do you know what the symbol stands for? I wanted to harp on you for being a pu**y anon, but instead I must say thanks.

Judo Master 03 Dec 2010

It's probably another one of Santini's fakes!

handboeienfreak 03 Dec 2010

hi

sorry

that anon was me
i do not want to be anon i do not know how it happend

but i know it is chinese i saw it on more chinese cuffs

i think it means something like police or prison

i will ask it a friend of my is chinese

best

patrick

Joshua 03 Dec 2010

Shucks...here I was thinking that an anon finally had something worth a darn to say and there you go ruining that thought lol. I greatly appreciate the info and please let me know if you find out what it stands for.

Cheers,
Joshua

Sugar Cookies 03 Dec 2010

#10

JUST ASK SANTINI HE KNOWS EVERYTHING

The Amazing Michael 04 Dec 2010

#11

The marking on the Kidd Iron is the universal symbol for "Christmas tree". These cuffs were obviously given to someone as a Christmas gift at one time. I think they were given to Houdini by his brother Hardeen and if you eBay them, that is exactly what you should add to the description! LOL!

Nice cuffs Joshua.....I am sorry I don't have any useful info for you. Good luck finding something out about them.

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Oly83 08 Apr 2011

#12

Things to know;

Gene Brogan - Well known collector from back in the day

T.J. Ferrick - Dealer/Collector back in the 60's and 70's of old restraints (Had a catalogue that you could buy cuffs from)

Okay here is what I have come up with over the last few months of looking into the Kidd Iron/Long-John Handcuff. There were two stories to contend with when trying to find the history of this cuff.

A. John Bushey received this cuff from Gene Brogan some 10 odd years ago who stated to John that he had obtained this restraint back in the 60's from another collector. Only a few days after I purchased the cuff from John, Ian McColl received photos of the restraint and informed me that it was called a Kidd Iron and that he remembered having a photo of an aborigine man being restrained in this cuff with a padlock used to clasp it shut.

B. Thanks to Joe Tanner and Steve Santini I know as fact that Jim Stewart reproduced this same restraint in the 1980's. Stories of owning these cuffs and photos of the cuff validate this as fact.

There were a few oddities that bothered me with just assuming they were one of the restraints that were made by Mr. Stewart. John Bushey had no doubt that Gene Brogans story was legit but could not prove it. It was also not likely a coincidence that Ian Mccoll instantly recognized the restraint and knew it by name. One other side note...the ones made in the 1980's had very recognizable markings such as "Yuma Prison". As seen in the photo of my first posting the one I have has very odd markings that do not correlate to the same subject matter. Finally, if indeed Jim Stewart reproduced the cuff, there had to be examples of the original somewhere along the line.

So here it is, the proof that indeed both stories are true. Now I can't prove that mine is an example from the catalogue and not one made in the 80's. However I can show that Gene Brogan's story matches up.

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Joshua 08 Apr 2011

#13

I should clarify....The T.J. Ferrick catalogue that I'm showing is from 1961. If you have Stan's CD you can see it in its entirety in the "D:\HANDCUFF CATALOGS & Misc" file.

Dorson 08 Apr 2011

#14

One way might be able to tell is the thickness of the metal, all the reproductions I have seen were done in 1/8" strap steel with rounded edges. It was stock machine made metal from the local steel suppliers with standard widths of 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", etc. Yours seems to be heavier metal then the Fetters line. The shape of the wrist area is different too. One way to help solve the issues is Jim Stewart is still alive and would know his own product.

grenchat 08 Apr 2011

#15

Nice find! These appear to be hand-forged restraints. I can see where the hasp/staple design is much easier to fabricate than the recessed bolt/socket/plug design of the Lilly Iron.

On another note, I wish that I could still order the Peerless Extra-Light aluminum model featured in that 1961 catalog.

Happy Collecting!

Jason

Joshua 08 Apr 2011

#16

Dorson, I will certainly go home tonight and measure the thickness of the steel and will see if I can e-mail Jim Stewart and see what he knows. Thanks for the info.

Jason, I know what you mean! On a seperate page they have an Oregon Boot for $89.50. I might take a one, two or twenty at that price.

joe tanner 08 Apr 2011

#17

JOSH & ALL ::: what to say as it is like beating a DEAD horse to make it come ALIVE to run another race ... JUST WON'T HAPPEN !!! as previously told to JOSH - the KIDD IRON (the one he has) was NOT made in the 1960's - it was made in the 1980's !! i KNOW who made it !! as i sold most of the person's great restraint & padlock creations... HE was a MASTER CRAFTSMEN IRON WORKER & like IAN created working MASTER PIECES.... HE made many marked & UNMARKED ---- LILLY TYPE KIDD IRONS -- NECK COLLARS -- SPIKED NECK COLLARS - WRIST & ANKLE shackles.. etc etc ..... aside from this fact the items made by -- FETTERS -- FERRICK & the others were PLAIN JANE thinner metal -- WELDED - took HEX keys -- etc etc & were NOT -- HAMMERED IRON & AGED items..... why do WE (except for OURSELFS) continuely TRY to make things (restraints) older then they really are..... it could not be to increase the mystic & the value - could it ???? many of you purchased these SAME type items from me in the 1980's .---- so fuss up & tell it like it is/was ....joe

One who knows. 09 Apr 2011

#18

When you sold those things you represented them as REAL and super rare. Not to mention the names you had the guy stamp in the metal to fool your own clients into thinking the irons and padlocks you had the guy make for you were actually old and rare. Names like Winchester, Pinkerton Detective Agency, Wells Fargo, etc. You had your maker stamp the irons this way and the padlocks too. If anyone was ever trying to add value to things that were not authentic in the first place it was you Tanner. And now you come on here trying to claim the moral high ground. How typical.

joe tanner 09 Apr 2011

#19

notice you did not give your name because you are a FLAT ASS LIAR..... i did NOT, but i could have (because they are) sold them as RARE.... i sold them as what they were.... i could post some of my old MAIL lists & photos to prove you WRONG, but i do not need to as those who purchased back then knew what they were buying...... so stick it where the SUN don't shine, and where your MOUTH is blowing smoke out of.... joe

Anon456 09 Apr 2011

#20

Oh how I wish one Jack McGeorge was still alive as he could add to this discussion but I think his ashes are swirling around in a urn in 2 different locations as we speak. And probably for other reasons....

mustangbully 10 Apr 2011

#21

I am interested in a Kidd Iron , cash or trade.