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Backstrap Darby Survey

61 visible archived posts · 61 preserved total · topic ID 4281

lauher 28 Aug 2011

I am would like to ask you all about any back strap Darby handcuffs that you might have in your collection. I am particularly interested in those that might have dates. Most backstrap Darby cuffs seem to have been sold to the British Military and they dated most of their cuffs.

I have examples from the following companies.

Parker Holborn
Nichols
Field & Sons

Hiatt
-- B.O. Board of Ordnance (this would be pre 1855)
-- M & C marked cuffs. I have four marked 1887, 1901, 1904 and 1915.
------ I know of others marked 1860 and 1878
-- Hiatt Marked British Made
--Hiatt "British Made" on a belt marked 1942

The previous examples are all "real" back strap Darbies. Where the hinge is made by threading an extension of the boy through the hinge and then bending in back over. Later examples are called "fake" backstrap Darby cuffs because the backstrap is simply a drilled protrusion on the bow.

I have the following examples.

-- RCS 1941
-- MCI 1941
-- JG 1941 Flat bottom - 1943, 1952 rounded bottom

The fake backstrap handcuffs all seem to have been made for the British Military. They must have liked the extra weight.

So could all look at your collections and see what you have. I would like to know what dates you fine on you cuffs or if you have undated examples. Do you have examples from any other companies?

Does anyone have a backstrap Irish 8? I have one strange light weight one marked L.F.H.
Does anyone have a backstrap leg iron of any kind?

thanks for your help and comments.

Joe

handboeienfreak 28 Aug 2011

Hi Joe

i've only 4 pairs of backstrap darby's

RCS 1941 key number 2755

hiatts longer chain 2 swiffels no date key number 4

RCS 1941 key number 622

JG 1943 key number 1184 marked with a crown and letters A M under

hope this is info helps

best

patrick

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Atlanta*Casting 28 Aug 2011

I sold my pair of backstrap darbies last year , the only markings on them were warranted wrought and the number 8 . the end caps had a dot in the center .

Their condition being excellent and well cared for , they had developed a nice warm cocoa brown patina .

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CuffmanBelgium 28 Aug 2011

Hi Joe,

I know I have a JG 1952 and an RCS 1945. There might be more but I'm not sure.

Peter

axylon 28 Aug 2011

Stamped "Wingham kent" and '257' and "Field and sons 233 holborn London". Looks like a 'real' backstrap to me.

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Mark Lyons 29 Aug 2011

Nothing too fancy:

mark
O--O

.

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dancingcane 29 Aug 2011

Good morning from Germany,
backstrap and backstrap is not the same right?
As far as I know are the following models a "real" backstrap:

The Cuff

from "Atlanta*Casting"
with "8" stamped

from "andrew"
Field and Sons with "Wingham kent" and '257' and "Field and sons" "233" "holborn London" stamped

A false backstrap (not overlap forged):
from "handboeienfreak"
Reuben Craddock & Sons "1941" key number "2755"
Hiatts longer chain 2 swiffels no date key number "4"
RCS "1941" key number "622"

from "Mark Lyons"
"J.G." "1952"

Otherwise please me better!

Best regards

Jens

Paul Davies 29 Aug 2011

The Hiatt with the 2 swivels is a real backstrap. One way to tell is that the clevis is attached - not cast with the rest of the bow. That should be true for all false backstraps.
Another interesting thing about the RCS false backstraps is the sizes. Hiatt from around the First War were stamped 1, 2, 3 for sizes whereas RCS have little dimples on the side of the bow where the bow meets the lock. One dimple = size 1, 2 dimples + size 2 etc. You can see them in the 3rd Pic - size 3.
I'll check what I have to answer Joe's questions and get back to you.
Paul

Paul Davies 29 Aug 2011

I have 3 Hiatt backstrap, all marked M&C with Arrow dated 1860, 1914, 1915. All sizes 2 and 3.
I have one which is only marked Warranted Wrought but it looks like a Hiatt.
And one Field & Sons also marked Wingham Kent like the one pictured above but mine has a dark brown patina.
Hope that helps.
I do not have any false backstraps but I'm looking for an early RCS with 2 matching keys.
Paul

Paul Davies 29 Aug 2011

#10

Can anyone add to the time period that cuff sizes (not serial/key numbers) were stamped on cuffs? I have between 1860 to 1915 on my Hiatts.
Paul

lauher 29 Aug 2011

#11

Thanks to all for the information. I have a couple of addition/corrections.

My Field & Sons is also from Kent. They must have really liked Field & Sons backstrap Darbies.

And I have decide that my unusual Hiatt backstrap is indeed a "real" one, not drilled. The "strap" is just much thicker than the others and a bit better formed. But upon closer inspection and a good cleaning I think it is just a somewhat different looking example of a real backstrap Darby. Sorry for the confusion.

Joe

Joseph Fox 29 Aug 2011

#12

Non-Adjustable Darby

Markings:

"Hiatt BIRMM"

M&C 1902

"BJ" on cap

"Broad Arrow" mark.

____________________________________________________________

If the meanings of "M&C" or "BJ" are known - please advise.

handboeienfreak 29 Aug 2011

#13

Hi

The hiatts with 2 swiffels is a real backstrap
the others the 2 rcs and the jg are false backstraps

the rare swiffel on the rcs is real factory made
the hiatts with 2 swiffels i'm not sure

best

patrick

Tom Gross 29 Aug 2011

#14

Joe, hi! I've wondered, for many years, exactly what M&C stood for. It intrigues me that it is always accompanied by a date, while most darbies are not dated. The only ones I have happen to have First World War dates, and so I thought that it might somehow relate to wartime production, but that wouldn't explain the other dates which we now know about. Might the other dates click with the Crimean War and the Boer War?

It occurred to me that M&C might stand for "Military & Constabulary". But, in those days, who BUT the military or the constabulary bought handcuffs? So why even bother to mark them for that? Hiatt, of course, has no surviving records. Over the years I have written the Imperial War Museum, the archives at the Tower of London, the British Home Office and the British Patent Office, and nobody has a clue.

lauher 29 Aug 2011

#15

Tom

I think we finally figured out the M&C last year.
I am pretty sure it stands for Military and Civil Departments.

There are lots of references to this in Google books. For example:

The M&C departments include the Board of Ordnance which was responsible for procurement as well as the Judicial office.
Joe

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Joseph Fox 29 Aug 2011

#16

Hi Tom: Thanks to Joe Lauher's reply...we finally just might have an answer to our long-awaited "M&C" mystery.

Joe Lauher: Naturally, I re-checked your excellent "British Handcuffs" book - re: the "M&C"...and at the time of publication, what the initials meant - was still unclear. So, thanks for the updated info!

--Joe Fox

Tom Gross 29 Aug 2011

#17

Yes, thank you Joe (Lauher). That is an excellent discovery and I agree with Joe Fox that the mystery seems to have been solved thanks to your diligence.

Atame 30 Aug 2011

#18

This Darby is marked "Parker Holborn", but the key is marked "HIATT". Cuffs AND key are marked "226" in identical letters. The surface of the key also matches to the cuffs, so it seems that it originally came with them.

Best regards,
Guenter

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Ian McColl 31 Aug 2011

#19

Mine is Fields and Son 533 (104 model)
?t=1314776501

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Justin 31 Aug 2011

#20

My Hiatt Backstraps are stamped "HIATT BIRMM" and have the "B.O" and broad arrow mark on the end caps.
They are stamped size "1"
The number 213 is stamped on top of the backstrap itself.

My R.C.S. backstraps are dated 1941. The cuffs and both keys are stamped 2754
Interestingly, I noticed Patrick's 1941 R.C.S are number 2755 !

Justin

Damon Shields 31 Aug 2011

#21

Joe,

Backstrap Darbys - Parker Holborn and Nichols, no dates.

False backstrap Darbys-RCS 1945, JG 1952, JG 1943.

Damon

lauher 31 Aug 2011

#22

Justin

Is the B.O. mark on the end caps of your cuffs a factory mark or has it been added later?
The one I have looks like a later addition, not put on by the factory.

Joe

LK 01 Sep 2011

#23

false backstrap darby RCS size 3,two key's # 1780 dated 1941

false backstrap darby RCS size 2,two key's #617 dated 194? (last number unreadiable)
i see very little size differance in these two when holding them togather side by side is that normal????

LK D~D

Justin 01 Sep 2011

#24

Joe,

Both the B.O. and broad arrow marks also look like later additions on my cuffs.
These markings are much fainter than the other stamps on the cuffs.
Difficult to photograph due to the dark patina, but the broad arrow ( 6mm high ) is positioned on top of the B.O. mark ( 3mm high )

Justin

Chris Gower 05 Sep 2011

#25

Interesting survey and I can certainly add a few more items to your list, I have about 18 different patterns in my collection (which is in chaos at the moment so am having difficulty finding the items). However, below is a list:

False Backstrap:

RCS size 1
RCS size 2
RCS size 3
RCS size 3 dated 1941 original chrome plating
JG 1941
JG 1952 KE2770
MCI 1942 with broad arrow
M.C. 1940
RCS
RC&S size 3 1940 (do you know of any others marked RC&S)? Normal strap hinge RCS key does not fit it.
RCS 1941 size 2 #2665 (Externally threaded Sheffied Pattern) - No key (came from Germany but not sure whether it was factory produced or modified at a latter date).

Genuine Backstrap:

Hiatt early model # 360
GIDNEY DEREHAM
Hiatt 102 pattern (this is the heavy pattern not to be confused with the 104 model)
Hiatt 102 pattern BIRM M&C 1895
Field & Sons
Hiatt Body Belt dated 28-02-30 with heavy strap hinge cuffs.

I am sure I have others around and will update you as and when. I see that there have been several comments ref cuffs marked KENT. Back in 1978 I did buy about 450 handcuffs from Kent Police at £1- each!! NO KEYS with any of them!! I will try and find my original paper work which lists the different models, all I can remember was there was only 1 Hiatt Home Office Pattern cuff and two Hiatt Sheffield Pattern cuffs. There were quite a few Fields & Sons Strap hinge cuffs all marked with Kent on them so I guess that over the years these have ended up in various collections through out the world.

Chris Gower

Chris Gower 06 Sep 2011

#26

Have just found the M.C.I false strap hinge cuffs and they are dated stamped 1942.
Joe you asked whether there are any Strap Hinge Leg-Irons, I did have an unusual set (see page 83 of Alex's book). Tom Gross now has these in his collection, however, although genuine and old they appear to have been factory made using a standard genuine strap hinge handcuff and an extra hinge added.
What we do know is that the set of LI I have marked Hiatt Moor Street are not strap hinge and date from about 1820 so for some reason or another Hiatt/Froggatt/Nichols all seeme to make LI without needing to make the strap hinge.
Chris gower

ROBERT PRECIOUS 02 Dec 2011

#27

Hi Joe, I have 4 sets of legirons one set is parker Holborne and 3 sets of hiatt
i am thinking of selling. the hiatts have keys, but parkers is missing. However one of the hiatt keys fit.

silentbd 20 Feb 2024

#28

Is there any info on when Hiatt stopped doing back strap as a normal production item? I know the military / M&C had them for ages after hiatt made more modern pinned hinges (I guess as a special request order), but my pair of hiatt back strap have no military markings of any kind and the tongue of the back strap does not extend as far back or is anywhere near as thick as all the M&C ones or BO listed on handcuffs.org gallery?

PaulJDavies 20 Feb 2024

#29

Firstly BO (Board of Ordnance) cuffs predate 1857. After that they became WD (War Department). These are purely military cuffs. M&C marks appear on thin and thick backstraps as well as standard darbies.
M&C overlaps the WD period because they are for Military &/or Civil use. M&C cuffs are usually dated and were probably? last stamped as such at the end of World War One based on my dated ones. I think false backstraps appeared after that. The Broad Arrow or Crows Foot or Pheon mark continued on with most government own items of any kind.

silentbd 21 Feb 2024

#30

I think you are right regarding the military contracts but I think for general police/security etc orders weren't actual backstrap replaced with the more modern pinned hinged before 1900? In the catalogues they are always depicted with a pinned hinge and even my pair from late 1800s have a pinned hinge. It feels like the military had varying differences from "the normal" in some cases like thicker, back straps, false back straps, but the general products of HIATT seemed to be different. I'm mainly trying to figure out when their main product line (not special military contracts etc) stopped using back strap as the primary hinge type. Since my pair are not military, I think knowing when they made the move to pinned hinges as standard might get me a tad closer to dating the pair I have.

PaulJDavies 21 Feb 2024

#31

Both types of hinges existed from at least 1800, maybe 1780, that can be dated. The pinned hinge is the most common in all eras, but essentially there is no difference in how the bow part of the hinge was made. It is folded over with either an exposed strap or an invisible strap. You might find my photos of this somewhere on this site. My earliest pinned hinge can be dated prior to 1816, so they are not modern.

silentbd 21 Feb 2024

#32

1816? I thought the Darby style wasn't around until 1840 ish or maybe 1850? I may not be correct but I thought the classic Darby handcuff like these were mid 1800s onwards. I'm just reaching for peripheral info to help in figuring out as close as possible how old my particular HIATT backstrap are. I'm hoping some people with more experience of backstraps than me will detect things in my pictures or info here about the backstrap (on darbies) when they stopped being a standard item might help shed light on it. I like them a lot but I cannot figure out so far if they are an early backstrap as one person guessed from the original seller's bad pictures or if they may be a middle or later model within whatever period they were a primary hinge style for Darbies.

PaulJDavies 22 Feb 2024

#33

One more time. The pinned hinge Darby existed from around 1800 or earlier. The exposed backstrap was never the primary style - just look at the numbers in collections. As Hiatt was making cuffs under his own name, not as Griffin & Hiatt, from c1818 and your cuffs appear to be fairly early as previously stated, my best guess of the age of your cuff would be middle 1800s. Since yours is not stamped Moore St or Masshouse Lane, it it nearly impossible to say.

silentbd 22 Feb 2024

#34

Excellent. I'm not sure where I got that from but you're clearly right. That is really interesting. People have shared all kinds of info in articles/educational videos etc and it's annoying when we get inaccurate info. Glad you could clear that up for me.

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Ian McColl 22 Mar 2025

#35

Is there a chance those who posted photos of their cuff hinges and can remember what they posted, do so again. I am interested in detailing the four type of UK darby hinges.

PaulJDavies 23 Mar 2025

#36

For commercial brands only:
1. backstrap (c1780 - WW1)
2. cast 'false' backstrap (WW2- Korean war)
3. 'warranted wrought' 'invisible' backstrap, pinned (c 1780-198?)
4. non backstrap - cast, drilled, pinned (WW1- ????)

Not included are cast Boer War which are not Darbies (1880-1940s)
Any I've missed?

Ian McColl 24 Mar 2025

#37

In a cursory inspection of the darby cuff, the hinge could be seen as having two distinct types. Conventional hinge, (machined interlocking round 'knuckles" pivoting on a pin fitted thru the centre.) and the forged back strap ( the integral tail of the bow is passed thru a slot on the hinge of the lock tube and then forge welded back to the bow. However, closer examination will show differences of both types in regard to how they are manufactured.

1) Forged hinge. The end of the bow is flattened, rolled over to create the knuckle, with hole naturally produce at the same time. The hole appears as a tear drop and may not easily been seen when the lock tube is assembled.
2) Forged backstrap. The tail is formed to create the knuckle of the hinge, also producing the eye for the lock tube to pivot on. With the tube tube fitted , the tail is forge welded back to the outer face of the bow.

3) False backstrap. Cast bow with integral spine resembling a conventional backstrap. The lock tube is cast and incorporates the hinge pivot in the design. Actually two pivots are formed, one on each side. This could be imagined as a letter 'C' and the bow is insert into the gap and then pressed together, closing the gap.
4) Cast hinge. The bow and the lock tube are cast with the knuckles of the hinge. These are both machined with a slot or mill cutter so each mesh together and a fixed with a pin riveted thru holes drilled in the centre of the hinges.
5) Pinned false backstrap. Same bow as described in 3) but utilising a cast lock tube machined to fit over the backstrap spine and then drilled and pinned.

PaulJDavies 24 Mar 2025

#38

I no longer own any false backstraps and never taken one apart, so for your #3 I'll take your word for it.
Interestingly, on an early double hinged backstrap leg iron, the hinge at the lock tube is a visible backstrap but the other hinge in the middle of the bow is an internal strap made smooth -for obvious reasons. This is probably the same for Plug 8s - made smooth.

Ian McColl 27 Mar 2025

#39

Photo of a hinges of two darby cuffs.
'A' hinge knuckle of a cast bow. Hole drill to accept the pin.
'B' hinge knuckle formed by folding the end of the bow over onto itself, forge welding together and then drilling a hole for the pin.

Unknown / guest 17 Apr 2025

#40

#3 (from my list of types) cast darby lock and cast bow RSC darby

silentbd 17 Apr 2025

#41

Owning and dissecting are different things. It's rare for someone to dissect.

Ian McColl 17 Apr 2025

#42

I thought you were against pointless posts and with all the cowardly ANON posts here, where has your rightious voice of anger been?

Shawn Spohn 19 May 2025

#43

I have one false backstrap marked 1240 over R.C.S over (dated) 1941 over (size) 1. I would like to find a key for this and a couple other Hiatt' s I have.
Regards, Shawn

Ian McColl 20 May 2025

#44

Good photo of a false back strap. I can see the mold line left under the bow. These were made so cheaply that this was not even polished out.

Unknown / guest 21 May 2025

#45

Because no one asked.

vakevainen.mika 21 May 2025

#46

I just got thes two from auction reasonable 72 euros price.

Ian McColl 21 May 2025

#47

Excellent ! The JG are so crude compared to the other. I have found the JG have two different thread too.

thenarsian 22 May 2025

#48

Hiatt M&C 1901 Backstraps

Unknown / guest 22 May 2025

#49

RCS 1943 False Backstraps

Ian McColl 22 May 2025

#50

A great example of a real forged backstrap, The one in the foreground has dirt in the hinge, the one at the back shows the hinge better. I replied to your email but haven't heard back.

rejones68 24 May 2025

#51

They definitely have different threads. My JG 1943 and JG 1952 keys are not interchangeable, I wasn’t that surprised though because of the time between the production of each set. Ron J

Ian McColl 24 May 2025

#52

For a cuff that I assume was used during and just after war time I am surprised that they are not the same key. If Hiatt and Thompson could make the same thread through several 'same' models , JG could have also. If these were made for a Government contract, it is typical that specs are supplied for the contract to be tendered for. It's odd. I have tooling for 1943 and 1952 threads.

Oh Wow! 24 May 2025

#53

They definitely have different threads. My JG 1943 and JG 1952 keys are not interchangeable, I wasn’t that surprised though because of the time between the production of each set. Ron J
For a cuff that I assume was used during and just after war time I am surprised that they are not the same key. If Hiatt and Thompson could make the same thread through several 'same' models , JG could have also. If these were made for a Government contract, it is typical that specs are supplied for the contract to be tendered for. It's odd. I have tooling for 1943 and 1952 threads.

Well, aren't you special?

rejones68 24 May 2025

#54

Edited! I just tried the keys to each again to be certain on what I said. What I found was the keys from the 1943 set do actually work on the 1952 set. However the keys from the 1952 set will not even begin to screw down on the lock bolts to the 1943 set. Both of the sets have the military broad arrow stampings. Ron J

MAGA Cums Loudly! 24 May 2025

#55

I have tooling for 1943 and 1952 threads.

Wow, Simply amazing!

We have Harbor Freight too!

C.G.E. 24 May 2025

#56

How can you have any tooling left? I thought Mark and Shelia Cannon made you lose your tools and your machine shop back around 2010 - 2012? Isnt that why you went out of the handcuff making business?

rejones68 24 May 2025

#57

Ian was selling keys long after that time frame. I’ve purchased numerous keys from him in the start of my collecting. I also know collectors still purchasing keys from him. Ron J

Ian McColl 24 May 2025

#58

Ron, the TPI is the same , the angle of the thread and the diameter is different.

Five cuffs and counting 25 May 2025

#59

Welcome to the forum Shawn. Mark Lyons should be able to help you with keys to your darby cuffs. He is this site's resident locksmith and has the biggest collection in the USA. If he cannot help, I don't know who could. Buy American made !

Shawn Spohn 25 May 2025

#60

Thank you. I’ve known Mark for many years and will reach out to him. Thank you.

rejones68 25 May 2025

#61

Have you ever bought a Darby key from Mark? Just curious because I’ve never heard Mark mention anything about making Darby keys. Ron J