Kakola handcuff

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Great work!

Cheers, Steve

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Hi Steve.

many thanks for the kind words, and that someone appriciate this rare handcuff!

It was many hours work to restore it! Great fun to bring it back to life!

... --- ...

Johan Ahlberg
Sweden

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Very nicely done. I have a Kakola cuff that came from Joe Fox that is even further gone.
But perhaps I should give it a try.

Joe

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Well done Johan!

I never could imagine anyone would be able to make them work again
when I saw the picture on the posting of the auction site.
I also remember how much you like the Kakola cuffs since I brought a set
to you a few years back. Now you have your own set!
Congratulations!

Cheers,

Lars

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Joe&Lars

Its an incredible well built handcuff with lot of craftmanship put into it. The Kakolas Lars has is probarbly the finest in the world they are in mint condition! yes I have always liked the old manacles and I do admire the blacksmiths for there rare skills. It would have been interesting to know more about the fabrication. The construction of them is complicated. The parts must have been fabricated in a profissonal cast factory and then assembled in the Kakola prison. In my town we had for more than 100 years a factory that casted parts for all kind of mechanics. They also made some extremly intersting padlocks and stronboxes (safes)that has something simular like these cuffs. I will tell you more about this when I have time.

The pictures I took of them dosent give them full credit they are more silvertoned than can be seen on pictures. First I thought to have them as a wall decoration or put them outside on my fence but when I saw them I started to work on them to see if I could open them.

sincerely

Johan

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Hi Johan, great work, another handcuff brought back from the dead. Could you please posted enlarged photos. The one showing the spring I would like to see as you hadn't sent me this one. Best $50.00 ever spent.

cheers

Ian

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Hi Ian. I have posted an enlarged picture of the Kakola mechanism to you. I think its possible to enlarge the one I posted but I cant remeber how I did it last time. Heres another picture of the lockcase.

... --- ...

sincerely

Johan

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

How bad a condition some ancient restraints can be in and then can be brought back from the dead to working order.

One of the worst condition ones I repaired was a pair of Tower edge key leg irons. They has been a metal detector find and when I got them they were literally a ball of rust. They were so bad that you could not even find the keyholes.

A few weeks later and after a lot of patient work they were fully functional again. They were pitted like Hell and nothing pretty to look at but they worked.

Nothing had to be replaced and they did not even have to be taken apart! I guess this is something of a testimony to how well things were made back in the day.

They stand the test of time and even survive adverse elements.

Cheers, Steve Santini

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Johan sent some bigger pictures of his amazing cuff.

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Thanks for additional pictures! Again, a great work!

It was interesting to see the interior of the lock
and how great it looks. It's amazing how both springs
lasted over time.
Did you solder the lock house back or how did you do it?

Lars

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Hi Lars.

Yes I welded it with brass and riveted the lockhouse back in place after restoring it. It was by no means easy to dissmantle either since it also was rivitted with hidden rivets. Its easy to distroy the manacles if you dont know how to dissmantle them and with old metal anything can happen. I hope the enclosed pictures are of interest to those on the forum that wonders about the lockmechanism. As steve said: the old manacles they are wery well made and these smiths put in al their kowledge into their work!

sincerely

... --- ...

Johan Ahlberg

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Hi Johan, thanks for the larger pictures. Great work, nice to see the cuff land in your hands, they my live on for year now.

Ian

Recently there where a Kakola handcuff for sale over here in sweden. It was rusty and someone thought it had been buried in the ground. I bought this Kakola handcuff and decided they where not so bad and it was worth restoring them.
These handcuffs was made in Finland in a prison or so its claimed.

I decidade to work on the old handcuff. I removed the rust and then I injected a rust solving oil that had to stay in the mechanism for several days. I got the bows free to move after all these years the handcuff had been deadlocked. I managed to get the hings and swivels free and then with help of a calipper I messured out the key. From an old key I made a working key for them. This key is rather simple but its cleverly deviced: there are not so much room in the lockcase. If they key isnt proper made it will without a doubt strip and block the lock. The key turned and CLICK the bow swung open! On the other side someone had tryed to manipulate the lock and when doing that they managed to dammage the key post. It was impossible to work the key. I had to dissmantle the cuff. These lockcases are welded with brass and a hidden rivet hold it togheter. Opening the lockcase I had to remove the dammaged keypost and make a new in my latte. I also cleand up the mechanism and was amazed over how strong the steel spring still was after al these years!

This lockmechanism is not a masterpece of fine mechanics, its simple, but inginious. To open the bow the key has to go between the clevis and lift the heavy spring.

Now I have a nice pair of Kakola original handcuffs. They are old, wery old, and there are a bit pitted by rust but they are working! What would you expect for 50USD?

Enclosed are some photos and handcuffs open and working. I wanted to share this with me fellow collectors !














Sincerely

Johan

Click to expand...

Very good job on bringing them back to life!