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SAF Cuffs

27 visible archived posts · 27 preserved total · topic ID 4396

Mark Lyons 30 Oct 2011

Hi
Just wondering how many variations of SAF cuffs are out there.
Joe L. shows 2 of the peerless style in this site.
One is marked "New Zealand Police" and the other has no such markings.
I thought all SAF cuffs were marked "NZ Police" so this was interesting to see.
Joe has the NZ cuff listed as being from Australia, and I'm not sure if that is accurate.
I have seen these cuffs in a 2 link configuration and with a single large oval link.
I would like to see what is out there. Pleae post what you have.

Doing a search on the topic I pulled up many discussion on NZ cuffs and thougt I saw some pictures of many cuffs a while ago, but see nothing now.

mark
O--O

holstcollection 30 Oct 2011

Ok Mark, here is my contribution.

Two double link, one with and one without "New Zeeland Police" markings. I miss the single link version.
I beleive the one with single link is earlier.

/Lars

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Mark Lyons 30 Oct 2011

Lars.

Thank you for the pictures.
You take them very well. So well infact, that I can see the color difference in the hinge pin material in the bottom pic.
I never realized that there were unmarked versions until today.

mark
O--O

Paul Davies 31 Oct 2011

Small Arms Factory (SAF), Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia

First model has two obvious distinguishing features. A single oblong link and the bow has a milled groove on one side only.
Next it had a groove both sides and 2 links. They were used extensively in Australian and New Zealand Police and Corrective Services.
There are other differences in the keying, see photo. All have the Small Arms Factory logo but only the later ones seem to have the words "Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, N.S.W." stamped on them.

Left is the first model where each half of the cuff is keyed the same. Next is the NZ Army model where each half is a mirror of the other. Third is a New Zealand Police (standard model) which is keyed from the other side of the cuff. All are modeled after the old style Peerless cuff.

The SAF-LOK is a whole other cuff made by the same company under different owners over time. The number of variations is a bit blurry due to the number of links used, color of the bow, markings on the bows etc and it is unclear if these changed slightly due to different suppliers of some components ie links. But there are also differences in the mechanisms to what is in the patent and some variation in the rivets to the bow. I don't think the subtle variations to the Saf-Lok makes a "New Model" but certainly changes to the mechanisms would even if the bows all say SAF-LOK MK.1.but I'm no expert on mechanisms.

Then there are the more recent SAF-LOK models, Standard, Hinged and limited trial model Bed Cuff which is a single cuff on a long chain and link. I am less familiar with recent models.
I hope that helps.
Paul Davies

Anonymous 31 Oct 2011

Very intersting info.
It should be noted that your middle ciff is marked "NZ Army". This is a marking that I was unaware of.
Your first cuff with both right (or left) halfs is interesting too.
I know of another cuff with a heavy rivet at the hinge. Something like the S&W 94.
I will try to get a picture of that and post it.

Thank you!

mark
O--O

holstcollection 31 Oct 2011

Thanks Mark!

Mark Lyons 02 Nov 2011

Stephan Gage wrote a great article in the 07 Annual about these cuffs.
The version used in New Zealand (below)has the heavier hinge pins.
I have documentation from the family of a police officer who worked for the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Ireland and he used these SAF cuffs there. Not sure if his whole department used them as well.

Anybody have any SAF cuffs for sale? I would love one of the Army marked or oval link without the big hinge pin.

mark
O--O
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Paul Davies 03 Nov 2011

MICHAEL LEE 03 Nov 2011

Mark,

Let me have a look as to what I have , if not then I know of some one who may want to part with a pair or two

cheers
Michael Lee

PaulJDavies 04 Nov 2011

#10

I do have this spare pair of NZ Police SAF which I would consider trading for a rare English or US cuff.
The offer is open to anyone, so email me if interested and tell me what spares you would consider trading.
Don't hurry, I will consider offers carefully.
Regards
Paul

handboeienfreak 04 Nov 2011

#11

Hi

Here is my contibution of the saf loks

best

patrick

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tim71 05 Nov 2011

#12

Great, now I'll have to buy another keyboard after the drool shorts this one out!

Super-great pics guys. Paul, who is in posession of the prototypes? Never saw those.

One of these days I must obtain a nickled MK-I. That is just an incredible cuff.

Tim

Paul Davies 05 Nov 2011

#13

The prototypes are in the Small Arms Factory Museum at Lithgow, and cuffs are just a small display - mainly guns and other odd things they made.
Paul

miniskipman 08 Aug 2012

#14

Hi all,
I have some SAF cuffs for sale.
I think they are the 2nd edition will try and upload some photo's.
all marked up with Small Arms Factory star and small arms factory lithgow N.S.W.
They are serial numbered 10151 but I can't dig up any more info than that.

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Unknown / guest 09 Aug 2012

#15

I'm thinking they should be worth £250 GB £'s does that sound about right?

Paul 09 Aug 2012

#16

Jim, you may not get any buyers at that price. In their country of origin they can be found for between $50 and $150 and yours are in rather poor condition. You may get more on eBay if you start them at a reasonable price.
Good Luck

miniskipman 09 Aug 2012

#17

Paul,
Thanks for the info I was only going on some past ebay sales that were $400-$650 nz. I will pop them on ebay and see what happens.

Paul 09 Aug 2012

#18

Jim, they were a different model with riveted bows.

miniskipman 15 Aug 2012

#19

Well they are on Fleace Bay and getting bids so will see what happens
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320964300089? ... 500wt_1203

lauher 16 Aug 2012

#20

Heres mine:

Note the large VP (Victorian Police) and the large 4-digit Numbers.

---Joe Fox

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cuffs 28 May 2018

#21

Thanks to Damon S. and Chris G., I have these Saf-Lok cuffs which are the first models from the Small Arms Factory in Lithgow, Australia.

Incidentally, this is my first photo posted in the new Forum format.
Not too difficult to figure out once you register.

Paul Davies 29 May 2018

#22

Not the first models, but the first with that type of lock and key. The first model was almost identical in appearance to the Peerless with the flat bit key.
The model you show here uses the the plain flat bow from the first model in the body of the new design. The newer model, a bit like those above, has the milled groove bow with "Made in Australia" and "SAF-LOK - MK 1" cast into the bow. So you might call these an interim model with the swivels and bows from the first model and one of the variations of the locks used in the second model. There is a lot of variation in the SAF-LOK cuffs, with different locks, swivels, bows, stampings, rivets, key directions(Peerless type) number and shape of rings, finish ie plain or plated (body), black, plain or plated (Bows) etc. If you wanted to collect one of each variation, you might end up with a dozen. It seems they just used what they had at the time! it's not like they produced quantities like Peerless despite the numbers appearing on these cuffs. The rarest one I have is the Bed Cuff, with BED as part of the serial number. It is just a single Mk 4 cuff on a chain that passes through a loop, designed to secure a prisoner to a bed.
Happy collecting.
Paul

Paul Davies 29 May 2018

#23

Actually my early Peerless type do have the groove in the bow.
Paul

cuffs 29 May 2018

#24

Both of these have the groove on the opposite sides as well

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs 31 May 2018

#25

Paul, thank you for the correction.
I knew that the peerless copy was the original product (pictured above or below)
I suppose that I always considered a Safe Lok as those with the pin tumbler external rotating knurled knob.
Just out of curiosity, every model of the pin tumbler style seems to have the same key from these early models to today's manufacture.
Has anyone seen a pair with different bitting or key change?

It could be possible that the factory released some with a different key for agencies requiring this for very high security prisoner transport situations.

This pair came from the family of the pictured officer who singlehandedly arrested members of a terrorist gang in Northern Ireland.
Why Irish cops used Australian cuffs is a bit of a mystery but it could be a testament to the secure nature and craftsmanship that went into these cuffs.

I received photos and the story of this brave officer when I purchased these many years ago. If interested, please read; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shankill_Butchers

Paul Davies 01 Jun 2018

#26

"production began on june 8 1912" What did they start producing on that date? not handcuffs??
Paul

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs 01 Jun 2018

#27

Not quite sure....anymore.
I picked up that tidbit from somewhere and I put these notes (if it seems accurate )in some of my pics.

This photo is from 2007 or so and I don't recall the source of this info.