Peerless Quality Control

I recently acquired some second-hand Peerless 300's that, although fully functional, have some cosmetic issues. Having previously worked at an electro-plating and finishing shop, I'm well versed in doing visual inspection of a metal product. (In my case, scuba diving gear.) Things such as plating blemishes, partial or mis-aligned stamping and rough edges would be cause to scrap a piece, depending on the degree.

I know Peerless prides itself on high quality but I'm just curious about their visual standards as opposed to functionality and how any flawed product not approved for general sale would make it to the collectors marketplace.

Working in law enforcement for almost 20 years I've had a chance to see 100's of sets of handcuffs and leg irons which were used in different jails or carried by the officers. The peerless cuffs are good generally, but it's true that the QC is less than say Smith and Wesson and some others. The consistency isn't there, and if you have a look at them you'll notice each is different. It could be the plating or the way the steel was ground prior to plating or it could be the way the internal parts work when you use the cuff. Still, a well made pair of peerless cuffs are desirable to the collector and law man alike. If you look at the S&W cuffs, there is more consistency, and I'm thinking that's because as a firearms manufacturer, consistency and close tolerances are constantly on the minds of the workers there. You can only imagine the problems you would have if a production line made 1000's of pistol or revolver frames, and all were different. interestingly, in the early period of Peerless production, Smith and Wesson made the parts for that company and Peerless held the patents for their product and used their own trademark. Today Peerless makes all the parts themselves. Getting back to your question though, the nickel plating may be a little off on some pairs, but considering the rough use these cuffs see the aesthetic appearance of the plating isn't all that important. What is important is that they stay locked when on a prisoner, and that they unlock when you want them to.

I recently acquired some second-hand Peerless 300's that, although fully functional, have some cosmetic issues. Having previously worked at an electro-plating and finishing shop, I'm well versed in doing visual inspection of a metal product. (In my case, scuba diving gear.) Things such as plating blemishes, partial or mis-aligned stamping and rough edges would be cause to scrap a piece, depending on the degree.

I know Peerless prides itself on high quality but I'm just curious about their visual standards as opposed to functionality and how any flawed product not approved for general sale would make it to the collectors marketplace.

Hi Mark:

By analogy, I suppose old Peerless cuffs are akin to Zippo lighters. If you can find one of either, new in the box, their finish is close to perfect.

Use your Zippo to fire up a few dozen cigarettes every day for decade or so, and it will not be pristine; but it still works. Furthermore, a Zippo used by a bank president or accountant for ten years will probably be in better shape than one used by a bricklayer or ditch digger.

For whatever reason, collectors of anything usually place a higher monetary figure on unused, pristine objects, and they are more difficult to locate. But, they have no story to tell.

To me, finding and being able to document the history behind a worn and used object is the true challenge of collecting. The story, if it can be confirmed, adds tremendous value.

Franklin