French "La Policiere" for sale

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

It looks kinda like the Bockin. Which one came first?

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Hi Glenn,

I certainly agree to that:



We know the Bockin was patented in 1924 but I unfortunately don't have the
patent year on the La Policiere. My guess is that the Bockin came out first.

Lars

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

I can't recall where I got the date but I have the La Policiere as 1940.

Nice handcuff Lars. They are hard to find with a nice original key.

Damon

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Damon,
I question if this is an original key.
The keyway in the cuff is straight and it appears that the key has millings across the bit. These cuts would be unnecessary for use in an open keyway.
I have not seen an original key on these (or on a real Bockin) as any that I ever had, never came with a key.
It would make sense that the key should be a little longer (if styled like a Bockin), but French cuffs typically take very small keys.
Do any of your cuffs show the same key?


mark
O--O

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Mark- I have two straight key cuffs, the brass and the aluminum. I believe my keys are original and look very much like this one in terms of size and shape. The vertical key model has a bit of a curve to it and is rounded on the end of the bit. The slanted key models have a straight key bit like the Bockin, at least mine do.

I'm sure Lars will have the answer.

Damon

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Mark,

I believe most of the handcuff manufacturers never made their own keys, they bought them from other companies.
Therefore, it's likely that handcuffs came with slightly different keys during time of production.
Who can for sure tell what key is original or not as long as the design is right?? I can't, and I dont know who else could.

Getting a set of antique cuffs with a key that looks correct doesn't prove the key is original, or the opposite.

I really love original keys and there is a limited number of keys we for sure can tell they actually are original; Rankin, Stotz, Mühlenfeld, Cumming, Gill, Hiatt Darby, Bean and Bean Cobb, Hiatt Bean, Bean Giant, Chubb, ER, Judd, Maltby, Horst Moabit, Kakola, Hamburg 8, Lovell, Lyon Presto, Marlin; just to mention a few of them.

For many antique cuffs the original key is unknown and can only be presumed. Can anyone for sure tell what an original key for Adams, Phelps, Wisner or even the Lilly look like?
I don't think so. We can assume but we can't tell for sure. I would like to add the La Policiere to that group.

On the photo below there are two keys for the La Policiere. The key on the left is the one discussed here; the key to the right
is a key that came with another set of La Policiere I had in my collection for a long time. I would say they look very similar.
One is slightly smaller than the other but both of them work perfectly.

Which one is original and which one is not? Both ore none of them? You tell me!

Lars

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Both have bullet wards and the cuff don't, so I think both are for something else originally.

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

Who knows? On the other hand, the right key came with a set of brass La Policiere in almost
mint condition that was inherited by a French guy from his grandpa who was a police officer (Gendarme).
Bob Dix, who once made a key for Damon's brass La Policere, stated the top has to be rounded not to damage
the lock.

Hi,

I have a very nice set of the French "La Policiere" for sale.
This is the version with straight key hole which probably is the earlier.

This set looks nice and works perfectly with an original key.

Asking price is $350, shipping worldwide is $25.

Send me an email if interested.

Have a nice weekend,

Lars

Click to expand...

The two keys I have are identical. The fit and function are perfect and similar to keys I have seen in French collections (Jean Michael's book volume II.) which means only that they are similar to the keys in my collection.

A qualified, experienced lock smith who made a key for me some years ago believed the key to be original. Admittedly, original keys are not easy to identify. I was also cautioned that a flat key without the curved and rounded bit could damage the lock on the La Policiere so I am sure that where ever the key came from they knew something about French handcuffs.

Damon