Central Lock Handcuffs from around 1600 (?)

Dear friends,

these are some handcuffs that I was recently able to pick up. They come from Central Europe, and I figure they date from around 1600 or earlier. Both manacles fit snugly around the wrist, though one side seems a little larger than the other. The whole arrangement has a central locking mechanism. I'm not sure about the purpose of the double bow, except than to pass the puzzle ring through.

On a sidenote: some of the cuffs I'm looking for at the moment are: Palmers (sizes 1,2,4, chains), Berliners, McKenzies, pre 1880 leg irons, Horst Moabit Leg Irons.

Hope everybody is well, looking forward to seeing you in the fall.
Kind regards,

Nils

What you have here seems to the earliest Palmer prototype in existence

Nice find.

Cheers, Steve

Dear friends,

these are some handcuffs that I was recently able to pick up. They come from Central Europe, and I figure they date from around 1600 or earlier. Both manacles fit snugly around the wrist, though one side seems a little larger than the other. The whole arrangement has a central locking mechanism. I'm not sure about the purpose of the double bow, except than to pass the puzzle ring through.

On a sidenote: some of the cuffs I'm looking for at the moment are: Palmers (sizes 1,2,4, chains), Berliners, McKenzies, pre 1880 leg irons, Horst Moabit Leg Irons.

Hope everybody is well, looking forward to seeing you in the fall.
Kind regards,

Nils

Click to expand...

I am thinking Tibet.
Interesting how the slotted bow can travel back and forth against the rivet.
Seems that it would be easy to snap off a piece and get a leg free.
Love that old patina

mark
O--O

ps. reunification with your items is more on the horizon

Dear friends,

these are some handcuffs that I was recently able to pick up. They come from Central Europe, and I figure they date from around 1600 or earlier. Both manacles fit snugly around the wrist, though one side seems a little larger than the other. The whole arrangement has a central locking mechanism. I'm not sure about the purpose of the double bow, except than to pass the puzzle ring through.

On a sidenote: some of the cuffs I'm looking for at the moment are: Palmers (sizes 1,2,4, chains), Berliners, McKenzies, pre 1880 leg irons, Horst Moabit Leg Irons.

Hope everybody is well, looking forward to seeing you in the fall.
Kind regards,

Nils

Click to expand...

Brilliant, thanks for the pictures

Dear friends,

these are some handcuffs that I was recently able to pick up. They come from Central Europe, and I figure they date from around 1600 or earlier. Both manacles fit snugly around the wrist, though one side seems a little larger than the other. The whole arrangement has a central locking mechanism. I'm not sure about the purpose of the double bow, except than to pass the puzzle ring through.

On a sidenote: some of the cuffs I'm looking for at the moment are: Palmers (sizes 1,2,4, chains), Berliners, McKenzies, pre 1880 leg irons, Horst Moabit Leg Irons.

Hope everybody is well, looking forward to seeing you in the fall.
Kind regards,

Nils

Click to expand...

One of the nicest things I've seen in a while. The lock is amazing, but appears to be missing the spring-prong and push key.
Paul