Bar cuff & leg shackles

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Good stuff!

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Nils
What a great find. I have one of bar cuffs, but mine is marked Griffin, not Hiatt. The other two cuffs are really neat.
I assume the smaller loop takes a chain. Wow.
Joe

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

That's what my guess would be, Joe.

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Very, very unusual, what a great find, have never seen leg shackles like them. I can not understand why Hiatt made such an unusual time consuming item. Although I agree that a chain could be used I think they probably originally were designed to have a chain bar to connect them. I am still having problems with photo bucket so will send picture to Joe. Dan I knew you were expecting these in the post just a great pity they did not arrive in time for the UKEA meeting. Can you let us know how much they weigh?
Chris

Here is the picture:

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Hi Chris, yes it's a pity they didn't arrive before our meeting, but Im sure I will still have them next time you're over in the U.K.
I look forward to seeing the picture of the chain bar when Joe posts it. I will weigh the shackles asap.

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

As I said, they are marked 1 & 21. I am now wondering if the 1 of the 21 is just due to the patina as it is a little higher than the 2 & it would make sense that they are marked 1 & 2.
Number 1 weighs 202 grams (7.12 ounces) & Number 2 weighs 198 grams (6.98 ounces). The difference may be down to the patina, but I would think it is just down to the way they were manufactured.

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Shackles were sold as leg shackles, but actually they would be used on the wrist as they are too small for leg shackles. In this case they wouldn't have been used with the bar cuff, if they were on a chain bar. Interesting!!!

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Congrats Dan on such an amazing find!

I agree with Chris that the plug cuffs may have been for use on a chain bar type of linkage.

In my collection I have just such a chain linkage with two very early spring wedge Darby type cuffs attached, (Pic below).

With the way your plug cuffs are made, the massive chain would not decrease or impede on the inner circumference of each cuff this ensuring a more comfortable and even more secure fit.

Cheers, Steve

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

NICE!!
Would you think these wrist cuffs are a forerunner to the cap wrist locks which were probably easier to make.
These required a key for the cuffs as well as something to secure the chain or belt. Caps Locks only required one padlock for the chain running around a waist if used in that manner. But if yours were used on a gang chain you could release any single prisoner along the line. Interesting.

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

That's a nice chain bar Steve. It may be the these were the transition from yours. Funny how you & Chris both have red carpet. Lol
I agree with you totally that a chain bar would not impede on the inner circumference.
Paul, that's a very interesting point, makes sense, but wonder why we haven't seen this in any catalogue.

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Congratulations Dan to a great finding. Not that I'm an expert in British restraints but these are awesome and
I've never seen such shackles before. They are really cool!

I especially like the separate shackles and it's amazing how the original plugs are still present.

I'm sure a skilled blacksmith will be able to stretch out the key as the key is forged and not casted.
Maybe the blacksmith also would be able to make a period looking bar chain.

Lars

I recently purchased some interesting items. I think all three are a set as the locking barrels are the same size, the plugs are the same (right hand thread), the keys (one is bent, but could be straightened) are the same & work on all locks. They also are all marked in the same places.
The Bar cuff is 13cm long & is marked HIATT, 5 & HARD.
One shackle is marked HIATT, 1 & HARD.
The other HIATT, 21, HARD.

Click to expand...

Thanks Lars, it was a lucky find.
There is a small farm near me that opens to the public. It is more of a children's farm & shows how farming was in the past. It lets them get close to the animals (even allowing them to milk the cows). It also has an old school house & a working blacksmiths!
Think I will pay them a visit!!!