Unfortunately, the keys for this type of "Darby" style handcuff are varied, greatly. Different thread sizes and pitches. Diameters, etc. I have about 10 or 12 different Darby keys in my "spare" pile and have cuffs that none of them will fit. Not knowing a manufacturer for the cuffs, will make it harder to get a key for them. I would not recommend just buying random kys and trying to fit it to your cuffs. That could get quite expensive or you may hit it on the first try? Its just a shot in the dark. Ian McColl, may be of some help to fit a key to your cuffs. He is a Master Locksmith located in Australia. I cant say for sure that he can fix you up, but if anyone here can, he would be who I would choose for that job. You will have to send him pics of what you have to work with and he may be able to help identify what cuffs you do have or the most likely key to operate them? The other issue is the cost of a key. They are expensive when you consider the shipping rates from Australia. If your Darby is a common Hiatt Darby or just a common Darby in general, it may not be worth a lot, even with a working key. Condition is everything when compared to pricing. Also consider, if the cuff is rusted up, the inside of the lock mechanism may also be fouled. Though Darby cuffs are not too difficult in their lock design to be able to use chemicals to soak them and free up the mechanism.
One thing I can do, to offer you some help with Ian being able to maybe make a key for you, would be to have you send me your cuffs, if you are located in the United States. I have a lot of Darby style cuffs and keys in my collection and could try to fit one of my spare keys to your cuffs. If one of the spares fit, i could sell you that key and the search could be over. If none of my spares fit, I could likely fit a key from one of my working Darby cuffs and pass pics and info of the working cuff onto you, for you to give to Ian, in hopes he could match that info up to a working key. Of course, you would probably want to contact Ian first to make sure he is game for this plan. If he is on board, then, it would only cost you about $8 to ship to me and $8 to ship the cuffs back from me to you, after I find out more info about the key that works your cuffs. Then it would cost whatever Ian would charge to make that key and ship it to you. So that is an option that could be on the table, if you want to go that route.
You can contact Ian at
imccoll@dcsi.net.au you can contact me at
iambiohazard@yahoo.com Hope that helps with your search!
-Richard Knip-
