The Kakola

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Congratulations of a GREAT find, Lars.

I know that finding a quality cuff is getting harder and harder to find these days but you finally added a super nice one.

A great way to start off the year!


mark
O--O

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Well done Lars, I know you said you were hoping to get that handcuff. So you now have 5 of them, any ideas on how many may exist, I have one in my collection. As you say it is becoming increasingly difficult to add cuffs to our collections but who knows what will appear next week or next month!
Chris

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Lars, could you say how you learn about such items offered for sale?

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Thank you Mark and Chris!

Chris, you asked about an estimated number of manufactured Kakola cuffs. According to a new source in Finland, about 1.000 of these are said to be made.

The interesting thing with the Kakola is that not even one is exactly the same which mean they are all handmade. This is the 5.th Kakola in my collection and each of them differ quite a lot.

As an answer to “Collector”, these are extremely hard to find and I've never seen one listed on eBay. All my cuffs come from different sellers in Finland as I have earned relations to quite some people over time. Without help from these people, I would never have found these cuffs.


Lars





Finnish handcuffs

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

When I first saw the handcuff that's pictured on the bottom: 5th from both the Left and Right ends..in the Hill Bros. Lock Collection, in Garden Grove, Ca.....

I thought it to be the strangest modern "swing-through" handcuff I'd ever seen...I still do.

Offhand, I forget what it's called, and from which country, but I know it has been discussed here in prior Forums.

Great photo of rarities, Lars.

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

As always Lars you have managed to collect some of the rarest cuff. The quality is superb. They even look like the pictures you sent me.

Ron

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Joseph that is the famed Stalin Cuff

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

What a great find, Lars!

Congratulations!

Best regards,
Guenter

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Ah yes...the infamous "Stalin" cuff. Thanks, Joshua.

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Hey Joe,
What do you like about the Stalin Cuff?
Have you ever seen or handled one?
I had the occasion to see Stan's once and another one and it is a fine cuff and is much heavier than its appearance leads one to believe.

They are very interesting and are NOT a swing thru even though it appears that way.
The key is unlike any other that I have seen.

See you in a couple...

Mark
O--O

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Thank you guys!

Yes, this is the famous or rather infamous "Stalin handcuff".

This cuff is later than the other but it's not a swing-through cuff Joe.

The Stalin name was given to them by the late Finnish escape artist Timo Tuomivaara. The name is misleading as these cuffs are for sure Finnish and not Russian. He probably named them “Stalin” to give them a badass name. Remember, he was an artist and Stalin was for sure very unpopular in Finland for obvious reasons. My cuff comes from Timo's collection.

With very good help from Ian, who made the basic part of the key, I have fitted the key to work properly. The key is as odd as the cuff and the four bits are slightly bent to fit the key hole. The cuff is double locking by turning the key counterclockwise.

Here is a better photo of the cuff and the key.

Lars


The "Stalin cuff"

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

The Stalin Handcuff is that I have (ex Stan/Damon collection) is certainly one of the most unusual handcuffs made and is certainly in my top ten favorites. I am interested to hear that there was one in The Hill Collection. Can someone tell me if they still have their handcuff collection and if the Stalin cuff is a third known example or was this the one that Stan got for his collection? I know I have an old flyer from The Hill Bros. showing about 4 of heir portable display cases. Is there any connection between them and the Auborne collection?
Chris

If you are a long time collector; adding new and interesting cuffs to your collection ain't easy.
As a fact, I'm very happy to add one or two better pieces per year.

Recently I was happy to pick up another "Kakola" handcuff from Finland (where they were manufactured).

This cuff differ a lot from my other four Kakola as the size is so much smaller and lighter. I believe these cuffs were
made specifically for women or juviniles.

The size is not the only difference, also the key hole is much smaller and the cuff accordingly takes a smaller key.

An extremely nice cuff indeed.


Lars


www.holstcollection.com

Click to expand...

Hi Chris,

Your set originally came from Jari in Finland before Stan got them. When Stan bought them, they didn't come with a key. The key you now have was given to Stan from me
as that key came with the cuffs from Timo's collection that I bought in 2007. The reason to why I gave it to Stan was that I wanted a better looking key, looing more period.

I have one photo of what an original key looks like and I believe that key belong to a cuff in a Finnish collection. There are probably a handfull of these cuffs in collections.



Lars




The key I gave to Stan.



The original key


A key Ian made that I fitted.

With the Finnish Kakola handcuffs, are all the keys are uniquely different or will one key fit all of that model? I have a customer that sent me pics of the cuffs they just purchased and want yo know if I can make a key for them. But the pic is generic from Holst website and I thought the keys were unique to the cuffs as they’re handmade. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Joe, did you buy Joshua's "Stalin cuffs"? Congratulations!
I believe they once were in Stan's collection.

Lars

Bobhdus wrote: ↑

Apr 19, 2020

With the Finnish Kakola handcuffs, are all the keys are uniquely different or will one key fit all of that model? I have a customer that sent me pics of the cuffs they just purchased and want yo know if I can make a key for them. But the pic is generic from Holst website and I thought the keys were unique to the cuffs as they’re handmade. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Kakola keys are basically the same but they differ although. They have slightly different sizes and length of the protruding bits. This mean the keys in general are not interchangeable but must be fitted individually. Especially the length of the protruding bit is critical. If it’s too short, it will not reach the spring. If it’s too long, it will go down the teeth in the moving bow.
As all Kakola are handmade the keys also somewhat differ. Not one specimen is exactly the same which makes them to "individuals".
Lars