Articulated Bow Darby Leg Iron

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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Ok at least I got my photo up. You get the idea.
Any thoughts that might add to, or are contrary to mine?
Paul

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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my theory is that using existing cast locks, end lock or handcuff locks, leg irons can be made without the need for a longer lock.

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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I agree with your theory in principal. These locks are about the same length as an End Lock but twice as thick, also shorter and thicker than a handcuff. There is nothing similar that I know of.
The quality of manufacture is good enough, but the bows are thin, flat on the outside, rounded on the inside. The second hinge makes them less rigid. I'm sure, over time, you could break them with a rock just by ovaling and rounding them over and over until a hinge seam separated etc. But I'm not going to try it!

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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I can not really add much to what has already been said. I did have a pair which I think are illustrated in Alex's book. Mine were slightly different as the lock case was a standard handcuff size. They did not have any makers name visible, I traded these with a US collector about 18 years ago. I also had a different pattern which had a round bar connecting the two parts of the cuffs, these came from Christchurch Police Station in Dorset many years ago. They are now in a private collection over here in the UK. The owner has had them nickel plated!!
Chris

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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I believe this is the other similar leg iron. Hopefully Photobucket is working this time.

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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are the locks for these always (only) backstrap types?

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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I've only see 2 or 3 and they have been identical. Chris mentions another which I have not seen. My guess is that most very early darby leg/handcuffs had backstrap hinges. Later cuffs, circa WW2, had hinges that looked similar but were cast.
Paul

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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theory 2 The locks being the only real complex part (sand cast, threaded bolts and coil springs and keys) were purchased from fetters maker. Local blacksmiths made suit sized irons and attached the locks.

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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this thread died quickly

I don't know how many of these are around. One appeared on a CD catalog, which is the lighter of the photos here. I hope no one minds me posting it here. The other darker one is mine. They are pretty much identical. The lock tube appears to be cast and the rest is blacksmith made. I guess there were quite a few made, but the poor design and light weight construction might have limited there use and survival. I think these are very early made leg irons made before the design was perfected. Some of my Hiatt keys will open them, but because the lock tube is so short, I do have to pull on the key another 2mm. There is no indication of who made them, no numbers, nothing, but I think they are English.

Paul

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no, you give it more life and I supplied some life support