RCS Boer War Plug 8's

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Those are similar to the ones I have in my collection. I bought mine from Ron Spitz at the Indy Lock Show 2 years ago. He explained to me that mine were from the 1950s. Made by R.C.S. for the collector and escape artist market. The tell tale sign of the 1950s model, as opposed to the 40s model was a longer, wider key. Mine have no visible markings either. Joe Lauher's, British handcuff book shows the on page 101 na Alex Nichol's, Handcuffs book talks about them and shows a picture on page 56. Both books list them as R.C.S. 1950s model. Hope that helps.
-RK-

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

Thank you.

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

It looks like the lock on your cuff has been altered at some stage to accept a standard plug 8 key. Since the key is not hollow, the nut must be a lot longer to accept the key. Have a closer look inside.

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

I just took a good look inside both cuffs. The nut in each is the pretty close in length, hard to see any size difference by eye. The width of the keys are way different. The hollow Boer war key doesn't even come close to fitting in the keyhole of the marked / dated cuffs. However the regular plug key fits the other's key hole and partially locks the cuff. It just doesn't reach 100% of the way. The length of the threaded end of the regular plug key is much shorter than on the hollow key, that might be the difference in size that lets it open and lock the marked/dated cuff. But that's just a guess. The lock tube doesn't appear to be altered or repaired in any way, but others would know better than I if a repair like that would show. I can try tomorrow to take close up pics of the inside of both cuffs side by side (if it's possible).

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

looking at the photo of the keys, the key on the left is a boer war key and the one on the right is for a lightweight plug eight.
the one one the left should be hollow and the one on the right solid. Is this not the case?

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

Yes, The one on the left is hollow (Boer War key). The one on the right is a solid key made for a standard plug 8, but works perfectly with one of the two Boer War cuffs (the marked/dated cuff). That cuff and key were purchased separate from each other. I couldn't find the correct key after buying the cuff, so I tried the closest key I could find at the time and it worked like it was made for the cuff (to my surprise). That's why I'm doubtful that the cuff was altered. I think that they work together because the key is so much shorter than a standard Boer War key that it isn't obstructed by the longer bolt in the Boer War cuff.

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

Hi Glenn, thank for answering my question, I will email you the solution/reasoning (?) for you key situation.

I have a few questions about RCS Boer War Handcuffs.

The first pair I purchased was marked and dated 1943. It did not come with a key. I was told that due to the length of the bolt that Boer War keys are hollow. I wasn't able to find one (original or otherwise). I picked up one of Ian's regular plug keys a while back and was surprised when it fit perfectly and opened the cuff.

Today my 2nd Boer War cuff came in the mail. It's also an RCS, but this one is unmarked. The key was hollow as it should be. The cuffs appear to be the same exact size, but the diameter of the keys and key holes are different. The unmarked cuff takes a much larger key, it won't open the 1943 dated cuff and won't even fit in the key hole. The regular plug key that does open the marked and dated cuff, doesn't open the unmarked cuff.

The unmarked cuff has a much cruder finish than the marked / dated cuff. Is it common for RCS plug 8 cuffs to take different sized keys? What time period would the unmarked cuff have been made as opposed to the 1943 dated cuff?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/IWttHEq.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kUvuFNR.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TzIFTZk.jpg[/img]

Click to expand...

Thanks for the email. The explanation and diagram made everything clearer. I emailed you back about about another topic. Thanks again.