identify leg-irons

I bought some leg irons (or shackles or maybe handcuffs for large people?) at a flea market in Seville, but there are no keys. Well, when there are no legs in them I can open them easily with needle-nose pliers, but not when there are ankles in the way.

I've added some photos (i'm not even certain I'm wearing them right but it seems to work) - the "key" would presumably fit into the square hole at the opposite end to where the locking pins go. The locking pins have leaf springs that prevent them from being removed once inserted all the way through the moveable hasp.

I've done some searches for a key but i'm probably not looking in the right places or don't know enough of the right terminology (nor even how old these are).

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

Hi,
I have a kind of a similar set which I believe is German or Austrian, I bought them from Germany. However, I haven't found out what the key should look like. Would you mind posting a photo of your key? I will post a photo of my set as soon as I can.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com

holstcollection wrote: Hi,
I have a kind of a similar set which I believe is German or Austrian, I bought them from Germany. However, I haven't found out what the key should look like. Would you mind posting a photo of your key?

I don't have a key for mine at all, that's why i'm posting :)

Thanks for replying! Maybe one or the other of us will find a key. The square hole in mine seems to be unusual.

Uses a sliding type of Flat Key.
The Keyhole is meant to be that way 
in order to help with the spring compression.  
Looks like a newer model without the Twisted Chain Links ?

Sandmanbrian777 wrote: Uses a sliding type of Flat Key.
The Keyhole is meant to be that way 
in order to help with the spring compression.  
Looks like a newer model without the Twisted Chain Links ?

Thank you for replying. Where might one obtain a sliding type of flat key? I did not mean to imply i thought there was anything wrong with the keyhole, but only that other pictures I saw seemed to have a round one.

I cannot tell you if it' a newer or older model, although it's rusty :) as I have not seen others. I can take more photographs if it would help.

put up an email address and I will contact you about a key

keys made wrote: put up an email address and I will contact you about a key

liam at fromoldbooks dot org :D (or you can possibly message me on this forum, i'm not sure)

Ok, here is a drawing of the key Ian McColl wanted me to post.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2aepyuku6qo3 ... y.JPG?dl=0

Here are the photos of my, what I belive, German leg irons. It's still a mystery about the construction and what a key should look like. There is a wall under the rectangular key hole which goes all way back.
That's why I belive the rectangular key hole is a "fake key hole" and the real key hole is the small one on the back side. My guess is there is a spring loaded pawl, located in the bottom of the lock, under the wall. 

Then the key could be a version with threads that pull the pawl open. I would have loved to get the lock x-rayed in order to figure out the construction.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mvtpgrbm7gb3r ... 2.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7xxhe0xhdmxl ... 1.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ygcmk13jhslng ... 3.jpg?dl=0

holstcollection wrote: Ok, here is a drawing of the key Ian McColl wanted me to post.
That's why I belive the rectangular key hole is a "fake key hole" and the real key hole is the small one on the back side.

Yes, i agree. There's probably a locking pin that comes in from the end with the square hole, like the ones in the photographs this slave posted. The key would then squeeze the leaf springs so that the end with the square hole, complete with the pins, could be pulled out. The square hole might be for a handle to make pulling them out easier once unlocked.

i was able to open mine with needle-nose pliers from the end where yours has a square hole, by putting the pliers into the slot in the cylinder and squeezing first one spring and then the other. If the lock has been lubricated that might not work, and you'd need to squeeze both at the same time, if there are two, same as in the ones in the photos.

You are welcome.
The best place to see what the Key looks like is to find a Chinese Lock which uses  a Sliding Key.
Had to make my own Keys out of Bar Stock with Hand Filing.  
Your Leg Irons are very secure and no need to worry about anyone escaping once Locked.
May have been used in some part of the Orient ?

Sandmanbrian777 wrote: The best place to see what the Key looks like is to find a Chinese Lock which uses  a Sliding Key.


Had to make my own Keys out of Bar Stock with Hand Filing.  
Your Leg Irons are very secure and no need to worry about anyone escaping once Locked.
May have been used in some part of the Orient ?

You are right, Sir - the first picture in http://www.gatreasures.com/index.php?ma ... page&id=11 shows a very similar style of lock and (presumably) key. I expect this slave will have to make its own key too, and then of course give the key to its Master :D :D :D

i don't know where the shackles might have been used.

The picture doesn't show it but the Tip inserted end has a 90 degree angle.
May be better to make a Key from Brass for the exact fitting.
Then cut a steel one?
The Brass will give more and show the portions to Impression more cleanly.
Good Luck !

Hmm, i wrote a reply and it's gone. i've no information about where these shackles might have been used; i bought them in Seville, in Spain, a city that has always had connection with the Middle East and distant trade.

They do look impressive ..no matter what their origin is... a mystery....