The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Disappointed in H Thompson boot cuffs

9 visible archived posts · 9 preserved total · topic ID 6695

94104 25 Jan 2019

I've had these for a few years but they didnt get used much at all. One day i used them to find the double lock would stick and had to use a key to unlock it everytime even tho i didnt engage it. Knowing at some point they would probably just stick and become a issue i removed the rivets and opened it up. I always like these because of the three rows of teeth that made picking very tough, for me. But was a let down to find out the double lock was always as easy as any modern pair to unlock. Opening it up i found the issue. The double lock bar was broke in half. :/ it looks like its made from pot metal. What a let down. I sure thought the old hiatt thompson brand used better metal in there. I still have one that works and may just make a bike lock out of it or something else. Just wanted to post the some pics of the inside and what i have done as there just isnt much out there about cuff repair or even the guts of them. Im sure every brand has different metals and techniques used. Maybe this could be used as a guide of different cuff guts down the road.

grenchat 25 Jan 2019

Sorry to hear of your disappointment with the latter generation Hiatt Thompson leg irons.

Having worked as an apprentice locksmith in my youth, padlocks and bicycle locks were always of interest to me. Back in the 1990’s, Kryptonite offered a $1,000 insurance policy against theft with their high end U shaped bicycle lock. The strong tubular steel design was impervious to the common bolt cutter attack, and the Ace vending machine style lock at the end wouldn’t be as easily picked as most pin tumbler padlocks/ bicycle locks. Eventually the big city bike thieves learned that all they needed was to add a very small, easily concealable can of freeze spray to their thieving arsenal in order to defeat the highly touted Kryptonite lock. Kryptonite subsequently voided the insurance plan.

In response, Masterlock produced the Street Cuff bicycle lock. On this model the Ace style tubular lock is recessed and shrouded, thus protected from the freeze spray attack, but the exposed connecting links are vulnerable. Despite this Masterlock includes a $3,500 Anti-Theft Warrantee.

Be safe….

Jason

Unresolved image reference ↗

djhalfdead 25 Jan 2019

I think it would be a great asset to the collecting community, if the powers that be of this page, were to set up a folder of exploded/inside view of cuffs. Maybe an area on the main menu? People could upload thier personal pics as well as pics found online of the cuffs internal parts. Help someone out in the future who may want to diagnose an issue with a cuff or just to satisfy one's curiosities? Thoughts?

profit 25 Jan 2019

Hiatts also used a die cast alloy double lock bar. cheap to make, consumers want cheap.

94104 26 Jan 2019

profit wrote: Hiatts also used a die cast alloy double lock bar. cheap to make, consumers want cheap.

Yep, this was definitely a cast piece. No doubt about it. Alloy? Im sure it is but wouldnt guess to what type. Would like to know more about that if you have info on it.

profit 26 Jan 2019

this should help.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamak

grenchat 26 Jan 2019

Yes, it’s really a shame how everything is made so cheaply these days. I own antique windup clocks, toys, jukeboxes cuffs, etc. made in the 19th century that still work beautifully because the spring steel employed in their manufacture was of such high quality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_steel

As with your cuffs, you’ve only owned them for a few years and didn’t even use them much. While it’s often blamed on a faulty tempering process, cheap metal contains a much higher percentage of impurities which weakens it considerably.

Jason

Unknown / guest 26 Jan 2019

Upon close examination of your third photo I can see the latch snapped in half. Looks like cheap pot metal used in toys and inexpensive housewares.

This is why I haven’t bought any of the new cuffs….

Skiludd 03 Feb 2019

Contact Hiatts and see if they can send you a rrplacement part. Sometimes they will.

94104 wrote: I've had these for a few years but they didnt get used much at all. One day i used them to find the double lock would stick and had to use a key to unlock it everytime even tho i didnt engage it. Knowing at some point they would probably just stick and become a issue i removed the rivets and opened it up. I always like these because of the three rows of teeth that made picking very tough, for me. But was a let down to find out the double lock was always as easy as any modern pair to unlock. Opening it up i found the issue. The double lock bar was broke in half. :/ it looks like its made from pot metal. What a let down. I sure thought the old hiatt thompson brand used better metal in there. I still have one that works and may just make a bike lock out of it or something else. Just wanted to post the some pics of the inside and what i have done as there just isnt much out there about cuff repair or even the guts of them. Im sure every brand has different metals and techniques used. Maybe this could be used as a guide of different cuff guts down the road.
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