What Was The Last Thing Added To Your Collection?

The board has been a bit anemic on topis and discussions. So, im going to open a thread to share the last cuff or restraint you added to your collection. Mine was this strange French ChainTwister/Come Along. I know nothing of its history and cant find any other pictures or examples of one similar. I wish I could tell you more about it. Let's see what you added last?
-Richard Knip-

The last thing that I added to my collection was an FWSM Darby handcuff. I have new keys on order for them.

Very nice! I have not found one for my collection, yet. I hope to obtain a Fitzwilliam and Sons, one day.
-Richard Knip-

I haven't seen a similar Twist Chain either. Do those end pieces lock together comfortably via the slots? 

They do fit together, but as far as comfortably....not really. There isnt the standard "T-Handle" a twister chain come along would normally have? Its hard to hold onto, to be honest. Im  not convinced, that how the ends are bend is correct as to how they should be. They dont fit together very well. Im hoping to find a picture of a similar one some day, so i can compare them to mine. Try to get an idea of how they should look and function. The idea was brought up that these may have had a wooden rod at some point. You could feed the ring through the slot and place the rod down through the ring to keep it from pulling back out of the slot. Then it would give you and adequate handle to twist the chain with? That does sound like a feasible way they could have been used. Not evidence to back up that theory, though.
-Richard Knip-

Is it not a chain to fasten around a fixed object (railing or post) to then use a padlock to fasten it closed. Other items could also be locked to the now secured chain.

Richard

Although yours is unique, I have seen several other French chain twisters with the same wire links, but all with wooden T handles like the American versions using braided fishing line and high end e.g.rosewood straight handles that create the T shape. I doubt that yours once had wooden handles because both ends of yours are different from each other. The French wire twisters are uncommon, but do show up from time to time.

Hope this is helpful.

Matt

Interesting. Thank you both for the information on these. I do have the French Twisters with The Handles. This chain was commonly used in France and also made appearances in Italy, from what i have read. So, this is some type of anchor chain then. So you could anchor a criminal to a pole or bench, etc...?

-Richard Knip-

Sorry, no antiques for me. But more colorful !

Among other things, two Kyung-Chnag cuffs (old symmetrical versions), red aluminium and "inox" steel. And a batch of "asylum" restraints, whom these green "poly" ankle cuffs.

Nice, Tremex! Who is the maker of the Poly cuffs?
-Richard Knip-

djhalfdead, thanks for this great forum topic.  Here is photo of my last TWO, actually, as they sort of go together.
The American Handcuff Company, models N 100 and A 105.  The A 105 is remarkably light-weight. I have only looked so far into the history and products of the AHC, but these are made with a sort of craftsman like attention to detail.  I'm preparing my next collection post and will go into more detail on these there.

Are the twister links made up multiple strands of heavy gauge wire? Very interesting design!  I hope more of us can post our latest additions.

For ankle cuffs, made by Human restraints :



And another older leather wrist cuffs (with the L-100 lock, now it's the higher security K-300). No markings but probably HR too.

Peerless Model 2, Version 6 Factory Sample.
The Model 2, Version 6 was the last changes made to the Model 2. 
The change made was the stamping on the rear cheeks to be:
PAT.-PAT.PENDING
1157135 - 1161562 - 1531451
MADE IN U.S.A.
This example is one of 7 sets of handcuffs I acquired from the Historian of Smith & Wesson, that he rescued out of the Smith & Wesson factory.
Note that these are 2-left hand cuffs connected by a 2-link chain.
They show the new PAT.-PAT. Pending stampings on the rear cheek and the regular address stamping on the front cheek:
THE PEERLESS HANDCUFF CO.
SPRINGFIELD. MASS.
Note, no serial number is stamped on these cuffs that would be under the keyway on the lock case edge.
Also note the key that was in the box.
The box is a burgundy Peerless Handcuff box that the end label has a pasted label WESSON over the Peerless. The inside instructions also has a SMITH & pasted over the PE of PEERLESS.
I assume this was done so they would not send them to Peerless when the production of the M-2, V-6 began.
I also attached an example of the Model 2 Version 6 that was part of the June 6, 1929 order that Peerless Handcuff Co. sent to Smith & Wesson to manufacture.
Dave

My latest addition are these Finnish Kakola. I'm going for the old stuff ;-)

This is my latest addition, a Finnish set of Kakola handcuffs. I'm not very much into modern stuff.

Finally, back home and at the computer. Some nice additions, fellas! Ryan, the Twister does appear to be made up of separate strands of wire twisted into a figure 8 style loop with a band of wire, wrapped around the center. The wire is possibly braised or some type of a weld was done to hold them closed. I looked at all of the examples i have of this style of chain. they all match and have the same construction. Tremex, thank you for the pics up close of the Humane Restraint pieces! I have similar ones, but different colors. They were part of an H-R Ambulatory Restraint Kit. Really well made pieces. David, some more great pieces for the ongoing collection! Lars, I am in awe of the cuffs that you find for your collection! I have never even seen one of these for sale on any sites? Great job, my friend! I hope eyeryone's collections keep growing with great finds! Im back on the hunt! I just scored a mis-labeled Iver Johnson Handcuff on Ebay for $60! I was at the right place at the right time and knew what I was looking at. They didnt have a key, but when i get them, i will see what i can do about getting or making one.

-Richard Knip-

Nice cuff Lars. Cheers, Steve

Thank you Richard and Steve for your nice words!

BTW; Anyone interested in the Finnish Konepaja Voima? I have a new Finnish source with a two sets available for sale. Not yet sure about the asked price.
A photo of one of my Konepaja Voima attached.

Cheers,

Lars

I am interested, Lars. Will have to see what the asking price is. A bit tapped out at the moment. Nice looking cuffs!
-Richard Knip-

Hi Richard,
I will let you know as soon as I hear anything from the owner.  These are very nice and they are the "prototype" to the H&R Supercuffs. The Konepaja Voima were patented in Finland in 1928. The H&R patent was issued in 1934. The story how they were patented in the US in unfortunately unknown.
Lars

Ciao to everyone !

Here is the latest piece added to mine.

Please post more :-)

Andrew Basso

I seen that Michael Griffin was selling these. Great piece! Congrats on the new purchase for the collection!
-Richard Knip-

Thank you Richard! What is your favourite piece of your collection ?

Favorite is a hard thing to say. I have so many. LOL! As im sure most of us do. Im at 820 restraints in the collection, at this point. One that really stands out to me, was a blacksmith made item. This original ball and chain. I chased the few ball and chain auction i found in the last 25 years and finally caught one! I have 3 different ones now. There is speculation, from differing sources on where this would have been made. French African and German have both been pin-pointed. But, the consensus is that they would have been made in the late 1700s. I got them from an online live auction. I paid very little for them, considering their worth in today's market. They still have the key and still function, though they are a little stiff.  Not comfortable to wear, at all. LOL! The ball weighs in at just under 10 pounds, so its not a very big example. Ive seen some up to 50 pounds!
-Richard Knip-

Definitely A favourite Thank you for sharing this!

@BornToEscape. What would you say is the favorite of your collection?
-Richard Knip-

Thank you for adding this new idea

Hoping to put some life back into these pages. We have quite a few guys on here who are still serious about collecting. Love conversing with everyone and seeing what new treasures, each of us has found! I posted up another Topic for "Unknown Cuffs or Restraints." Hoping that one will get some life too. Even if no one has any further information as to what the restraint actually is. It can become a showcase for the odd and unusual pieces we find.
-Richard Knip-

It's hard to say what's my favorite handcuff... but I guess I'll go with the Bean Giants.... because of the Houdini connection it just adds to it's history 

Whoa! That is an amazing collection, Fred! So much history in one spot! Who made the mini Bean Giants in the case at the bottom? I think I have a picture of Bushey wearing a set of minis, somewhere?
-Richard Knip-

opps! Nevermind on the minis. I was able to enlarge the pic. That looks to be a backing sheet with a picture of the cuffs in a plastic case. The smaller pic, they looked like minis. As im getting older, my eyes just arent what they used to be! LOL!
-Richard Knip-

Richard 
Sorry to say I don't have a min Bean Giant.... that is the original cover for the box they came in
I do have Bushey mini hamburg's that he so generously gifted me

Richard, this posts are wonderful. I never seen the Italian Carabinieri chain used like this,interesting!

One of the things I love about this forum. Getting to see things you never knew were available. Even if they were made "one-off", by a creative person in the item's past. I have a set of "Lilly Irons", made from a set of old Barn Hinges. The openings for your wrists are pretty small. I have a hard time closing them on my wrist, and i have small diameter wrists. Why someone wanted to duplicate a Lilly Iron out of old hardware, i have no idea. Its a neat little piece i was given when i purchased several other cuffs from a buyer. Wish I knew more on its history or when it was made? But, that is the inherit trouble with custom made things. No way to date their year of manufacture and many times, no way to even pinpoint the region it would have been made in. Part of the history of the piece that is lost to our history. But, as I always say, the fun is in the hunt! You never know what will turn up, when you look in the next box or click on that next link online.
-Richard Knip-

Fred, it looks to me as though the angular device and extended key in the center are meant for escape from these "inescapable" cuffs?  The bottom one especially is quite creative, as it seems like it would be usable even with the keyhole facing up.  The longer one could perhaps be turned by one's teeth, as well!  Do you know anything else about them?  I have found that escape from modern handcuffs is much easier with an extended pen-type key as compared to the small ones; it seems this is sort of the same idea!
Thanks for sharing.

Hey Ryan
The Bean Giants in the frame once belonged to Houdini... the one directly underneath in the middle Is one of Houdinii's King Breakers Houdini altered the key way to trap other escape artist who claimed they were the true Handcuff Kings.... the extension key's also belonged to Houdini these all came to me by way of a close family member of Houdini's...The first Bean Giant on the left has the patent date stamped on the back... the second one is a gaffed Bean Giant... the thrid is marked Ivor Johnson... the extreme right is the top of the orginal box that they came in... the second pair is in the bottom of the box ... the thrid is a soild cast Bean Giant more a less a paper weight Thanks for asking

I was fortunate to be able to add these Adams leg irons to the collection....some things are worth the wait!

Wow! Fred! Congratulations! That is a beautiful pair of very rare leg irons! If I may ask, where did you get them from? What an amazing piece for your collection!
-Richard Knip-

Way to go Fred that’s a great find and I hope that they are operational.

Spencer

I have been way too busy recently, but even when I don't have time to post on this forum, I like to scan over the new posts when I can.  Those Adams leg irons are very impressive!  I rarely see even the handcuff version up for sale, and these have such a nice patina.  Do you have a working key?
I like the way these, like the Bean Cobb leg irons, attach to the chain, with this swivel-less hinge.  The chain is quite short! I've noticed many older leg irons have significantly shorter chains than modern standard sets.  I guess people tended to be a bit shorter back then, but still, between these and old Darby's, Lily irons, etc, 8-10 inches must have been considered good enough for anyone forced to wear these in those days!

One of the latest I have gotten for the collection is this Greek Darby. Talked about it with Joe Lauher, a bit. He also believes it was made in Greece. The end caps have lettering that translates to "Justice Ministry", stamped into them. Really solid piece! Note the bows have a more square edged shape, instead of the rounded edges we are used to seeing on English made darbys.
-Richard Knip-

Fred Congratulations ! you are like the magician that seems to always pull something wonderful out of nowhere ! What a. Great piece of Leg Iron history. Thank you for sharing your wonderful find with all of us that appreciate the collecting of these works of art..With Great Respect for your many contributions to the collectors of restraints.
Goebel 

Just wanted to thank everyone for there kind words and emails!
Always great hearing from old friends!
I'm happy to say they work fine and they look great thanks to the magic of Bob Dix!