Maltby Nipper Question

I found this Maltby Nipper, late at night on Ebay. Got it for a decent price. Now that I received it, I have a question about its function. Are these supposed to function like a standard Maltby Handcuff? Meaning, when you pull up on the bottom "T" handle and the jaws open, are they supposed to lock into an open position, until you depress the plunger on top of someone's wrist? These do not lock. They allow you to pull up the bottom "T" handle and as long as you squeeze the 2 handles together, the jaws remain open. But it wont stay open when you release your grip on the bottom handle. You can squeeze it open and push the nippers on top of someone's wrist and they do snap closed, like i would expect a Maltby to do. I just wanted to clarify, are they supposed to stay open if you let got of the handle, without pressing on the plunger? Also, after these snap shut, is there supposed to be a lock to keep them closed or do they they not lock in the closed position? Hoping someone here knows and can clarify if mine works as it should or not? Thank you in advance for any help you can offer me.
-Richard Knip-

Richard
This is an interesting question.  It is my belief that they should stay open, but no pair that I have ever seen does that.  I have two pairs and neither stays open.
When I read the patent, it is not really clear if staying open was part of the design, but the way I read it they should stay open on their own until tripped.  What is clear is that they contain a zillion small parts.  It may simply be a matter that they are too delicate and the mechanism in all the ones I have seen is broken and/or out of alignment.
Joe

Similar to a Presto Lyons cuff. They are all broken and no longer snap shut. I have 4 different Presto Lyons cuffs and none of them work. When I looked at the patent for the Maltby Nipper, i couldnt see anything that would slip into place to hold them open, when the handles were squeezed together? But, i could be wrong.

-Richard Knip-

Neither of my two Maltby nippers stays open.

Matt

Thanks Matt! I appreciate you chiming in here! I read through and studied the patent papers for these. I do not see any feasible way that they would stay open. No pins or anything to fall in to place to keep them "locked" open. After reading the patent, which is written a lot like a Japanese Microwave users manual (LOL!), i think i understand more as to how they would work. Fascinating little piece. As is all of the Mattatuck stuff.
-Richard Knip-

Mine doesn't stay open either.

Richard,

I don't have the Maltby nipper, simply as I'm not very keen on nippers. However, I know the mechanism of most Mattatuck restraints are, as Joe stated, very complicated.
They likely break easily.
On the other hand I have three French Presto Lyon in my collection. They are not as complicated as the Maltby but the "spring open function" is mostly lost when finding a set. Two of my my Presto Lyon are renovated.
The fainted springs are replaced and so are some other brass parts. I didn't do the job myself but according to my friend, who worked on them, it's a hell of a job.
Here is a link to the the Presto Lyon and how they are meant to work.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com