The story behind the Taiwan made Winchester WN-40 handcuffs?

My understanding was that a gentleman paid for and obtained the rights to use the famous Winchester logo on cuffs he was having made in Taiwan. The Taiwan firm contracted to make these cuffs, was supposedly the oldest Asian world handcuff maker, and was capable of making a world quality product.
I remember reading all about it some years ago, but have not been able to re-find that full story online. I think the info had even mentioned how many were made, but just can't seem to find anything like that online today.
Does anybody here have a link to that story? Or, does anybody remember most of the facts shared within it?
Thank you in advance :)

This model cuff is also offered in the USA as a "Chicago" branded handcuff, (and under another model designation). In any case, they seem to be a viable alternative as a "user cuff", but the Winchester logo may make a more desirable collector item for those that partake in this hobby, (because of it having the licensed Winchester logo stamped into them, and, because of them no longer being manufactured with that stamping).

"Winchester handcuffs were started in 2004 by Arnold Newman in Gurnee, IL. The handcuffs were made in Taiwan and the brand name was licensed from Winchester. They were a pretty good handcuff made of hardened stainless steel. Arnold tried to get me to in on the deal with him, but I declined. We talked about his idea for about a year and he credited me with convincing him to go with a well known brand name. The problem was that Arnold was kind of crazy and a very agressive salesman who always talked about getting rich quick. He eventually created a partnership with a stamping company in Chicago and made plans to make the handcuffs in the USA. They ordered a large quantity from Taiwan, I think about 10,000 pairs. The handcuffs didn’t sell that well and Arnold and his partner soon had a falling out. Arnold began making the same cuffs under the name Security and left the stamping company stuck with a lot of handcuffs they weren’t able to sell. Arnold passed away a couple years ago. I think he was 78. I’m very glad I never went into business with him, but I kind of miss him because he was such a character. He was an engineer and I also learned a lot about metals and plastics from him. After Arnold died, the manufacturer in Taiwan which had given Arnold an exclusive on his design asked us if we would like to buy the same cuff with our brand. We now sell the same handcuff under the brand Chicago Handcuff Company Model X55. They are NIJ approved and have been a good product for us. We bought out most of the remaining Winchester handcuffs and still have a few hundred left. They are available at Handcuff Warehouse while our supply lasts: http://www.handcuffwarehouse.com/wimownststha.html ."

Source:
http://blog.handcuffwarehouse.com/2008/03/

I'm pretty sure I have a pair of legirons marked Winchester. Those were model WL-60 if I remember correct.

Yes, that was the online story I was talking about... Much thanks to you for that!

I wonder why they went ahead and ordered them from Taiwan, although they were planning for them to be USA made?
I tried looking up his "Security" branded versions of them that were mentioned above, but to no avail.
I am surprised at the above guess he made of there being around 10,000 made. I say that because I believe I have seen online photos of them with much higher serial numbers, but then, maybe they did not number them consecutively, and maybe the serial number system they chose were done in an unusual method.
He also mentions purchasing the remaining 200 or so that the company still had in stock. It's pretty amazing that they still have some left, since they are still listed on their website. I wound up ordering one, just to include it into my personal collection of "Needful Things" ;)

Btw, I have noticed that many sellers of these handcuffs online are listing them as "made in USA".
That, of course, is incorrect. I don't know if these are honest mistakes, or them trying to dupe their potential customers, but it does seem common for the "Made in USA" thing to be present in their descriptions.
I really don't know if there even is a country of origin marking on them?

I am looking for a set of the Winchester Leg Irons, if anyone has a set they are willing to part with. Either message me on here or send an email to  iambiohazard@yahoo.com  Thank you.
-Richard Knip-

Just received my set in the mail today. Nice addition to my eclectic collection for only 20 bucks ☺

I had to step out for my Wednesday workout at the gym, and when I returned, I spent some time goung over these newly acquired cuffs.
They seem to be as marketed, an all stainless steel set of cuffs. The quality seems very good.
I looked over the box it comes in, and it does have a small "Made in Taiwan" print on one side of the box. As for the cuffs themselves, I only found the "Winchester" logo, the Tactical Steel Products information, including location of such company (Chicago Illinois), the "Stainless Steel" wording, the model designation, and the serial number... But, no Made in Taiwan stamping on them.
I don't know what the laws were/are for marking such things with country of origin, but seems that the box printing of it was legally enough.
Since these were made in 2004, it makes them about 15 years old, so they are technically NOS (new old stock).
They are absolutely brand new looking in every way, and again, seem like a true bargain at their $20 price.
Anyhow, just thought there may some out there curious about them, and so I figured I'd share those little tid bits ☺

The Winchester cuffs, like these, arent hard to come by. Yes, they are made in Taiwan and the box is marked as such, but the cuffs are not. They are still Taiwan cuffs, though. They are one of the nicer made, Taiwan cuffs. One has to think, that Winchester tried to capitalize on the craze of other cuffs from a known gun maker. The Colt Cuffs, can often draw a stiff price tag. They are sought by cuff collectors as well as gun collectors. Although, Colt had their cuffs produced in America by Guardian Cuff Company. Winchester went a cheaper route and hoped for similar results. Over time, the Colt product has stood its ground and maintained a good resale rate. Winchesters, did not. $20 is a decent price for a new pair. That is the highest price I have ever gotten on a used pair, as well. They just are not as sought after as the Colt cuffs still are. Now, the Winchester Leg Irons are a different animal. They tend to pull a decent price on the rare occasion, they do come up for sale. I would have to think that not as many leg irons were made, as opposed to the handcuffs. Adding to their rarity.
=Richard Knip-

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, it was not Winchester's idea at all in having these cuffs made. It was the man behind the "Tactical Steel Products" company that decided to have the cuffs made, and he must have simply approached the owners of the "Winchester" brand for rights to use that famous logo on the Tactical Steel Products cuffs. Those rights for the use of that name were likely acquired the old fashioned way... They paid for it ☺

My reading the following portion of the Winchester branded handcuff story, had me wondering something....

"After Arnold died, the manufacturer in Taiwan, which had given Arnold an exclusive on his design, asked us if we would like to buy the same cuff with our brand. We now sell the same handcuff under the brand Chicago Handcuff Company Model X55. They are NIJ approved and have been a good product for us."

My wondering is about the design itself. I know most of these types of cuffs seem pretty close in design to one another, but with that said, I wonder if the Winchester cuffs was an off the shelf model from the Taiwan firm that manufactured them, or a design that was custom made to the "Tactical Steel Products" firm owner's specifications? The story does place that person as having been an engineer, so maybe he drew up his own specs on what he wanted the cuffs to be, and the cuffs may have then been made in Taiwan to those specs/drawings.

What is the difference between Chicago X55 and model 1000? I know X55 is NIJ but apparently model 1000 is not. But aren't they essentially the same? Why the 1000 is not NIJ I do not know. Surely they aren't sub-standard in some way?

My sister was murdered in 1990, and the killer used handcuffs. I would like to hear from anyone who knows what manufacturer in Taiwan made these, where they were sent to the US for distribution, and a possible date they were made. Any other information you can provide would be appreciated. 

How do I attach a photo of them?  What is full editor?  How do I access it? 

Do you have any other suggestions of who or where I should try to get more identification of them?



Many thanks!
LMT