Cuff of the Day for April 21. Three-Way Handcuffs

Today we explore another specialized topic, three-way handcuffs.  These interesting cuffs have been around for a long time.
Let us see what we can find.

I have several older three-way cuffs in the collection, but I will start with a modern example.


The Smith & Wesson three-way cuff was patented in 1981.   Only a few examples have been found so it appears that it was never very successful.

Chicago Handcuff Company 3-Way Handcuffs. Model X55 and the X33. 
The three cuffs allow one to handcuff a prisoner to someone else or to a stationary object.

Maltby 3 way 3

Tower Bottom Key

hmmmm, where have I seen that 3 way Maltby before?

I have a three way Tower bottom key cuff with a slightly different setup, it has a total of four links with the ones connected to clevis being round and only the center link twisted.

Spencer

Another Maltby.

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑

Apr 21, 2020

hmmmm, where have I seen that 3 way Maltby before?

That must mean I paid to much for them...lol

Tower Double lock 3 way

This is interesting, was it only US makers who offered three-way handcuffs? I can't recall any makers outside the US and I unfortunately don't have any of these myself.

Lars

Gordon
That is an amazing cuff, I know that Marlin advertised 3 way cuffs but that is only the second one I’ve ever seen.

Spencer

This is an interesting take on the idea of the 3-way cuff. It was made by a good friend, and member of our board, Steve Chace. You can see his cuffs like these, and other designs, selling on Ebay right now. He made this "T" shaped 3-way design, to offer the market something different. I had him use S&W M-100 cuffs to make this one. The second set is a set of Peerless 3-way cuffs, that he also made for me. And last is a design, i dreamed up, and Steve was able to make. He used Peerless 700 series cuffs to make this kind spin-off of a 3-way cuff. But, the 3rd cuff is used to secure a neck chain, around your neck. The stainless steel bars, push your hands out away from your neck and apart from each other. I named this set up the "Bermuda Triangle." It was sold on Ebay, and has a very happy, new owner, now. Steve Chace does amazing work in his shop! As you can see, Steve's welds look like they came from the factory! He has made me keys, in the past, as well as repair cuffs for me. Thanks, Steve!
-Richard Knip-

Tower DLs. Look about the same as Fred’s.
They do have
Some kind of odd stamponthem I can’t id.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Judd, Judd, Judd

I’ll see your 3 and raise you four!

Raise you 5, more accurately

Chinese H&R type 3 handed.

Another S&W three handed cuff similar to Joes but with model 100 cuffs and marked Pat’s Pending.

Seems there were two patents that J. Daleo was granted. 4249401 (10th February 1981) and a slightly earlier one 4162622 (31st July 1979).

Smith & Wesson Model 90  3-way cuffs.

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Apr 22, 2020

Chinese H&R type 3 handed.

Are these any good?

CuffedUpInIrish wrote: ↑

Dec 07, 2021

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Apr 22, 2020

Chinese H&R type 3 handed.

Are these any good?

The H&R type 3 handed cuffs are decent. They are not as well made as an H&R and not as heavy, but they will get the job done. Typical Chinese piece that has thinner edges that are a bit sharp and not made of as good of material as the originals. One thing to note is that Iam McColl has shown us before that you can actually pick open the locking mechanism on the Chinese copy with a rolled up dollar bill! It really works, too! LOL! So, they arent very secure. But they work fine for a play toy type of a cuff. They also make a neat looking display piece.
-Richard Knip-

Anyone have a set of the S&W 90 3 way cuffs pictured above?  Willing to part with them?

"In line" 3-way S&W 90 with a bit different third cuff link
"Star" 3-way S&W M100

I picked up this custom made Peerless three-way handcuff. I tracked down the shop that sold it to a police supply/gun shop in Florida. I was also able to track down a lady who worked in the office at the shop. She is the last living employee from this shop. She verified that they would not have made it at their shop, but whomever purchased it from them, cobbled this together. Now, why they felt they had to grind of the Peerless stamps is beyond me? You can see that they used pieces from a hinged handcuff to make the extra connection. They still need some cleaning and polishing up, yet. Not factory made, but a neat little piece for the collection.
-Richard Knip-

I have never seen anyone actually use 3 way handcuffs.  Anyone have a photo of these being used in booking area or a prison? 

Can't remember who it was that told me that the design was not only for cuffing 2 or 3 prisoners together or 1 or 2 to at stationary object, but could also have been designed for cuffing a regular sized prisoner AND could be used for a super plus sized guy.
Normally 2 handcuffs would be used to transport a 350 pound guy.