Any idea of the maker?

Maybe I'm nuts but for the price I'm purchasing these Darby’s. I was just wondering if anyone could give some input on who may have possibly made them. Im hoping to find a better key if I don’t already have one.

They look like Providence Tool Co.  If they are, the marks should be along the hinge edge.  There is a lot of pitting so they may not be visible.

Ron

They have no visible markings anywhere but it would be nice if they are Providence Tool.

The end cap of the cuff is the giveaway.  
Ron

Yes, agreed. Those are Providence Tool. The markings have all been worn away. They only have 1 bid at $40 right now. Should go fairly cheap. There are 6 people currently watching them. So, shoot high at the end, if you want them. Just my advice.
-Richard Knip-

My thing is these are the swivels from marked Providence Tool Darby’s and the are clearly different

Its not uncommon for a company to have gone through a few different styles of swivels during their run of restraints. Its possible they were made in different years, or that the supply of one swivel dwindled out and they used another swivel in its place for a bit. The bulbous end caps is what gives it away for me, as to who made them. That slight domed curvature is found on Provendce Tool Co. Darbys. The fact that there are no marks left anywhere on the cuffs, also says to me, that since the Prov. Tool just had the small imprint on the edge of the hinge, its much easier to loose that to wear or rust. Prov. Tool didnt have the "Warranted" "Wrought and "Hard" stampings that most other darby cuffs had.
-Richard Knip-

The finished quality of Prov. Tool stuff is not a good as most English darbies. The hinge area of many Prov. cuffs I have worked on or seen is crudely filed. Around the edges and face where the stamping is found. flat spots on the knuckle of the hinge are common. Also varying thickness along the flat edge from the knuckle to the tube. Typical of unskilled or low work pride standards.

They look like Prov. Tool Co. They have been repaired. You can see that the end caps have been filed flat and at the bottom of one pic you can see where the cap has been pinned and filed back at the edge. It may also have one square bolt and one round one, but it is hard to tell without seeing up close.

I would disagree that cuff has been repaired, I have a pair almost the same. On some P T C cuffs the dome is almost polished and perfect in shape, others you can see the flats of the file as a dome shape is formed crudely. The rim of the lock tube is a semi circle shape, very much unique to PTC design. The hinge pin is a typical nominal 1/8 dia , smaller than European made cuffs.  The ends of the locking bolt are both more round in cross section and appear normal. In British cuffs is the locking bolt almost square in full length, the thread is really  only at it deepest on the corners of the square, which is why the thread can be worn and a key that fits one side of a pair may slip off the other. The P T C locking bolt have a modern (ish) machine made pitch thread. As all P T C cuff take the same pitch key, this will be the deciding factor to the ID of this cuff.

One of my two  Tools Co cuffs and for the first time in 42 years, I have taken notice of the swivel !

And it’s the same swivel! Ron

yes it is, took me by surprise

You surprised? Wow that’s saying something. I appreciate your input Ian

Well for $47.40 total they are now mine and I can’t wait to get them to see if my Providence Tool Co. leg irons key opens them. I’m almost certain it will. Thanks to all for your input.
Ron J

Congratulations, Ron! That is a great price! I know that my factory Leg Irons key is physically too big to fit into the key hole on the lock tube of my Prov Tool Co. Handcuffs. Im sure Ian call make you a key for the handcuffs, if need be.
-Richard Knip-

Richard I was under the impression that they both took the same key, so thanks for that info. I will definitely be needing a key either way. Ron

I think, its just the size of the barrel of the key on the leg iron that was bigger from the factory. The thread pitch and diameter of the lock bolt should be the same.
-Richard Knip-

djhalfdead wrote: ↑

Sep 16, 2021

Its not uncommon for a company to have gone through a few different styles of swivels during their run of restraints. Its possible they were made in different years, or that the supply of one swivel dwindled out and they used another swivel in its place for a bit. The bulbous end caps is what gives it away for me, as to who made them. That slight domed curvature is found on Provendce Tool Co. Darbys. The fact that there are no marks left anywhere on the cuffs, also says to me, that since the Prov. Tool just had the small imprint on the edge of the hinge, its much easier to loose that to wear or rust. Prov. Tool didnt have the "Warranted" "Wrought and "Hard" stampings that most other darby cuffs had.
-Richard Knip-

Hey there.  I was always under the impression that all Providence Tool Cuffs had the round bulbous head.  A few years ago I picked up a not round head Providence Tool.  Its different enough from my other Providences (Providenci? plural?) that I've held onto it.

Thank you for sharing that Michael! Good to know that there are other variations out there. Now....to find one for the collection. Easier said than done, im afraid. LOL!
-Richard Knip-

That’s good to know, these are flat and not rounded. Waiting for the key so I can see if a Providence Tool key works on them.