Goncz Handcuff Variations- Nickel Plated

With all the discussions about some nice vintage cuffs recently, I almost feel bad moving to a more current topic, the Goncz cuff.
Having had a very recent private conversation about these, I wanted to go over what I had acquired from John Goncz a few years ago.
He made several variations and the topic has been discussed here in the past, some of it not all that pleasant.

I am not sure if I lined up the variations in 1 photo before, so here it is.  I am sure there were more, but this is what I have in my collection.
I also have gold plated, transportation chains and black finished ones too, but these are just the nickel plated ones for this discussion.

Top cuff is Regular Issue LASD CST  Los Angeles Sheriff's Department - Court Service Transportation Detail.
2nd down is the same cuff but the High Security version.
There is nothing high security in their design.  The mechanics are identical to any other of his cuffs. The classification pertains to the hardening treatment given to these specific cuffs. 
I believe he case hardened these so only the outer millimeter or so was protected against saw attacks while making the interior of the metal not as brittle as it would be if hardened all the way through.
He did have a prototype high security model that protected the standard keyhole a bit more but his claim that it was pickproof never was challenged.


3rd is High Security general issue for public or other police departments.
Bottom is Peruvian National Police.
Goncz would send gold plated versions to the Chief of Police in various cities as gifts and would often get contracts for many cuffs. Clever marketing!

The 2nd picture shows a plain Goncz which is neither a HS, PNP or LASD-CST. Just an ordinary duty cuff for police, MP or security officers....or collectors!
3rd photo is one of the sales brochures from the company.

Mark, thank you for showing, explaining and clarifying the differences in the Goncz cuff line-up. This is one of those companies that not a lot of information exists. So it is difficult for collectors to track these companies and research them, when they were not on the market very long. So far, I only have 2 examples of Goncz in my collection. I have a nickel plated PNP cuff and a black, standard cuff. I see there are a few more out there, and a few more variations that I need to find. Im sure the gold plated will be next to impossible to locate, but here is to hoping! LOL!
-Richard Knip-

I sold 2 gold ones a year ago, maybe.  It could have been longer as time is flying by.
I have a gold transportation chain, a nickel plated transportation chain and another that I don't know what is up with that one.
The interesting thing about the nickel plate double cuff transportation chain is the marking that I never noticed before.
There is NOTHING about LA county Sheriff TST that I could find online (probably eliminated before Wikipedia was created) so I just called them and asked to speak to the oldest guy around  (one getting ready to retire).
I figured that most anyone working on Sunday would be a newbie and wouldn't know this history.  I got transferred a few times but hit pay dirt with a transportation Lieutenant and he remembered when the Technical Service Transportation Dept. existed in the 80's.  I am emailing the department historian to find out if TST coexisted with CST or did one morph into the other.  The first deputy thought it was Transportation Service Bureau but took quite some time to find me the right department who would know.  He could not explain the 2nd T in TST so he really tried hard for me to get the answer I needed. Super nice guy!
In my department, Technical Services is more aligned with our Data Service Division which takes care of video, radio, and computer communication acquisition and repair.
I would think that in the 80's, a time of great growth in technology, they had to change their name as the word "technical" no longer fit with prisoner transportation.  Perhaps it pertained to the logistics of picking up those in custody from other police stations to the central jail and/or to court.

In reviewing my blackened cuffs, I find that I have a CST and a PNP and a regular one with 3 foot chain.

Great follow up to add to this post! Outstanding work, Mark! I do remember when your gold cuffs went across the sales block. I did not have the money at the time to grab one, which is often the case for me. I get what i can, when I can afford it. I miss out on a lot of rarities that come up for sale, since I absolutely suck at saving money! LOL!

I know that my Nickel Plate PNP Goncz came from you and my Black Standard Goncz came from a small collector in Ohio that fell on tough times. I bought a few things from that collector, after he went through a break in at his home and lost nearly everything (not related to his collection). He said he never really had a big collection, but he did have a couple of Goncz and a few other odd pieces. There was also a double cuff transportation chain set that came up on Ebay a few years ago. It was being sold by a guy up North of me in Illinois. He was asking $200 or higher? It was a bit rough. At the time, i didnt think it was a factory made piece, so I did not move on it. Later, I seen the sales ad (and saved a pic of it), which showed it as being factory. He reduced the price at some point before i knew its origin and it was sold to someone.  That is the only transportation set i had even seen for sale on Ebay in the last 6 or 7 years though. Ive never come across Goncz for sale on any other pages and I wasnt a member of the forum, back when they have come up for sale through the years.
-Richard Knip-

Here is one of Goncz's original drawings used for either a patent application or for manufacturing purposes.
Almost 10 years ago to the day from when I first met him.

For those who are not familiar with him, he is regarded as a top weapon designer.  A few of the guns he developed were loaned out for several Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
Later, he got involved with LED technology and made lights for pistols and even tried to market his line of movie studio lighting systems.
Older Klieg lamps changed color temperature the more they were used, needed noisy generators when on remote locations and gave off lots of heat.
His lamps had none of these undesired characteristics and I think his competition beat him to the punch in the endeavor.
Last I know, he was exploring medical benefits that some LED's could offer.
I lost touch with him a few years ago when I had to decline a business opportunity with him.
Too bad, I had a few good times with him and learned much from him. 

Great details, Thank you!

On my last visit to Alex Nichols about 18months ago I managed to persuade him to part with three of his Goncz restraints.
Bit of a long story but initially Alex donated his collection to The Galleries of Justice in Nottingham. After 4 years they were still in storage so Alex got them back. A Police and Prison Museum at Tetbury (only about 30 miles from where Alex lives) showed interest and Alex took about 500 items for them. Quite a few of the UK handcuffs were put on display and about 300 items were put in storage in the basement. Unfortunately they had a pipe burst and considerable damage was done to over 200 items. Alex decided he wanted to foreign restraints returned. This was eventually done and compensation paid for the damage.
Unfortunately two of the Rare Goncz Prototype items sustained slight damage (I am sure with some careful use of something like Solvol Autosol they can be fully restored.
I am visiting Alex early next month - he still
has enthusiasm for our hobby and will be 92 at the end of December!

Wow, an impressive set of cuffs!
I never knew there was a hinged cuff until now.

Love those hinged!