The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Judd / Maltby triangular handcuff key

27 visible archived posts · 27 preserved total · topic ID 7394

rejones68 15 Feb 2022

If anyone here has a Judd / Maltby triangular key that they would be willing to sell or may know where I can get a reproduction please email me at rejones68@Yahoo.com or comment here. By the way Ian McColl isn’t selling keys.

holstcollection 16 Feb 2022

If Ian don't sell keys anymore it will be very tricky. The Judd key is not a simple key to make as it has a triangular inner shape.

Lars

rejones68 16 Feb 2022

holstcollection wrote: ↑
Feb 16, 2022
If Ian don't sell keys anymore it will be very tricky. The Judd key is not a simple key to make as it has a triangular inner shape.

Lars

Yes sir I’m quite aware

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs 16 Feb 2022

I have made a few keys by cutting the tips off of a vintage furniture keys and taking a Dremil carbide bit down the inside barrel.
Take a magic marker and draw a line in 3 well-spaced spots on the outside. Remove some metal from the inside at the positions that are marked by the ink lines and a key can be made in just a couple of minutes.
It would be best to put the bow or handle part of the key into a vice for stability.

When I made these, it is usually under a couple dollars. The other keys that were sold were really expensive and the shipping on them was way over the top.

rejones68 16 Feb 2022

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑
Feb 16, 2022
I have made a few keys by cutting the tips off of a vintage furniture keys and taking a Dremil carbide bit down the inside barrel.
Take a magic marker and draw a line in 3 well-spaced spots on the outside. Remove some metal from the inside at the positions that are marked by the ink lines and a key can be made in just a couple of minutes.
It would be best to put the bow or handle part of the key into a vice for stability.

When I made these, it is usually under a couple dollars. The other keys that were sold were really expensive and the shipping on them was way over the top.

That seems to be some good solid advice, by any chance do you feel up to doing it again and have a Judd to try it out in? If so it will pay off well. If you have no interest in trying thank you for the information, at worst I will just ruin a few more keys lol.

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs 16 Feb 2022

I probably should make more of these since I have half a dozen cuffs that I will eventually sell.
I find it ALWAYS better to sell with keys.
I just don't have any spare time right now.
My work load is too crazy. So many people with safe problems and they want it right NOW!

The "Secret Service" issued cuffs have a slightly smaller diameter than the police version.
The inside diameter is the same but the outside diameter is smaller, making the walls of the key that much thinner.

The "Secret Service" Leg Irons have the regular sized diameter key.

rejones68 16 Feb 2022

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑
Feb 16, 2022
I probably should make more of these since I have half a dozen cuffs that I will eventually sell.
I find it ALWAYS better to sell with keys.
I just don't have any spare time right now.
My work load is too crazy. So many people with safe problems and they want it right NOW!

The "Secret Service" issued cuffs have a slightly smaller diameter than the police version.
The inside diameter is the same but the outside diameter is smaller, making the walls of the key that much thinner.

The "Secret Service" Leg Irons have the regular sized diameter key.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input Mark and I guess I will be trying to do make one for the Judds that I have acquire.

Unknown / guest 24 Feb 2022

My progress so far, still needs some more work to unlock my Judds

Jeff Sinclair 24 Feb 2022

How are you doing the work? If one is available a Bridgeport mill would make short work of making a triangular hole in a piece of solid round stock. Of course, any of the new computer driven machines would do it too but then you wouldn't have the satisfaction of knowing you did it by hand. There's a lot to be said for that, IMHO . Let us know when the key works. Great work. Thanks for sharing.

Tom

rejones68 24 Feb 2022

#10

Jeff Sinclair wrote: ↑
Feb 24, 2022
How are you doing the work? If one is available a Bridgeport mill would make short work of making a triangular hole in a piece of solid round stock. Of course, any of the new computer driven machines would do it too but then you wouldn't have the satisfaction of knowing you did it by hand. There's a lot to be said for that, IMHO . Let us know when the key works. Great work. Thanks for sharing.

Tom

Sir I ordered a steel rod 1/4 OD and 1/8 ID and I’m doing the triangle with a dremel and a dremel engraving bit. Had to file the outside diameter a bit but not much and it fit right into the Judd keyhole. I’m very excited to see what my finished key will look like and to see if my free Judds work.

Thank you, Ron J

djhalfdead 24 Feb 2022

#11

Great work so far, Ron! Thanks for sharing the pic and the information with us!
-Richard Knip-

rejones68 25 Feb 2022

#12

djhalfdead wrote: ↑
Feb 24, 2022
Great work so far, Ron! Thanks for sharing the pic and the information with us!
-Richard Knip-

Thank you Richard. I’m happy to share anything I can on what I’ve learned. I appreciate what a few others have taught/shared with me.

Ron J

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs 25 Feb 2022

#13

Nice progress so far!
This is one of the McColl keys that I got a while ago, when it was a better time to order from him.
I hope this helps.
It looks like he took a mill and cut down the material in 3 equidistant places.
I will say that these keys were accurate and worked well in the Judds.

rejones68 25 Feb 2022

#14

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑
Feb 25, 2022
Nice progress so far!
This is one of the McColl keys that I got a while ago, when it was a better time to order from him.
I hope this helps.
It looks like he took a mill and cut down the material in 3 equidistant places.
I will say that these keys were accurate and worked well in the Judds.

I wish I had a better way without spending a small fortune to make keys , but my way seems to be working. Thanks again for sharing Mark.

Ron J

holstcollection 26 Feb 2022

#15

Making a proper triangular key is not really difficult but it's very time consuming. I made a triangular key for one of my Finnish Kakola cuffs some years ago.

I started out with a rod with a drilled center hole. Then I used a triangular file to work on it. It take some time but it's for sure possible.

Good luck with your making of a working key! Just have patience and don't file to much at the time.

Lars

rejones68 26 Feb 2022

#16

holstcollection wrote: ↑
Feb 26, 2022
Making a proper triangular key is not really difficult but it's very time consuming. I made a triangular key for one of my Finnish Kakola cuffs some years ago.

I started out with a rod with a drilled center hole. Then I used a triangular file to work on it. It take some time but it's for sure possible.

Good luck with your making of a working key! Just have patience and don't file to much at the time.

Lars
Click to expand...

Very nice ! Thank you for sharing, your key turned out very nice.

Ron J

holstcollection 27 Feb 2022

#17

rejones68 wrote: ↑
Feb 26, 2022
holstcollection wrote: ↑
Feb 26, 2022
Making a proper triangular key is not really difficult but it's very time consuming. I made a triangular key for one of my Finnish Kakola cuffs some years ago.

I started out with a rod with a drilled center hole. Then I used a triangular file to work on it. It take some time but it's for sure possible.

Good luck with your making of a working key! Just have patience and don't file to much at the time.

Lars
Very nice ! Thank you for sharing, your key turned out very nice.

Ron J
Click to expand...

Ron,

One piece of advice when making the key. When filing the triangular inner shape, make sure to make it slightly conical and not straight.
If the entrance to the key narrows slightly, the key will be tight against the triangular part in the lock. If the hole is made completely straight, there is a risk that the key will damage the lock as it will be a "play" between the key and the triangular rod. If the key is filed slightly conical the key will "stick" to the lock. i can hold my cuff upside down and the key is still stuck to the triangular rod.

Lars

rejones68 27 Feb 2022

#18

holstcollection wrote: ↑
Feb 27, 2022
rejones68 wrote: ↑
Feb 26, 2022
holstcollection wrote: ↑
Feb 26, 2022
Making a proper triangular key is not really difficult but it's very time consuming. I made a triangular key for one of my Finnish Kakola cuffs some years ago.

I started out with a rod with a drilled center hole. Then I used a triangular file to work on it. It take some time but it's for sure possible.

Good luck with your making of a working key! Just have patience and don't file to much at the time.

Lars
Very nice ! Thank you for sharing, your key turned out very nice.

Ron J
Ron,

One piece of advice when making the key. When filing the triangular inner shape, make sure to make it slightly conical and not straight.
If the entrance to the key narrows slightly, the key will be tight against the triangular part in the lock. If the hole is made completely straight, there is a risk that the key will damage the lock as it will be a "play" between the key and the triangular rod. If the key is filed slightly conical the key will "stick" to the lock. i can hold my cuff upside down and the key is still stuck to the triangular rod.

Lars
Click to expand...

That’s some good advice and thank you for it. I just finished the filing in the hole and both cuffs work , however one cuff doesn’t double lock. I’m fine with that though because all have paid for these Judds is the price of the key $14 USD and some change.

Ron J

Unknown / guest 27 Feb 2022

#19

My key is a success. Once I finish the key I will post a few pictures of it. Thanks to all that gave me advice on this post.

Kind regards, Ron J

Unknown / guest 27 Feb 2022

#20

My finished Judd key.

Joe Fox 27 Feb 2022

#21

Since the world's finest antique handcuff "key-maker" (Ian), has apparently stopped production on supplying keys.....

Is 3-D Printing a viable option for creating a Judd key, along with several others?

i.e. Someone with a printer - to create and sell antique handcuff keys?

Bjoern70 28 Feb 2022

#22

Hi there,
3D-printing might be an option, but due to thin key walls I'd rather try CNC-milling steel or high strength aluminum alloy (EN AW7075) instead of printing plastics. Anyhow, here you'll find a prototype, which has not been tested, so far: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5266183

Björn

Unknown / guest 04 Mar 2022

#23

Hi again,
today I printed a working maltby triangular key. The updated 3d-files are available here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5266183
Björn

Well Done 04 Mar 2022

#24

Well done. I'm sure those who have access to a 3D printer and a Maltby will give it a try. Great for keys that done have much pressure or friction or risk of breaking off inside a cuff.

djhalfdead 04 Mar 2022

#25

Great job on the print files for the Judd/Maltby Keys! Now, if I only had a 3D printer to try to make one. Interested to see if someone that has a 3D printer can make one and see if it does work in a cuff.
-Richard Knip-

rejones68 20 Mar 2022

#26

If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these keys please email me at rejones68@yahoo.com put Judd/Maltby key in the subject line. Ron J

PaulJDavies 15 Jan 2023

#27

Printed my own key.
I think the springs in my Judd/Maltby are too strong. The plastic key just deforms and keeps turning. Metal key works fine.