Smith & Wesson Handcuff History

For anyone interested in the history of Smith & Wesson handcuff manufacturing, I have just published a 2-book set on Amazon, Kindle Edition. It is the most comprehensive study of Smith & Wesson, manufacturing handcuffs from 1914 to present day. This was only possible as a result of many friends contributing to my research over the past 13 years. 
Includes various models, variation of models, various patents, contracts, advertisements, product brochures and much more.
David Teeters
Can be accessed here:
https://www.amazon.com/SMITH-amp%253B-W ... B0CB786LY3

Dave, are these the same two books that you sold on the thumbdrive?
-Richard Knip-

Richard,
I just had these copyrighted June 26, 2023.
These have a lot more information then the first book I did in 2011 and the second book I did in 2018.
Just trying to share all I have researched.
This will be my last publication. Getting to old & putting this together is more work than this old man can handle.
Dave

Just purchased them both.
Peter

I also purchased this set. Any collector out there owes it to themselves to invest the $15 and buy the set of these 2 books! Great reference material for your library and a really well presented history of both Peerless and S&W. This will help you to identify which Peerless cuffs or which S&W cuffs you may have in your collection. It also shows some variations that you may have never seen. Great stuff! Thanks for taking the time and having the dedication to put this together, Dave! Very well done!
-Richard Knip-

Thank you Peter & Richard, also thanks Richard for the promotion.
I'm encouraged if this work is helpful & entertaining to anyone who purchases it.
After sending the manuscript to the Copyright Office of the United States to receive a registration number, I acquired a S&W Pre-Model 90 with serial number 652 in a S&W box style I had not seen previously in S&W boxes. It was like the early cloth covered Peerless boxes only blue in color with the S&W end label & instructions on the inside of the top lid.
In Volume 2, I added this as an addendum before publishing.
If I have any new findings I will post them on this forum, since I do not intend to do anymore books.
Dave

Dave, have you seen a S&W box like this one before? I had never seen the green printing used on this box? I got the box with a Model 91 Polished with an early detent, though that may not be the original cuffs that would have come in the box. I guess they could have been the original cuffs that whomever owned them, wanted a shiny looking set so they hand polished them themselves? Thats a possibility.  I know the box is not in the best of condition, but happy to have it anyway.
-Richard Knip-

Richard,
I do not have one like that with “green” lettering. Most early boxes like this have silver lettering. (Mold, just kidding). Maybe your box was made on St. Patrick’s Day! Anything is possible with S&W.
A model 91 shipped from the factory would have come in a box labeled / printed Model 91.
The box you have printed HANDCUFFS and no model number is a pre-model 90 box, so before 1958.
Nice unique addition to your collection.
Dave

Hello - I too, purchased David's current two-part booklets on the S&W history...I look forward to reading all of the details.

On the subject of S&W Handcuffs:

1.  See attached photo of a Model 925 (aluminum) that I have - featuring raised hinged pins. I have every confidence in stating that this is a factory-made model.  The actual handcuffs aren't at my location here, but that is the ad from which I purchased them, over 20 years ago. Could this just be a "one-off oddball" model? Are there other known examples?

2. A Canadian collector swears that he saw in a Toronto police station (in the 1970's) - a blued/black S&W #94 handcuff. The only Nickel parts were the "lock case" and the "hinge pins".  Any thoughts on this?


-Joe

Joe,
1. If your M-925 is Aluminum with stainless steel lock works and weighs 3-3/4 ounces, having a protruding hinge pin is unique.
2. All the product brochures I have only list the M-94’s being offered in regular nickel finish. Anything with S&W is possible.
Dave

HI Dave,  I would love to get your 2 book set. But I don't have an amazon Kindle. 
is there any other way on can get this ? maybe in pdf ?

Pad-Lock,
Free app for your computer, tablet, phone, etc.
Download & you can get it.
Dave

https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16571048011

Thanks Dave.  
got the app for my iphone / ipad.
purchased your books.. looking forward to some great reading
thanks...

dltvette wrote: ↑

Jul 06, 2023

For anyone interested in the history of Smith & Wesson handcuff manufacturing, I have just published a 2-book set on Amazon, Kindle Edition. It is the most comprehensive study of Smith & Wesson, manufacturing handcuffs from 1914 to present day. This was only possible as a result of many friends contributing to my research over the past 13 years. 
Includes various models, variation of models, various patents, contracts, advertisements, product brochures and much more.
David Teeters
Can be accessed here:
https://www.amazon.com/SMITH-amp%253B-W ... B0CB786LY3

Congratulations Amigo! 
It certainly could not have been a very easy or exhausting task! 
Be Well! 
Sincerely, 
Ramiro Guerrero

P.S.  My very first ''experience'' in Life must have been with a set of S&W Model 100's!

Dave,

Is this anythng you have seen before? it seem to be a set of Peerless/S&W with a lead chain. The connection between the cuffs is odd.

Lars

Appears to be a set of Peerless Patent Model cuffs with a non-factory lead chain and swivel connector.
Nothing that would interest me to add to my collection. 
Dave

That appears to be a very unusual setup to me. I have a single Peerless cuff on a 60 inch lead chain but have never seen a configuration like that.

Spencer

This is the first factory manufactured Peerless Lead Chain example that I know of.
It uses a Peerless Model 3 Version 4 handcuff attached to a 60” lead chain. According to Peter Gill, there were 450 of these manufactured between 1984 & 1993, beginning with serial number 10000.
I own serial number 10011, no box, sold to Specialty Products in Glendale, California on April 19, 1984, and shown here, serial number 10427 with box. Chris Gill could not find an entry as when or to whom this example was sold to.
Dave

dltvette wrote: ↑

Jul 22, 2023

Appears to be a set of Peerless Patent Model cuffs with a non-factory lead chain and swivel connector.
Nothing that would interest me to add to my collection. 
Dave

These are from the Tom Gross collection. My knowledge in Peerless and S&W is very limited as I don't collect modern cuffs.

This is an example of a factory Peerless lead chain using a single old style cuff. I would say that the set you show was likely not a factory made piece. Still kind of a neat item, if it was made and used during the time that cuff was being used. No way to tell though.
-Richard Knip-

Richard

I have one that is very similar to yours, an early Peerless.

Spencer

Just ordered the two books on Kindle. WOW the information is unbelievable, must have taken 1000’s of hours to collate. Well done I now need to sort through the cuffs I have and work out what versions they are!
I did get a very nice Model 1 version 1 from the Alex Nichols collection guess I need to ask how rare are they?

chriscuffs6,
I’m glad you enjoyed the research books.
The Peerless Model 1 Version 1 can occasionally be found on eBay. The Model 1 Version 2 are a little more elusive.
Dave

Good evening.  Have a set of S&W cuffs from 1980s?  MFG in Springfield, MA...and has serial number, but no model number on them.  Look like Model 100 from what I have read and see pics....but mine don't have a model #.  Serial # 043728.  I always seem to find pics of 99% the same, but then my set will not be exactly the same by just a little.  For example...both wrist wrings have "Pat s Pending" stamped on them.  Not just one...but both. Any help would be awesome!

There were two versions of the S&W M-100 Patent Pending handcuffs.
Version 1 had the double-lock slot on the keyway side only.
Version 2 had the double-lock slot on both sides.
Dave

Ok, now I have pics of my cuffs.  No model # stamped on them...but look like 100s.  See pics:

Examples
Dave

You have version 1
Dave

dltvette wrote: ↑

Jul 29, 2024

There were two versions of the S&W M-100 Patent Pending handcuffs.
Version 1 had the double-lock slot on the keyway side only.
Version 2 had the double-lock slot on both sides.
Dave

So looks like I have version 1 since double lock slot only on one side....but where is the M-100?  Wonder if these were some that were between when they changed models and when the started stamping the model on the cuffs?  Like maybe there was a week at the MA plant where the mgt said..."we are going to start making the M-100s...and as soon as corporate sends us the stamp, we'll start putting the model # right on the cuffs...but until them, just start making and shipping em."

dltvette wrote: ↑

Jul 29, 2024

You have version 1
Dave

Hey, thanks for that info.  So...yours don't have the Model # on them either.  Any idea why?  These were my Grandfathers cuffs from circa mid 1980s-early 1990s.  Sound right on the timeframe?

They ones manufactured in Springfield, Mass did not have the model number.
The patent pending version 2 manufactured in Houlton, ME did have the M-100 stamped on them.
Dave

dltvette wrote: ↑

Jul 29, 2024

They ones manufactured in Springfield, Mass did not have the model number.
The patent pending version 2 manufactured in Houlton, ME did have the M-100 stamped on them.
Dave

Wow!  I had no idea.  I been beating my brains out trying to find someone that knows the answer.  Thanks so much for this!  Great help!! 

Smith & Wesson’s manufacturing of handcuffs were moved from their Springfield, Mass plant to their Houlton, ME plant in 1979. They were in the process of changing all their handcuffs when the move was completed. Prior to giving these a model number, the patent pending versions 1&2 manufactured in Springfield, MA were probably manufactured in 1978.
Dave

On Amazon, I have a two volume ebook on Smith & Wesson Handcuff History. Each volume sells for $7.50, so $15.00 for both.
Dave