wanted to buy: Hiatt long chain Darby handcuffs

Hi everyone,
I was a bit active on these forums years ago with my thread series  "modern vintage" detailing my collection of mostly darby cuffs.

I recently tried to purchase a pair of Long chain Darby handcuffs from the sale at Holst collection, but sadly the item was previously sold.

I'm hoping someone may be willing to sell me a nice pair of Long chain Hiatt Darby 104 steel handcuffs.

Any offers or information?
Thank you for your time.
Ryan Vaene

RyanVaene wrote: ↑

Nov 03, 2023

Hi everyone,
I was a bit active on these forums years ago with my thread series  "modern vintage" detailing my collection of mostly darby cuffs.

I recently tried to purchase a pair of Long chain Darby handcuffs from the sale at Holst collection, but sadly the item was previously sold.

I'm hoping someone may be willing to sell me a nice pair of Long chain Hiatt Darby 104 steel handcuffs.

Any offers or information?
Thank you for your time.
Ryan Vaene

Click to expand...

Look for a post “Collection for sale” from October 17. He had a set of very long chain Hiatt Darbys for sale. Not like the one that was on Lars site. This one must have a 2 foot chain or maybe longer. They are cuffs and not leg irons though. I actually bought from that seller. Best of luck to you. Ron J

Thanks for the pointer, rejones. I have seen that pair and while they are nice I am hoping for a pair with the six chain links as shown on Lars' site, or perhaps the Superintendent variety.

I believe I have more than my share of Hiatt superintendents. I can sell you one of those if you’d like. Let me know at rejones68@yahoo.com if you’re interested. Please put HANDCUFFS in the subject line or I may trash the email by accident. Regards, Ron J

Ron, thank you for the offer, however I looked into the Superintendent model and it seems as though Hiatt used smaller swivel/ O rings on this model, thus the extra links were only meant to allow the "normal" distance between the cuffs.

I'm searching for a pair of darby handcuffs with an extended chain, but instead I've learned something new and, to me, interesting, about Hiatt cuffs instead.

The pair I had hoped to buy on Lars' site looks to have about a six inch chain; out of curiosity, do the Superintendents in your collection support this theory? Are the cuffs the same distance between as the standard Hiatt Darby/104?

It's all making me want to be more active in the forum again. In fact I recently did an amateur modification to a pair of irons which I am nonetheless quite happy with. I will be sure to post about them soon, despite my fears of being perhaps chastised or disparaged for my "damaging" of this set, as some may see it.

I will take some measurements and get back to you. However I can tell you the superintendent’s are a much lighter cuff and thin compared to a normal Darby. They got the name superintendent because that is who got the cuffs. I also have the long chain Hiatt your talking about, it’s not from Lars site but still the same. Sorry, but I wish not to sell mine, I haven’t seen many of them. Ron J

I have 4 different versions of the long chain Darby Handcuffs. They are all basically the same. I have a Hiatt Unplated, A Hiatt Plated, A Dowler and a Nichols. The one pictured is my set of Nichols. I wanted to verify that there is a six inch span including all of the connecting chain pieces. The two large rings, the 4 twisted chain links and the swivels. Im not sure I have ever seen a factory made one that had 6 twisted chain links? Or were you counting the two large rings as part of the 6 chain links you mentioned? I hope that helps. These are difficult to come across, but they do pop up for sale from time to time. Mine are all collection pieces and are not for sale at this time.
-Richard Knip-

I’m with Richard I believe they are all the same. Here’s a picture of my Hiatt long chain. Ron J

Thanks for the info and photos, guys!
Richard, I imagine you are right about the long chain darbies having the same extended chain of four twist links along with the standard O rings and swivel. I was speaking from memory and had only seen one image of them prior.

And just when I thought my collection was "completed"...

I have a pair of Darby Superintendent (short chain) in my collection I would be willing to part with, should you be interested. 

Thank you, Jim, but I'm going to have to hold out for a set with an extended length chain like the ones posted above.

The fact that a Nichols version exists suggests they were made over a long period of time. But the fact that few exist suggests that they were a 'special order'. As for 'factory made', the early cuffs were made in 'back yard' workshops. It is hard to find two cuffs that are the same because of the hand-made nature and 'special orders' were easily accommodated.
The cuff sold via Lars was too cheap in my opinion and I would have bought it if i didn't already have one. Mine is marked HIATTS not HIATT.

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

Nov 09, 2023

The fact that a Nichols version exists suggests they were made over a long period of time. But the fact that few exist suggests that they were a 'special order'. As for 'factory made', the early cuffs were made in 'back yard' workshops. It is hard to find two cuffs that are the same because of the hand-made nature and 'special orders' were easily accommodated.
The cuff sold via Lars was too cheap in my opinion and I would have bought it if i didn't already have one. Mine is marked HIATTS not HIATT.

Thanks for the input Paul because I paid less then what Lars was asking for the one on his site and mine is in much better condition. Ron J