Steve Santini 20 Sep 2005
#15Dear fellow collectors,
do any of you know these antique handcuffs? I don´t know their name, I thing they (or something like they) were offered one or two months ago on e-bay, several very rare pieces were sold with them...
Any info is welcomed
Josef
Czech Republic
It is possible that handcuffs made from this material were not considered to be strong enough (even though they may in fact be) by the people who regularly made use of restraints day to day.
It is also understandable that cuffs made from this metal caught on to some degree only after many years of officers having to tote around heavier restraints.
I do know that many in law enforcement often choose a particular brand of cuff for sometimes illogical reasons that have nothing to do with it's strength, security, etc.
In Halifax I was told by a Police supply firm that local officers resisted buying S&W cuffs because they did not like the "sound" the cuff made when it was ratcheted through. For this reason, and this reason alone, many bought and used Peerless.
Just an example but a valid one.
I once knew a female detective who worked out of 23rd division of the Metro Toronto Police Force and she carried a set of Peerless aluminum cuffs. She did this because they were light.
Many years later I ran into her again and asked about her cuffs. She said the Sergant had made her give them up because he felt they were "not strong enough".
Certainly what is percieved about any given restraint compared to what any given restraint can actually do plays an equal part in what is chosen for duty on many forces.
This may in some way explain why aluminum cuffs just never caught on in some countries.
However, in others, such as France, home of the Rivollier and La Massonette, they did very well indeed.
Steve Santini
