Approximate manufacture date of vintage S&W cuffs.

These early Model 90 handcuffs are about to change hands. I have estimated the date of manufacture "probably the mid to late '50s, possibly early '60s."

Although I don't really think that they are much newer than late '50s because of the five-digit serial number.

I would like to be able to give the new owner something a little more solid than that.

Can anybody help pin down the age a little closer for me? Am I even close?

The serial number is 56428.


Since I first introduced myself here I have purchased several pairs of vintage S&W cuffs, including two other early M-90s with five-digit serial numbers. This one has the highest serial number and most blemishes, so I have decided to pass it along to someone else.




BTW: This not a solicitation for sale, the cuffs have already been promised out.

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Hi!

I have a similar pair of cuffs with SN 44427. I noticed that these are slightly smaller in size than my M90's with six digit numbers. Are yours smaller as well? My guess is that they were made sometime during the '50s.
Does anyone know when S&W started making cuffs under their own name?

Paul

These early Model 90 handcuffs are about to change hands. I have estimated the date of manufacture "probably the mid to late '50s, possibly early '60s."

Although I don't really think that they are much newer than late '50s because of the five-digit serial number.

I would like to be able to give the new owner something a little more solid than that.

Can anybody help pin down the age a little closer for me? Am I even close?

The serial number is 56428.


Since I first introduced myself here I have purchased several pairs of vintage S&W cuffs, including two other early M-90s with five-digit serial numbers. This one has the highest serial number and most blemishes, so I have decided to pass it along to someone else.




BTW: This not a solicitation for sale, the cuffs have already been promised out.

...

Click to expand...

Paul, from my references, Smith & Wesson started manufacturing handcuffs under their own name in 1952.

Yes, there are differences in the size of the cuffs.

Not only are they smaller overall, but the metal in the bows is wider, reducing the internal opening even more.

You can see the differences in this photo. Also, look at the swivels:




This is the closest comparison I could make. This is my 'newest' old-style M-90.

Here you can see the 'lazy' ampersands in the S&W names. This is something that also appears in S&W firearms made prior to the '70s:




A lot of what I know or at least think I know is based on conjecture, and as mentioned above, my experiences with S&W products in general. The advice given here has been immensely helpful!

With S&W firearms, much research has been done and there are extensive and reliable references for model variations and dates of manufacture. I have found this not to be the case with handcuffs.