I'm sure we all have opinions on handcuffs and what we prefer and I'd be curious to know what everyone's opinion is. I know there are a lot of LE or retired LE on here like myself.

Handcuffs....When I first started, the agency I was with issued us all S&W chain handcuffs...I know this is sacrilege, but I never like the cuffs because of the double lock design on the Smiths. When I started making rank, I was allowed to buy whatever I wanted, so I took my S&W cuffs and put them in a drawer and bought a set of Peerless...All my cuffs were chain and I didn't care for hinged.

I love Peerless cuffs and the indestructible nature of the way they were made as well as the double lock mechanism design. I always ALWAYS carried two sets as well. This was mainly because of restraining a large person and one set wouldn't fit behind their back.

Fast forward to about four years before I retired...I responded to a disturbance where an officer was attempting to restrain an individual. I got my Peerless cuffs out and put them on the guy and we proceeded to escort him. The other officer looked at me and wild eyed shook his head at me. The Peerless cuffs I put on him were freewheeling and not catching and the guy didn't even know it. I had another set, so I put them on and that was that.

Upon inspection, the teeth/gear mechanism was stripped and the cuffs would not catch. Long story short, I went to Peerless' website and sure enough, my serial number was in a batch that was recalled....When I explained in a letter what had happened, a brand new pair was on my doorstep in two days.

The other set I really like and was my back-up set was a 1950's set made by "Jay-Pee"....Absolutely solid as a rock...I like the Jay-Pee's as much as the Peerless.

What's everybody's opinion on handcuffs and any stories about breakage or anecdotes in general?