S&W Handcuff Strength Test

[dltvette]

I posted this on the S&WCA members side awhile back, but thought I would share it here on the public side.
In 1952 S&W introduced their own line of handcuffs that were just referred as
"A New and Improved Model". Model numbers were not assigned to their line of handcuffs until 1958 and this New and Improved Model was then known as the Model 90.
This example is one I acquired from the Roy Jinks collection, and is a pre-model 90, that never had a serial number assigned to it, and was made for the purpose to test the strength or I should say, the breaking point of their new handcuffs. It would have been nice if the test data could have accompanied this example, but just having it in my collection is a plus.
Shown is a 1953 product brochure stating the strength of the S&W handcuffs, but I'm sure this test was totally different.
Interesting example.
Dave
S&WCA #836 LM

 

[Steve912]

The pins/rivets are...HUGE!

 

[Old cop]

Handcuffs were not issued so I purchased a set of Pearless and used them for my entire 30 year career and still have them. While I'm not sure how to test their strength no one ever got out of them, a few tried, once they went on.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Never seen anyone get out of cuffs, but I did see a kid (maybe 17) step through his arms to move his hands from behind his back to in front. Not sure what he had in mind, but it was entertaining to watch. The cuffs could make a nasty weapon for choking, I suppose. He was quickly recuffed behind the back again.

 

[Steve912]

Never seen anyone get out of cuffs, but I did see a kid (maybe 17) step through his arms to move his hands from behind his back to in front..

Throw a second set above his elbows and see if he can do it
again!

 

[Muley Gil]

Many years ago, before I got as fat as a cow , I could do that also. Of course, I wear a 37" sleeve.

A number of females are limber enough to step through the cuffs, when cuffed behind the back. One female I knew said that she could step out of a pair of cuffs. I locked one on her wrist, then slipped the other cuff through the first one and locked the second cuff on her wrist, behind her back. She couldn't get out of that set-up.

A very petite young lady told me her wrists were so small she could just slide the cuffs off. I put them on her and she indeed she could. I had her put her hands behind her back and then put both wrists in one cuff. She couldn't slip that one off.

 

[Fishinfool]

I have seen prisoners slip out of cuffs, and seen a few guys able to break them / pry them open. Once watched a guy actually break out of a set of cuffs, black box, and belly chain. The common theme with all except those who could slip out was they had something to pry with, usually a steel bed frame. The guy with the black box worked a couple hours at it, and messed up his wrists pretty good doing so.

I once had to pick up a guy for court. I was warned by correctional staff that cuffs couldn't hold him. The inmate told me not to cuff him, as it was a waste of time, and promised not to cause problems. If I cuffed him, he would take it as a challenge. I said challenge accepted. Cuffed him in front, with two pair of cuffs, two black boxes, and two belly chains. I won that bet.

Larry

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Dave
Great find! Congratulations!!!!!

 

[dltvette]

Don, Thank you for "hand delivering" these to me, instead of adding them to your collection. Only great friends would be so kind.
Dave

 

[keith44spl]

I've used alot of S&W hardware....Leg irons & those large cuffs...Handy.

.

 

[Narragansett]

Hmmmm, I am sure that testing method would not meet today's osha standards

 

[THEmodelof1989]

I always preferred the hinged cuffs. Easier to put on a fighter, and once on they seem harder to manipulate.

 

[dltvette]

I always preferred the hinged cuffs. Easier to put on a fighter, and once on they seem harder to manipulate.

The Model 200 & Model 210 was S&W first attempt to manufacture hinged handcuffs. They were introduced in 1990 and ended up being a failure. The hinge only bent one way and was subject to snapping in half. By early 1991, they were taken off the market.
Dave

 

[Sgt 127]

I had a rule for transporting prisoners to the hospital.

Class C minor offenses, cuffs behind back.

Other misdemeanors, depending on attitude, maybe leg irons.
Felonies?

Cuffs behind back and leg irons.

(Texas law, 3rd degree lowest, first degree and capital highest)

3rd degree-leg irons
2nd degree-one knot in the chain
1st degree-two knots in the chain.

Never transported a Capital. I suppose in keeping with my protocol, I'd have tried three knots. But, with two knots, it was barely a shuffle.

 

[bwade]

About 30 or so years ago we had a contract killer in our holding cell awaiting arraignment. Two other prisoners were in the same cell. The contract killer had killed two people in our area and was in our holding cell for about 40 minutes while handcuffed behind his back with our issue S&W handcuffs. The jailers came to get him when the court was ready to receive him, but he had no handcuffs on and there was no sign of them in the holding cell. The other two inmates refused to say anything at the time, but were clearly intimidated. Years later we were told by one of the inmates that the guy had broken the handcuffs into small pieces and flushed them. They believed he would kill them in the jail if they said anything. Incidentally, he received multiple life sentences and is still incarcerated today. For years his guards have told stories about this guy and his superhuman type antics. Supposedly he could jump from a flat footing straight up 6 feet. Wasn't a huge guy, probably 200 lbs, 6'1 or so. We believe he killed people all over the country, but only had proof on the two from our region.

 

[BE Mike]

Never seen anyone get out of cuffs, but I did see a kid (maybe 17) step through his arms to move his hands from behind his back to in front. Not sure what he had in mind, but it was entertaining to watch. The cuffs could make a nasty weapon for choking, I suppose. He was quickly recuffed behind the back again.

Yeah, you had to belt down those cuffs on skinny folks.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've had a couple sets handed to me from the back seat over the years, early in my career. It's disconcerting, to say the least . . .

 

[BE Mike]

I've had a couple sets handed to me from the back seat over the years, early in my career. It's disconcerting, to say the least . . .

Were they from arrestees or dates?

 

[JM4151]

Handcuffs

We had a dispatcher who could slip out of a pair of S & W Alum cuffs. She was really thin in those days, not so today. Going to see her tonight at our dept retirees Christmas party. She is now married to our retired Chief.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Had a suspect said "don't cuff me, I will go and not cause any trouble". I cuffed (S&W cuffs) him behind his back and he broke them, a fellow officer said here use my peerless cuffs. I did and he broke them too.

We had a department rule "No prisoners taken to the station with out cuffs." Sgt. saw me taking him in the back door and he chewed me out for not cuffing him. I told the Sgt. that he was cuffed, the Sgt. asked "what kind of fool I thought he was"? Prisoner laughed, pulled up his sleeves and showed him the broken cuffs! I suggested the Sgt try his cuffs (we had to buy our own in those days), Sgt declined. Got to take the suspect to jail without cuffs, but got a letter of reprimand out of the deal. After all Rules are Rules!! Appealed the reprimand and won!