Alrighty...LE, Retired LE and MP/SP....Let's talk handcuffs

MelvinWalker · #51 04-05-2024, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

Cuffs are the unsung heroes of law enforcement. Guns get all the glory.

I got these S&W blues in 1983 and used them until 2015. Non-cops might not realize how difficult that is. Many times in multi-jurisdictional goat ropes you may cuff some dude and that's the last you see of your stuff. You might get somebody else's cuffs back, if you're lucky.

Truth and best post of the thread...You don't know how many times this happened to me before I started eagle eying my handcuffs when I could tell this mass chaos was about to happen.

I had to chase down a city guy to get my Jay-Pee's back...Some of the newer officers just didn't get it? They thought "who cares..You got a set of cuffs, right". They were right, but they weren't MY cuffs

sigp220.45 · #52 04-06-2024, 12:42 PM

[quote=Xfuzz;141972399]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigp220.45

Cuffs are the unsung heroes of law enforcement. Guns get all the glory.

Interesting pic...

They are on a transport belt in the picture.

SnidelyWhiplash · #53 04-06-2024, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

I once had a pair of Colt handcuffs. Gave 'em away. Now they are worth a bunch of money.

Colt branded handcuffs...depending on condition and whether they're in the box...can be worth several hundred dollars at least. I sold an excellent condition set without the box about two years ago for over $250 and a lesser condition set for cost to $200.

SnidelyWhiplash · #54 04-06-2024, 02:26 PM

I carried S&W issued handcuffs at two different agencies...for myself I purchased a set of blued Peerless for off-duty use. That was intention because I didn't want the appearance of "lifting" them from the agency without approval.

Personally...I believe anyone who carries a firearm legally for self-defense purposes should have a set of quality handcuffs and be trained in how to use them. In the event you actually need to unholster...even if no shots are fired...you need to know how to restrain the cretin while waiting for law enforcement to show up. The more time you need to hold the gun on a bad guy the more opportunity he has to cause you to pull the trigger when he can be restrained otherwise. Also...any law officer can possibly mistake you as a perp if you're brandishing a gun. That goes for in public or in your own home.

NY-1 · #55 04-06-2024, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnidelyWhiplash

Personally...I believe anyone who carries a firearm legally for self-defense purposes should have a set of quality handcuffs and be trained in how to use them.

It should be noted that certain jurisdictions prohibit individuals from carrying/possessing handcuffs. NYC for example:

Quote:

§ 10-147 Possession of handcuffs, thumb-cuffs or leg irons by unauthorized persons prohibited.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly possess any type of handcuffs, including disposable cinch cuffs, thumb cuffs or leg irons. This section shall not prohibit the possession of toy handcuffs which by their construction cannot be used to restrain an individual.
b. The prohibition of this section shall not apply to the following persons:
1. any peace officer, police officer or any person appointed as a police officer by the superintendent of state police; or
2. any police officer or peace officer of another state while conducting official business within the state of New York; or
3. any employee of the city, charged with the care or custody of a juvenile committed to a secure detention facility, while on duty or while traveling to or from his or her assigned duty; or
4. any person in military service or other service of the state, or of the United States, in pursuit of official duty or when duly authorized by federal or state law, regulation or ordered to possess the same articles prohibited by this section; or
5. any member of the auxiliary police force; or
6. any special patrolman appointed by the police commissioner, while on duty or while traveling to or from his or her assigned place of duty; or
7. any licensed private investigator or any employee of a watch, guard, or patrol agency licensed by the secretary of state under article seven of the general business law, or any employee of a person, firm or corporation operating an armored car transportation service, while such person is acting in the course of his or her employment or is traveling to or from his or her place of employment; and
8. any employee of a person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling or transporting such handcuffs, including disposable cinch cuffs, thumb cuffs or leg irons, which are intended for possession by persons authorized by this section, while such person is acting in the course or his or her employment or is traveling to or from his or her place of employment; or
9. any person engaged in a business activity which requires the utilization of such handcuffs, including disposable cinch cuffs, thumbcuffs or leg irons as authorized pursuant to regulations promulgated by the police commissioner, while such person is acting in the course of his or her employment or is traveling to or from his or her place of employment.
c. Any person found in violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisonment of not more than ten days or both.

SnidelyWhiplash · #56 04-06-2024, 09:47 PM

I wasn’t aware of that…but not surprising. Some jurisdictions love restricting people’s rights…and it’s not even a firearm.

dltvette · #57 04-07-2024, 12:00 AM

I noticed in this thread that they mostly refer to Peerless and Smith & Wesson handcuffs. I am not a LEO, but for the past 13+ years I have done research on Smith & Wesson’s involvement in the manufacturing of handcuffs.
It began in 1914 when James Milton Gill, Chairman of the Springfield, Massachusetts Board of Police Commissioners, purchased George A. Carney’s Handcuff Patent No. 1,017,955 granted Feb. 20, 1912. James Gill made an agreement with his friend Joseph H. Wesson of Smith & Wesson Gun Manufacturing to manufacture the handcuffs for his newly formed Peerless Handcuff Company on June 22, 1914.
The Carney patent did not have a sufficient locking mechanism and basically addressed the “swing-through locking arm. So before manufacturing could begin, Joseph Wesson designed a locking mechanism and filed for a patent on October 6, 1914 and patent No. 1,161,562 was granted on Nov. 23, 1915. Manufacturing began in late 1914 early 1915 before Wesson’s patent was granted.
Smith & Wesson continued manufacturing handcuffs for Peerless through Nov. 15, 1940. During this time several new patents were granted for the manufacturing of Peerless Handcuffs, either by Wesson or S&W employees. Joseph Wesson & Edward Pomeroy patent No. 1,157,135 granted Oct. 19, 1915; Elmer E. Neal (S&W Superintendent), patent No. 1,531,451 granted March 31, 1925; Harold Wesson & Edward Pomeroy patent No. 1,872,857 granted August 23, 1932.
This is why the early Peerless Handcuffs, especially the ones manufactured using the patent granted in 1932 and the early Smith & Wesson handcuffs that S&W started manufacturing in 1952 were so similar.
I didn’t want all my research and history to die with me, so last year I published a two volume ebook titled, Smith & Wesson Handcuff History Volume 1 & Volume 2, to preserve this history.
Volume 1 deals with Peerless with Smith & Wesson and Volume 2 deals with Smith & Wesson handcuffs from 1952 to present day.
Attached is a photo of a pair of Peerless handcuffs that were part of the 1937 contract & 1939 contract (the last contract), that Peerless had with Smith & Wesson. Also two early (1952) Smith & Wesson handcuffs to show the similarities.
David Teeters
Dave

turnerriver · #58 04-07-2024, 11:45 AM

Dave Teeters has displayed parts of his impressive handcuff collection at several Symposiums and won at least one award that I’m aware of, yet another of countless reasons to join the SWCA and attend our Symposiums.
Seventrees cuff case.

Myres catalog cut.

Regards,